Chapter 3
Lila
Seconds after the call ends, Sullivan West bursts through the back door, baseball bat at the ready. As though he means to take someone out with one hard swing. The sleeves of his flannel button up are rolled up, revealing deliciously hard, flexed muscle. My mouth waters.
The fact that this man could take someone out with one hard swing makes my nipples instantly pebble.
Not the fucking time, ladies.
“What are you—”
But he cuts me off, marching into the bakery as though he’s clearing the building. He scans the area with each deliberate step, assessing possible threats.
I’m forced to chase after him.
“Put that thing down!” I insist, grabbing for the bat before he accidentally swings it at Roxi. Not surprisingly, my little drunk friend has yet to stir. If it weren’t for the rise and fall of her very full belly, I’d think she perished. That would not bode well for business.
“Where is he?” Sull growls. God he’s sexy when he’s pissed. The grumpy thing really works for him.
Our fingers brush as he lowers the bat, and dammit if that familiar zing doesn’t shoot straight to my core. For a solitary, charged moment there is no bakery disaster. Hell, there’s no bakery. There’s only two people with enough electricity between them to power the entire town in a blackout.
“Lila?”
I tear my gaze away from his lips and force my hands to stay at my sides lest I try to comb them through his beard. Right. He’s not here for that. With some effort, I’m able to refocus on the very real situation in front of me.
“If you use that bat on Roxi, we’re going to have a big problem,” I say.
“Roxi?”
I point to the raccoon passed out in front of my main display case. Sull turns, finally seeming to see the adorable little criminal with her frosting-smeared whiskers. If she weren’t a health hazard, I’d consider making her the new mascot of The Boozy Bakery.
Somehow, I don’t think Grandma Val would approve of that idea, though.
“A raccoon?”
“I mean, I’m not an animal scientist, but yes, I’m pretty sure that’s a raccoon.”
“A raccoon broke into your bakery?”
“Yes. And as cute as she is, she can’t stay. The health inspector would shut me down in a heartbeat.”
“Why didn’t you tell me it was a raccoon?” Sullivan grumbles, scrubbing a hand through his scruffy hair, drawing my attention back to those rolled up sleeves.
Dammit, this mountain man getup really suits him—the black and red flannel, the jeans, the scruffy beard. God, did he roll out of bed like this? No, this is not the type of man to sleep in lumberjack clothes. He’d definitely sleep in the nude, even if there wasn’t a naked woman in his bed beside.
Heat tangles between my thighs at the memory of that passionate night we shared. One where clothing was not only not optional but forbidden.
“I sent you a picture,” I say, clearing my throat when the words come out a little high-pitched.
“When?”
“Right after I told you someone broke in.”
He pulls out his phone, as though he doesn’t believe me, and checks. “I was driving,” he says, unimpressed.
“You thought a burglar tried to break in?” I ask, a little touched by his overprotective nature. And turned on, of course. Because that seems to be a heavy theme this morning.
He looks away, as though he’s embarrassed.
“You thought I actually clocked a real-life burglar and refused to call the police?” I can’t help but laugh, which is refreshing considering my predicament.
“You could’ve called Chief Walker for this,” he says. “A break in is a break in.”
“And let Audrey catch wind of my epic failure before the sun comes up? No thanks.”
“Audrey Walker?”
“Formerly Audrey Hamilton. My cousin.”
Sullivan takes a moment, as though this information is processing. “You were never just passing through town, were you?”
“I never said I was.”
He shifts, pointing that piercing gaze at me. It’s intense. So fucking intense. I want to look away, but for the life of me, I can’t. I can’t stop thinking about that steely gaze locking with mine as he came so hard above me his entire body shook from his release.
That was after I lost count of the times he brought me to the edge of a deliciously euphoric cliff and shoved me right over.
“Sull—”
“I need to grab a crate so I can move her,” he says, looking back at Roxi.
“Afraid I’m fresh out. Best I can do is a cardboard box.”
“No, I need a kennel. I’ll be back.”
“Wait, where are you going to take her?”
“My great aunt has a wildlife rescue a few miles outside of town.”
“Really?” For such a small town, Daisy Hills really has been full of surprises.
It’s no wonder people never want to leave this place.
People who are not my mother, anyway. If I can just survive today, I plan to become a lifelong resident.
But if today is an epic failure, I’ll be packing up my possessions and leaving with my tail tucked between my legs.
“Yeah. She takes in injured wild animals and nurses them back to health until they can be released back into the wild. Keeps the ones who can’t. Should be a pretty good place to sleep off a hangover. Safe from predators, anyway.”
Dammit. Just like that, the grumpy, pain-in-the-ass man reveals he does have a heart. I’m overcome with the urge to jump him. A good, quick fuck might take my mind off the mess before me long enough for me to keep it together. Would it really be so bad—
“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes or less,” Sull says, already on his way out.
“Okay, I’ll just—” but he’s already out the back door. “—clean up.”
Guess I’m the only idiot affected by our night together. But the message has been received loud and clear. As soon as Roxi is rehomed, I’ll shift my focus back to keeping my business alive and put Sullivan West out of my mind—for good.
Or, you know, I’ll try.