Chapter 16
Wren
You just never truly know someone.
Ican’t keep the smile off my face. Since I bought this diner, I can’t recall a single day I was excited to be here, baking and ready to greet everyone.
I was running through the motions before, having lost my love for cooking, having lost my love for everything.
But when I woke this morning, the sadness didn’t kick in.
How could it when I was wrapped in Kayden’s protective hold with him kissing along my ear.
I glance back, seeing that he’s on the phone right now.
He said he needed to reach out to a buddy of his to get some intel.
When he told me the truth of what happened, about how some asshole framed him for the crime, I nearly lost my mind.
I want to track the fucker down and put a bullet in his head myself.
I can’t even fathom someone being so evil they could do such a thing.
“Any chance you’re making an extra one of those turnovers for me?”
Kayden’s arms come around my waist, filling me with lots of little warm tingles. I turn my head, smiling. “If you give me a kiss, I’ll make you one.”
“Happy to,” he says, but he doesn’t move in for my lips. He slides down, dropping to his knees and raising my skirt. His hands begin kneading my bare cheeks like my hands are kneading the dough.
“I need another taste, babe.”
His lips are suddenly pressed between my legs and I’m nearly climbing onto the countertop.
“Kayden!”
“Shhh, little one. You wouldn’t want Mr. G to walk in and hear.”
No. I grip the dough tighter as his lips start roaming over me, planting soft kisses while his hands push and pull me apart. The feeling is building in intensity as he begins to pump his tongue inside, running his fingers between my legs.
“God, it’s so good.” I grip the counter, trying to keep myself upright. The dough forgotten.
He grunts in response and then my clit is pinched between two of his fingers, eliciting a wild cry as a shock blasts through me. He twists and pulls, rubbing me perfectly, and it happens. My orgasm hits, tremor after tremor.
“Miss Wren, you back there?”
Mr. Granley’s voice has my eyes flying open. Kayden quickly slips away, pulling my skirt down as he stands. I’m trying to pull myself together before I’m caught looking disheveled by the old man.
“Yes, Mr. G. I was just doing some baking. Let me wash my hands and I’ll be right out.”
I turn and smile at Kayden— who looks a little disheveled himself. “Would you mind helping him while I pull the turnovers out of the oven?”
“Sure thing, baby.” He kisses the tip of my nose and then heads out to the front. I grab my potholders, pulling the warm tray from the oven then plating four turnovers. Two for each of the men in my life.
“Here you go! Hot apple turnovers, straight out of the ov…” I nearly run right into Kayden’s back, almost losing the goodies on the plate. He’s standing frozen, staring at the man who just walked through the door.
“You,” Miles says, staring right at Kayden. “What are you doing out? You were given twenty without parole.”
How does he know that? How does he know Kayden was in prison? How does he know who Kayden is?
Kayden’s fists clench by his sides and the plates slip from my hands, shattering to the ground. He was the one. He was the one who framed the man I love.
I reach under the counter and step forward, releasing the safety on my gun and earning both men’s attention. “You’re the one who stole him from me.” I pin Miles under my stare, my hands shaking. “You had an innocent man locked away.” I move closer.
Miles looks from Kayden to me, not even registering that I’m about to kill him.
I take another step, trying to fill my lungs, trying to keep my finger steady.
“You paid them off. You had him sent away. All because you couldn’t handle being told no.
” I aim my gun right between his eyes. “All because you thought you were better than him. You’re pathetic, Miles.
And now”—I tilt my head—“you’re going to die. ”
“You don’t want to do this, baby.” Kayden’s hand closes over mine, the other over the barrel. “He’s not worth it.” I feel his warmth at my back, his voice right at my ear. “His fate will be much worse inside prison. I promise.”
Miles’s eyes grow wide and it makes me smile. Finally, it’s sinking in. He’s going to pay. He’s going to pay for his crimes against the man I love. He’s going to be kissing that penthouse suite goodbye. His new home is going to be a cement cage. But even still, it doesn’t feel like enough.
“Can I eat least blow his little pecker off?” I ask, glancing at Kayden as I aim my gun at Miles’ crotch. He lets out a chuckle, pulling me right into his chest.
“Nah.” He takes the gun from my hand. “They’ll castrate him on the inside and make it far more painful. Now, why don’t you get Mr. G a cup of coffee while I take the trash out?”
I look over at Mr. G, who’s glaring at Miles, looking like he wants to blow his head off too.
“Okay. But please don’t be long. There’s something I want to give you.
” I lean up and kiss his lips, whispering how I want to go down on that big dick of his and swallow every drop, then I slip back and turn, grabbing Mr. Granley a cup of coffee.
The bells chime overhead as the two men exit the building.
I’m not sure what Kayden’s plan is, but when I hear a scream, I smile.
“Sorry, Mr. G. Didn’t mean for you to get caught up in the drama this morning.”
He shakes his head. “I would’ve put a bullet in his head. After what he did to that boy, he deserves it.”
“And how do you know what happened?” I ask.
“Ran into that man of yours at the bar the other night. We both swapped war stories. His, much worse than mine. So…” He takes a sip of his coffee, turning his curious stare on me now. “Does that ring on your finger mean that you’ve come to your senses?”
“My senses?”
“Yep.” He nods. “That boy loves you, and you’d be a fool to let him go. When a man breaks his own heart to put you first, he’s a keeper.”
He’s right about that.
“Let me go get you a turnover. And just so you know, I am keeping him.”
I’m keeping him forever.