Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
The bell above the door chimed as Tanner pushed into Bread & Batter, one hand steady on the frame while the other cradled a squirming bundle of long-haired trouble against his chest. The squirmy little puppy, still too skinny but already showing signs of spirit, wiggled in his arm like he couldn’t decide whether to be terrified or thrilled by the new adventure.
“Easy, Pup,” Tanner muttered, keeping his voice low so he didn’t startle him. “I’m just bringing you back to the good Samaritan who saved you. I need to know your secret for bringing out the sweet in her because, after my last run-in with her, I haven’t slept worth a damn in the last two days.”
The rich scent of cinnamon sugar and warm vanilla sparked memories the second he stepped inside, the way it always did.
Everything in this place was a reflection of Junie—the sweet, comforting aroma, the soft colors on the walls, the whole damn bakery.
Hell, everything in the place pointed straight at her.
She stood behind the counter, that peach-apricot hair twisted up in a messy knot with wisps escaping around her face. As always, flour dusted her apron, and those beautiful blue eyes widened the moment they landed on him and the wriggling dog in his arms.
“Pup!” she squealed. “I can’t believe you brought him to me.” Junie’s voice went soft and sweet in that way that always hit him straight in the gut.
“Trace looked him over this morning,” Tanner said, crossing the room.
“He made sure that your puppy was up on his shots. Other than that, the only real problem is that he’s underweight.
He’s a long-haired miniature dachshund. Turns out, according to Trace, he isn’t faded, he’s got dilute coloring.
That’s why he’s got that pretty cream, gray, and peach coat.
You found a rare one. Hard to believe someone would abandon a dog like this. ”
Junie came around the counter fast, her hands already reaching out.
Tanner handed the puppy over. The way her whole face lit up was enough to make his day.
And the way she laughed in that easy way of hers when Pup licked her chin was a bonus.
And the way her eyes shone when the dog snuggled into her arms and fell asleep…
Something deep in his chest warmed, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“You’re such a good boy,” Junie cooed, nuzzling the dog. “Yes, you are. Look at you letting Tanner carry you around like a little prince.”
Tanner leaned against the counter, arms crossed, letting himself enjoy the view. “He likes you better than me already. Traitor.”
Junie glanced up at him through her lashes, a shy smile playing on her lips. “Just goes to show what good taste he has.”
The words were light and teasing, but the look she gave him wasn’t.
Heat curled low and heavy in his belly, slow and insistent.
He’d been pushing the boundaries more and more lately, testing, flirting, seeing how far she’d let him go.
Every blush, every soft, wondering look in those light blue eyes made it harder to remember all the reasons he’d held himself back for so long.
“Oh, I have great taste. You keep looking at me like that, Cupcake,” he drawled, letting his voice drop, “and I’m gonna start thinking your friends are right about me.”
Pink flooded her cheeks. She ducked her head fast, burying her face in the puppy’s soft fur. “They talk too much.”
“They’re not wrong, though. I’d love to lick one right now.”
He let the words settle over her, watched the way her breath caught and her fingers tightened in the pup’s coat. Good. Let her feel it. Let her wonder what he meant.
He was done pretending she was just Kenzie’s best friend. She was his Cupcake now. And he was getting real tired of acting like she wasn’t.
Junie kissed the puppy’s head and carried him toward her office.
Tanner braced his shoulder against the doorway, content to watch her move around the familiar space.
She had a graceful way of moving that drew his eyes to her hips.
Hips the perfect size for his hands to grip when he had her riding his cock.
“Exactly what are you talking about?” she asked, setting the pup down on a blanket in her little office, trying to sound casual.
Look at her, acting all nonchalant. But he knew better.
“About how much I love your cupcakes, Cupcake,” he said, voice warm with taunt as he followed her back out to the front. “What did you think I was talking about?”
She blushed even deeper and squirmed under his gaze. Interesting. He couldn’t laugh at her and hurt her feelings. And he damn sure couldn’t do what his cock was urging him to. Time for a distraction.
He reached under the counter and pulled out a thick tome, expecting another one of her cake books. Instead, what he held was a scrapbook. No way had Junie made it. She was much too precise.
This looked like it was done by a kid. He opened the cover, and as his eyes landed on the first picture inside, everything in him went still.
Preston fucking Lassiter stared back at him from the page.
