Chapter 18 Henrik #2
“I really enjoyed working at the bakery, and with my fresh business degree, I had big ideas of opening my own storefront. I started small, baking out of our house on the weekends and late at night after work, but I eventually had enough of my own clientele to make the jump. I leased a cute but tiny store. Decorated and fixed it up. Advertised. Hired help. Then more help, because it was honestly doing great. We were usually sold out by noon, but I couldn’t grow any larger in that storefront.
The kitchen was too small—though it was perfect as a startup.
We started baking earlier, trying to get more product.
Working longer hours to keep up with demand. ”
Skadi nudges my knee with her nose. She knows this story all too well.
I bury my fingers in her ruff, holding on to her like a lifeline.
“I wasn’t home much at all, basically just long enough to play with Skadi, take her for an evening walk, and sleep a few hours.
Maybe that’s why he decided to have an affair. ”
I let out a wry, dry chuckle with no mirth.
“I found out because she came into the bakery looking for him. Ironic because after the first week, he never worked in the bakery. He couldn’t run the cash register without messing up the till.
If he helped in the kitchen, he made messes or fucked up the icing.
He was hopeless at all aspects of the business. ”
I take another long drink of coffee, letting the heat burn all the way down to my stomach.
Gathering my resolve. “I asked for a divorce. He agreed. Great, I thought. But he wanted cash. Business was great, yeah, but I always invested cash back into the business. He bragged to the judge that he put me through college. Never mind I worked two part time jobs myself for most of those four years. When I got the job at the previous bakery, I worked forty hours a week, mostly overnight, and then did class all day. But the judge decreed he got half of everything. I had no option but to sell the business lock, stock, and barrel down to my last commercial mixer so I could pay him out.”
I forced out another dry laugh. “He even got half of Skadi because we bought her together. I had to show the judge all my receipts for taking her to the vet for years, paying out of my own personal account. Skadi was my dog, but he didn’t care. He just wanted his share.”
My lips twist with fury and remembered fear. My eyes burn hot and dry. No tears. Not for him. Not now.
“He didn’t care about her. Certainly not about me and the business I’d created. He never understood what the bakery meant to me. So hearing he opened his own bakery using my name was a bit of a shock.”
“He did what now?” Ren drawls out, his voice casual and smooth as butter.
“He opened Darby’s Too, selling muffins and cupcakes, just like the original shop. Kirstin even saw him inside, so it’s really him.”
“I’ve got a craving for muffins and cupcakes.” Ren’s typing in his phone, probably searching for where this new bakery is. “You going to Denver with me, Zon?”
I jerk my gaze up from the coffee cup, my eyes flaring wide with horror. “No, please. He’s not worth the trouble.”
Henrik stares back at me, a stoic, silent wall of granite.
I don’t think I’m going to be able to change his mind.
So I turn to Ren. “Please don’t. I don’t want anyone to get into trouble because of me.
Besides, he’s doomed to failure. Kirstin’s going to send me all the terrible Google reviews we’re sure will come in. ”
“Bastards like him are cunning little shits.” Henrik’s bass voice rattles my cup on the counter. “He’ll find a way. He’ll hire your old employees. Steal your ideas. He already stole your name.”
“Even if he manages to hire back all my people—which he won’t, because they hated him—it doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter.” Henrik’s voice drops even lower, softer, somehow more terrible despite his whisper. “He fucking made you cry. He broke your fucking heart.”
“Bastard tried to take your dog, Darby.” Ren drops his arm around the back of my chair and leans in, tipping his head close to mine. “He deserves to have all his teeth knocked out.”
“And his legs busted with my sticks.”
A sound escapes my throat. Another. Henrik’s scowl deepens, his gaze locked on my face, murder darkening his eyes. Until he realizes I’m laughing. Crying a little, yeah, but mostly laughing. “Nobody’s ever stood up for me before.”
He comes around the island like a massive landslide, a brutal force of nature unleashed. For a second, I’m honestly terrified he’s going to knock Ren out of his chair for daring to put his arm around me. But then he’s wrapping me up again in a massive bear hug.
Big enough for me and Ren. At the same time.
He even squishes us together so we’re all three touching. More than casual friends would consider proper.
“The posse awaits your order, babe.” Henrik kisses my temple. “Give Mooseville the okay and we ride to battle in Denver at dawn.”
Ren chuckles, his face so close to mine I feel his breath on my cheek. “You know I like my beauty sleep, but for you, Darby, I’ll be up before the sun.”
My throat aches. It’d be so easy to turn my head an inch and kiss him. My stomach knots, a fluttering mess of butterflies.
Henrik squeezes my nape, his hand heavy. His eyes narrowed and intent on my face. He sees. He knows.
He holds my gaze, watching the frantic thoughts flying over my face. Betraying me. My cheeks burn. Wrestling with shame. Anxiety. Unwanted attraction. I don’t want to complicate things. I don’t want to risk hurting either of them.
Someone knocks at the door, breaking the moment. Henrik loosens his grip on my neck, but he lightly taps the tip of my nose. “I’m a man of my word, babe. When it’s time to share dessert, you let me know.”
My cheeks blaze scarlet and I almost choke.
He grins and raises his voice, “Come in, Lee.”
The door swings open. “I could use some help.”
Ren immediately hops down and heads to help. Skadi dances around, supervising while the men drag in several boxes. Henrik grabs me around the waist and lifts me down from the barstool. “Go see what I got you.”
“What?” I stammer, stunned, as more boxes are dragged into the living room. “All of this? For me?”
“You need appropriate winter gear.” If you’re staying.
He doesn’t say the last part out loud, but I feel it in the way he lightly touches my back, steering me into the next room. His care and consideration ever since I got here. From being ready to drive to Denver and beat up my ex…
To sharing me with his best friend. Friends. Plural.
Because Leland’s gaze lingers on me in the same way Ren’s does.
Fuck
I don’t even know if I’m staying.
Am I staying?
This is crazy. It’s not even been twenty-four hours yet. I can’t.
It’s like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole and ended up in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Only it’s just four lumberjacks.
And me.