Chapter 5 Teagan
Teagan
“Morning, gorgeous. Want some coffee?” Axel’s voice, deep and sultry, cuts through the stillness, sending a jolt of adrenaline through me. Startled, I whip around.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” I clutch the counter for support as I regain my balance.
The kitchen is cloaked in shadows, but the soft glow of Christmas lights decorated along the windows reveals his handsome strong jawline and his alluring eyes trained on me.
His small Christmas tree in the corner sparkles with ornaments, while also reflecting Axle’s faint smile and the Aspen’s scent mingling’s with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
“Your curse words are very colorful.” He leans against the fridge, casually handsome, a steaming Santa mug in his hand.
The rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall punctuates the quiet, each tick echoing in the stillness.
As I reach for the coffee, the heat radiates through the ceramic, and our fingers brush, igniting an electric spark that sends a shiver up my spine.
“When you’re babysitting children, you have to get creative with your words so they don’t develop some colorful American dialect themselves,” I admit, inhaling the rich scent of coffee mixed with the sweet hint of cinnamon and vanilla wafting from the mug, I lift it to my lips taking a deep breath and then a large, unladylike gulp.
As the nectar of the gods glides down my throat, warming me, I welcome the festive aromas, savoring the brief moment of peace they offer. "
“Makes sense.” His casually cool demeanor certainly does not match my frantic self.
“Why are you up so early?” I ask, still trying to steady my hammering heart.
“Because I don’t want you going back into Bayfront Beans without me.” His fingertips graze my cheek, and warmth floods my center. Faint crackles of a fire in the living room fills the air, a complete contrast with the dark, cold, stillness outside.
“Th-thank you for caring so much about me. But I’ll be fine.” My voice wavers, betraying the truth—I’m not so sure I will be fine. That letter did get to me more than I’d like to admit.
“You’re right. Everything’s probably okay, but I’m not going to let you find out on your own.” He sets his mug down, steam curling into the air like a ghost. “Let me grab my keys, and I’ll take you.”
“Axel, that’s not necessary.” The words come out firmer than I meant, but my heart sinks at the thought of leaving my car behind. “If you take me, my car will be left here.”
He shrugs, grabbing his keys with a casual flick. “Not a problem. I can pull it into the garage out of the weather.” A click of his fob brings his truck to life outside. “It’s supposed to snow today.”
“Meaning?” I tilt my head, in confusion.
“Meaning, you’ll be freezing your ass off waiting for your car to warm up if you leave it out behind the coffee shop.” He takes a slow sip, his gaze sweeping over me with a warmth that makes my skin tingle.
“Umm, if I leave my car here, how will I retrieve it?” The question feels bold, even as I ask it.
“I’ll pick you up when you close.” His tone is matter of fact, but a knot tightens in my stomach.
“Why?”
“Because I’ll be packing up your things while you work. You’re staying with me, remember?” His arms cross over his chest, muscles flexing, the intensity in his eyes sending shivers down my spine.
“I remember, but we can pack up my car. It’s not much. The furniture up there will stay. I just need my clothes, everything out of the bathroom and that’s all.”
“Sounds like we only need my truck anyway then.” He downs his coffee then places it in the dishwasher.
“F…fine.” I hate that he has me all flabbergasted.
Well, I guess I’m actually doing this, and for a moment, nothing else matters, it’s just the two of us, wrapped in the warmth of the kitchen and the soft glow of the fire.
Grabbing my coat, he places it on my shoulders. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
His palm lands on the small of my back as he escorts me to his rig. Once he’s sure I’m securely in, he shuts the door rounding the front with intent and purpose.
When we make it to the bakery, Axel is adamant about going in first. He unlocks the back door and my heart hammers against my sternum. He flicks on the lights and I peek around him. Nothing immediately looks amiss. Exhaling a long deep breath, he steps aside letting me in.
“I need to change. I’ll show you upstairs, but don’t even think about packing up the first drawer in my nightstand.” Heat warms my neck as he follows me upstairs. When I get to the top stair, I notice the door is ajar. I know I locked it yesterday after I got ready to go to Axel’s.
Noticing my movements still, Axel's hand finds its way to my lower back. “What’s wrong?”
“Umm, I’m pretty sure I locked this door yesterday before I came to your place. It’s not locked. It’s not even closed now.”
“Call the cops. Now.” He places himself in front of me as he enters. When he flips the light switch on, the sight before me is absolute chaos. I’ve dialed 9-1-1, but I’m frozen.
“911 what’s your emergency?” The lady on the other line says at least three times before Axel takes my phone answering everything she’s asking.