What the hell?
Pictures, some from a camera, some cut from yearbooks.
How had he even gotten his hands on old yearbooks?
And not just a few. No, there had to be dozens of them.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention, and not because every single one had Junie and Preston in the frame.
That psycho had circled their faces with a bright red marker.
Hearts drawn around some. Notes scribbled in the margins like a madman’s diary. Soon. You’ll see. Together forever.
Preston’s forever was going to end the second Tanner got his hands on him.
The card tucked inside the front cover fluttered to land at his feet. Tanner snatched it from the floor. The words on the card made his blood boil.
We’ve had yesterday and today. Now it’s time for our tomorrow and forever.
“Junie,” he called, voice rough and dangerous, “you wanna get your ass back up to the front?”
His shout had not only Junie coming out of her office, but it had obviously awakened the dog as he came trotting out behind her. Pup stumbled to a stop against Junie’s foot when she suddenly froze the second she saw what he held. Her face went pale.
“Tanner, wait! Don’t—”
“Don’t what, Cupcake?” He didn’t even try to keep the edge out of his voice.
“Don’t… don’t kill anyone.” She tried for a joke, but there was nothing amusing about what he’d seen.
“You think this is funny?” He lifted the album, jaw locked tight. “You’re still accepting gifts from him?”
“N-no…” Junie twisted the edge of her apron between her fingers, eyes darting away. “It’s just the way Preston is. He’ll give up eventually. He doesn’t mean any harm.”
“Doesn’t mean any harm?” His voice rose as anger burned hot up his throat. He slammed the album shut with a sharp crack. “This isn’t harmless, Junie. This is crazy. He’s obsessed with you. How can you not see that?”
“I talked to him,” she insisted, but her voice wavered, small and uncertain. “I was clear. I told him I wasn’t interested.”
“Was that before or after he sent you this?” Tanner thrust the book toward her, the weight of it heavy in his hand.
“It was after,” she assured him quickly. Too quickly. “I’m almost sure.”
“Junie”—he poured every ounce of warning he had into her name—“this is not the time to lie to me.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Okay… it was before. I can’t control if someone wants to send me a gift.”
Tanner stepped closer, the album still gripped tight in his hand, the spine digging into his palm. “And yet he keeps sending you shit like this. Pictures of the two of you circled like some kind of twisted love story. You really think that’s harmless?”
Junie lifted her chin, fire flashing in her eyes. “At least he’s interested in being more than friends. Unlike some people I know.”
The words landed like a spark on dry grass, igniting everything inside him.
Years of holding back, of telling himself she was too young, too sweet, too important to risk — it all crashed over him in a hot rush. His chest heaved as the last thread of control snapped.
“You want to be more than friends?” he growled. “Wish granted.”
The album hit the floor with a heavy thud. Tanner cupped the back of her neck, fingers threading deep into her soft hair, and crushed his mouth to hers.
The first taste of her hit him like good whiskey—sweet, warm, and addictive. He kissed her hard, hungry, years of pent-up want and frustration pouring out in every stroke of his tongue, every nip of his teeth.
Junie made a soft, shocked little sound against his lips, then melted into him with a whimper that went straight to his cock. Her hands fisted tight in his shirt like she was afraid he’d vanish if she let go.
He growled low in his throat and tilted her head exactly how he wanted, deepening the kiss until she opened for him completely. He’d been starving for her for years. He sucked on her bottom lip, then soothed it with his tongue, drinking in every gasp and shiver she gave him.
This wasn’t gentle. This wasn’t careful.
This was claiming.
His free hand slid down her back, pulling her flush against him so she could feel exactly what she did to him. Junie arched into his body with a needy little moan that nearly undid him right there in the middle of the bakery.
He was done holding back. Junie Morgan was his.
The bell over the door jingled.
“Excuse me, I’m here to get some cupcakes.”
Tanner tore his mouth from Junie’s with a harsh curse, chest heaving. She blinked up at him, lips swollen and shiny, eyes wide and dazed like she hadn’t heard a single thing. But he had, and he’d recognized the voice.
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “You’ve got a customer, babygirl.”
She stared at him a second longer, still dazed, then gave a little shake of her head. “Ah… yes. Right.”
He glanced over his shoulder. Cherry stood just inside the door, arms crossed, eyes narrowed into thin, angry slits.