Chapter 18 A Dedicated Parent #2
However, an actual enclosed vehicle? Less suspicious. Tinted windows went a long way for the man who didn’t want to be seen stalking the woman he was determined to call his own.
So me sitting inside my SUV half a block away from the bakery?
Totally fine, and no one was the wiser. Right now though, my goal was to try to find out when she left this damn place so I could put in the cameras.
It appeared to be harder when she worked all day, every day, and lived above her work.
I really needed to find her a new employee to help manage the place—that was high on the list of priorities.
How was a man supposed to stalk the love of his life if she never left, so he could actually put in the proper equipment to do the stalking?
Well, desperate times and all that. Pulling out my phone, I dialed the only number that wouldn’t be able to judge me in my desperate times.
“Hey bro, what’s up?” Rowan asked.
“Remember all those absolutely deranged things I helped you do to get Aspen?”
I was met with silence before I heard him moving around, and what I thought was a door closing.
I assumed he was walking away from his newly upgraded fiancée.
She knew about most of the shit now, but I wasn’t sure she knew all of it.
“Cut to the chase, Wyatt. You know I’d help you without the blackmail speech. ”
I chuckled. “Not blackmail, never with you. Just a reminder before I tell you what I need, that you’ve done some crazy shit.”
“A reminder that I’m nuts when it comes to this woman?
Not necessary,” he replied. “So what are we doing to the poor bakery owner? Nothing harmful, right? If Aspen can’t get her bagel in the morning, it’ll be my head on the chopping block, and you’ll be forced to hide me until I can find her a satisfactory bagel along with a girl to chat with while she gets it. ”
I wanted to laugh, but it didn’t happen.
Simply because I knew he was being serious.
Aspen would maim his ass if she found out he had anything to do with anything happening to Ember.
Not that I had any intention of hurting my little flame, no.
Quite the opposite really. I wanted to take care of her.
However, she was a spitfire, and accepting help wasn’t in her resume.
So it had to be slightly forced and maybe without her knowledge.
So no, there was no laughing on my end of the phone as I told my twin brother the plan and what I needed from him. There was, however, laughing on his end of the phone, but he agreed to help me—as if I gave him much of a choice.
Rowan was sitting in the passenger seat of my SUV, and our plan was simple enough.
We’d go inside, order some pastries and coffee, grab a table, and then on the way out, we’d have to get some to-go stuff for Aspen and Rowan would ask to use the bathroom.
I’d distract her, and he’d sneak upstairs to set up the cameras in a few corners of her apartment.
Simple. Easy. We could do this.
“Okay, so you just set this in a place that she shouldn’t notice, ensure it’s turned on, and I can manage the rest,” I explained to him.
I’d already set up the outside one’s last night when I couldn’t sleep and started this insane stalking endeavor.
“You realize this is insane, correct?” Rowan questioned, but I wasn’t letting his negativity bring me down. “All I did was set up cameras around my own house, not her house.”
“No. It isn’t like I’ve asked anyone for a tracking device, Rowan.” I stared across the car at him, into the eyes that were identical to my own, but he just shook his head and let out an annoyed huff.
“She doesn’t get a tracking device?”
“No, she just doesn’t leave my fucking sight,” I replied as I held up my phone with an arched brow.
“Fine. Point taken. Are you ready?”
“Born ready. Let’s do this.”
Rowan shoved a few of the small cameras into the pocket of his hoodie, and we walked across the street and into the bakery. Strolling through the front door, my eyes were drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
How did I ever miss it? Well, I knew how. I didn’t think the fates would ever bless me this much, with the absolutely perfect partner.
Ember was standing behind the counter, ringing up a set of women, a gentle smile curved along her face as she chatted with them.
The bakery wasn’t overly busy, but there were a few tables taken, and she seemed as if she’d been busy recently.
As she walked away to make her latest customer’s coffee, I took the time to take in her overall demeanor.
She was wearing a pair of ripped-up jeans that cupped her ass so perfectly.
A black t-shirt that was tucked in, but I wondered briefly if it was a t-shirt or one of those body suits she loved so much.
Fuck, I hoped it was the later. What I would pay to peel that material off her curvy body.
Her hair was up in a scrunchie today, a few pieces had fallen out and around her face, with a pen stuck up in her messy bun as if she’d stuck it there to take pastries out of the oven and forgot about it.
She looked good, tired but content.
Rowan and I approached the counter, waiting in line while she finished with the customers ahead of us.
I knew the moment she noticed us standing in her space.
She’d gotten two coffees to-go, turned back towards the counter, only for those golden brown eyes to flick up and lock with my own.
I couldn’t help the smirk that flickered across my face.
Damn, she was beautiful.
Did she know how beautiful she was? I needed to tell her more.
“Thanks, Ember,” one of the women said as they collected their coffees and started to walk out of the bakery.
I could hear Rowan mutter something to them, but I wasn’t paying a bit of attention to them.
I had eyes for one woman in this place, and it wasn’t anyone else but the stunning redhead in front of me.
“Good morning, Carragan,” she said politely.
“Ember,” I replied. “How’s your morning been?”
She shifted on her feet for a brief moment before finally answering. “Busy. What can I get for you?”
I sighed. “Can I just say something, please?” She stared at me, expectantly.
“I’m sorry about just dropping by the other day and dropping that news on you.