My clothes are strewn everywhere even my undergarments.
Picture frames are broken. The lamp beside my bed is smashed.
A vase that I had fresh flowers in from the shop next door is shattered into a million pieces.
Oddly enough, my computer hasn’t been stolen, and my TV is on its face but not stolen either. What was this intruder doing?
The fan above is on causing my eyes to catch on a piece of paper in the middle of my destroyed bed. My entire body shakes as I slowly make my way through the mess of clothes to the flapping note.
I stop in my tracks when I read: Welcome back! It’s cute that you think you belong here. But this town has a way of reminding people when they’re not wanted. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
“What the hell?” My voice trembles as strong fingers snake around my wrist, halting my frantic movements.
“Let the police get it. Don’t touch anything until they give us the okay.” Axel’s grip is firm but gentle, grounding me in the turmoil swirling in my mind.
“Have you hired anyone to work for you here at the coffee shop yet? Given them a key? I know this place is always busy.” He runs a hand through his hair, frustration etching lines across his forehead.
“No, but this person obviously didn’t need a key. My door was forced open. How the hell they got inside downstairs is beyond me.” The words spill out, panic lacing my tone.
“Unfortunately, with that lock and handle, anyone could use a credit card to get in.” The reality sinks in, heavy and suffocating.
“Why? WHY?” Anger surges within me, igniting a fire that fights against my fear.
“Someone obviously doesn’t know me well.
If they think they can scare me off, they’re sorely mistaken.
They’ll get a rude awakening! I’ll dig my heels in even deeper.
” My body trembles, each word punctuated by adrenaline.
Axel pulls me into his strong embrace, his woodsy scent wrapping around me like a cozy blanket, calming my thrashing heart.
“You’re not going anywhere. We’re going to find out who’s behind this.
Just go about your day as if nothing is wrong.
Maybe the perpetrator is a customer. I’ll change the entire security system—no wires in reach, and I hide all the cameras. ”
“Mm-kay.” I take a deep breath, grounding myself in his warmth before backing out of his embrace. “Don’t you have to be at work yourself?”
“Nope. Luxury of being the owner. I check on the team and make sure the job is done right, but I trust my guys.”
“That’s wonderful.” My voice is calmer than it should be. “I do need to change though.”
“Can you grab some garments from the floor that’ll be suitable?” His eyes roam over the scattered articles of clothing and I panic. He can’t see my lingerie. I’ll just die.
“I can, you just turn around while I snatch some that’ll need to be washed real fast.” Turning his body around to face the door, I grab a wad of clothes, and my intimate things in lightning speed.
“Okay, all done.” He twists to find me holding a mound of clothes in a laundry basket covered in a towel.
“I’ll grab a few other things to bring back to the house the cops won't need to dust. Fingerprints won’t stick to clothes, towels, and such. All things that might have fingerprints on them, we’ll leave here.”
While he’s doing that, I head downstairs to launder my load and keep the rest of the stuff in this basket covered.
Footsteps steadily pound down the stairs as I grab my apron, the familiar fabric a small comfort.
“I need to get the machines up and running and the breakfast items in the oven as soon as possible.”
“Okay, you won’t even know I’m here.” He disappears into my office, and I dive into the rhythm of the morning, trying to push away the unease coiling in my stomach.
The police arrive, a flurry of questions and flashes. They gather information and snap pictures, their presence a necessary disruption. Thankfully, they leave before opening time, and the laundry gets done just in time before we open but I can’t shake the lingering tension.
As each customer walks in, I study their faces, nerves prickling at the back of my neck. They seem kind and unaware of the dark cloud hovering over me, but I can’t help feeling on high alert, my senses heightened, every sound amplified.
Just as I’m lost in thought, I hear Axel’s strong voice from behind me. “You ready to go?”
“Miriam, sister of Moses!” My heart leaps, the surprise spilling out louder than I intend. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little shaken up.”
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” His arms wrap around my middle, pulling me closer, and he turns me to face him. “Do you accept my apology?” His gaze locks onto mine, sincere and intense.
“Only if you accept mine.” My breath hitches as I notice his pupils dilate, nearly swallowing his irises.
“Of course.” He leans in, his nose trailing up my neck, sending goose bumps cascading down my arms. “You smell like chocolate chip cookies and espresso.”
“I…I’m sorry.” My stammering lips crave his.
“Don’t apologize. You smell like heaven.” His teeth nip my earlobe, heat pools in my center as his voice wraps around me like a spell. “Let’s get you home.”
Home. I like the sound of that. Only it’s not my home; it’s his. Yet the way he says it is a definite promise of safety with the threat happening here at the café.