It wasn’t fair, especially in the middle of a workday.
I thought it was a given that I’d have to do some digging, but I should’ve been more clear. ”
She nodded, but Rowan cut in. “I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you speak at one time.” He looked over at Ember. “He’s the quiet twin,” he added, pointing a finger at me.
I rolled my eyes and prepared a jab only a brother could give when she started giggling. “He either doesn’t speak and stares at me or doesn’t shut up when he’s here. Bakeries must bring out the chatty vibes in him, Ro.”
“That must be it, Ember, the bakery.” He looked over at me knowingly, and I started truly contemplating his death. Would Mom forgive me if he went missing? “We’ll take two coffees and whatever delicious bread-like substance you’ve pulled out of the oven to make the place smell so good.”
I swore she started blushing. “Cinnamon rolls,” she said, her eyes back on me. “Which I know your brother is a big fan of,” she told Rowan. Clearing her throat, she turned away. “I’ll get it all together for you now. To go?” she asked as she started grabbing the cinnamon rolls.
“Here,” I replied, finally finding my voice. Only it wasn’t my typical voice. No. It had a slight dominant undertone to it that I briefly wondered if she’d find Drew in. I felt Rowan’s eyes on me, but I still only had eyes for one in this room.
I watched as she glanced over her shoulder at me, her eyes widened before she finally nodded. “Sounds good.”
She gathered our order and handed it over to us, a small smile on her face. “Feel free to grab an empty table and enjoy.”
Rowan was the first to act, grabbing our plates of cinnamon rolls and walking off to find a table to sit at, but as I took our coffees, I couldn’t help but ensure the small brush of our fingers as I took the cups from her.
“I plan to,” I told her quietly.
I sat down with Rowan, my back to her so I couldn’t stare like an absolute psychopath.
“That was so solid and smooth, bro,” Rowan said in a hushed voice. “I’ll be honest, I thought you’d have more game than that.”
I snickered. “Smart ass. I do, she just leaves me feeling…”
“Stupid. Incoherent. Drunk. Brainless. Dumbfounded,” Rowan finished for me while he shoved a bite of cinnamon roll into his mouth.
“Holy shit,” he mumbled between bites. “Please marry this woman. Oh, also, I want her to cater the desserts for us.”
“The desserts?”
“Yeah, for the wedding. Aspen doesn’t want to do a simple cake. She wants it to be more homey. She’d brought up asking Ember, but as many pastries as my girl brings home, I somehow never get any.” He took another bite and practically moaned into the food. “Now I see why,” he muttered.
A few minutes later, with more moaning than felt necessary, we’d finished eating and downed our coffee.
“Commence phase two,” Rowan whispered as we walked up towards the counter.
Thankfully, the place had mostly emptied out, only one more customer sat in the far corner, ear buds in while they worked away on a laptop.
“Hey Ember, we’re going to grab some extras for Aspen.
Plus Wyatt needs a little doggy bag. Do you mind if I use your bathroom while he orders? ”
Damn, he was a pro.
“Go for it, Rowan. I’ll get Aspen’s stuff together now. Did you want her coffee too?” she asked.
“Nah, she’ll want it piping hot, and she isn’t off for another few hours.”
Ember nodded before she turned her gaze back to me. “So, a doggy bag for the puppy?”
I grit my teeth to keep myself from telling her she was a brat and chose to simply nod instead.
She smirked. “Got ya.”
I watched her walk away, grabbing a to-go box and tossing pastries into it, and bagels into another with a spare cinnamon roll.
“Pastry one is for you and your sweet tooth, bagel one is for Rowan and Aspen to take home. Anything else you need?” she asked, one hand on the counter and the other on her hip.
I stalled out, staring down at her pouty lips and stunning brown eyes. Thankfully, it was a short stall, as I reached into my pocket and pulled out my credit card. “Money,” I replied back simply.
She watched me, her gaze careful. “Don’t want your money. I recall owing you for the next five years, and it’s only been about two weeks, Carragan.”
“This is true, but still. I feel bad coming in and taking all of your pastries and coffee, while you get nothing in return.”
She shifted on her feet again, and I could see the light blush starting to grace her cheeks. “Well, consider us even. Most people would take me up on my previous offer and be in here every day getting free coffee.”
I smiled. “Is this your way of telling me you want to see me more, Brady?”
The blush deepened, and she shook her head. “No, that isn’t—that’s not what I meant. I just mean—”
I held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll start stopping in more and saying hello, grabbing a coffee for myself.” I shrugged. “You know, get my hard work’s worth of free goods from the famous Buns of Delight.”
She bit her bottom lip, and I knew it was to try to tame down the smile that was threatening to take over her face. “I guess you should do whatever you need to do, Carragan.”
Rowan chose that moment to walk back out—looking disheveled and out of breath. Essentially, like he’d just committed a crime. James Bond he was not. “Are you okay, Rowan?”
He glanced over at her and nodded. “Oh yeah! Just eager to get these bagels home for my little angel! Right, Wyatt? You ready?”
I nodded, unable to say anything about what I was really thinking while looking at this man.
“Cool, let’s roll. Bye Ember! See you around, I’m sure.” He took his box and strolled out of the bakery as if his sweaty ass hadn’t just committed a damn felony for me. But I wasn’t going to be saying that, so I grabbed my box and followed him towards my SUV.