by Nia Arthurs
Holding my breath, I edge past the worst of it and throw the window open. Cold air rushes in, chasing the scent of charred paper and bringing a bit of relief.
I rub the back of my neck, unsure where to start.
The place has been wrecked.
The only good news is whoever set the documents ablaze didn’t seem to be strategic about it. I can salvage something.
With a sigh, I roll up my sleeves and get to work.
Shadows give way to sunshine.
The cold gets unbearable, so I close the window and keep working.
Sometime later, Clark brings a coffee into the room. She dances back when I reach for her and, since I’m on the floor, I don’t move fast enough to get her.
“I’m not here to distract you. Just drink this.” She plunks the coffee down.
“I’ll find you during your break.”
“And do what?”
“Whatever you want me to, sweetheart.”
She laughs. Shakes her head. Leaves.
Smiling to myself, I drink the coffee and continue cleaning up.
A few minutes later, the office door opens again.
Thinking it’s Clark, I jump to my feet, prepared to grab her close and plant a kiss on her that’ll calm the fire inside me.
Instead, it’s Vulture.
My smile drops into a scowl. “Brave of you to show up today.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” His oily grin grows wider. “I’m here for my check-in. Just like I do every week.”
“You heard about the fire?”
“Oh yes.” His eyelashes flutter. “Wonder why anyone would do this?”
“Yeah, I wonder why,” I grumble.
“Do the police have any leads?”
“Not yet.” I lift my chin. “But we’re going to find the culprit soon.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Caught ‘em on camera.”
Vulture’s eyes nearly pop out of his head. “Y-you did?”
“Yeah.” I step closer to him. Lower my voice to a deliberate whisper. Point a finger in his chest. “And they’re going away for a long, long time.” My eyes narrow. “I’m going to see to it myself.”
Fear flickers through his gaze.
Then he blinks. Covers it with a practiced grin. “I’d hate to be that person.”
“It’s best they confess now.” I look down at him. “Secrets have a funny way of coming to light.”
“I’m sure you’d know about that, Mr. DeMarco.”
Unease slithers down my spine.
Vulture’s never called me by my last name.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I growl.
“Did some digging on you.” He tilts his head. “Want to know what I found?”
My heartbeat kicks up.
Vulture laughs. “The crown prince of the company.” He gestures to me. “Has been working at this struggling bakery all along.” He leans forward. “Tell me, Mr. DeMarco, should I go ahead and spill your secret?”
23
Clark
Rosa eyes me as she stirs the sauce for the key lime pies. I’ve been trying to ignore her pointed gazes all morning, but she’s not letting up. It’s like two laser beams drilling into my back.
“Gah! Enough!” Tossing the bowl on the table, I whirl around. “What you saw with me and Mave… it’s not what you think.”
“It’s worse than what I’m thinking?”
“What exactly are you thinking?” I shoot back.
“If you knew, you would judge me.” She tilts her head. Arches an eyebrow. “Or maybe you would like it.”
I laugh. “Forget it. I don’t want to know.”
“Are you and Mave dating?”
“No.”
“What do the kids call it?” She turns her hand in a circle. “Are you the friends with the benefits?”
“Rosa!”
“Clark,” Rosa waddles to my side, “the man put up your hair like he was about to make love to you.” She wagged her finger in my face. “There is no need to hide that you like each other.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?”
“It’s…” I struggle to find a word, “a new thing. We’re just feeling each other out.”
“You care for him. And he is interested in you. Very much. He looks at you with eyes that wish to devour.” Rosa shakes her head. “Had I not been in the room, Mave would have feasted.” She taps the table. “Right on top of this counter.”
My core tightens as a dirty fantasy fills my head.
Mave’s strong arms banding around me.
My pants at my ankles.
The cold table flattening my cheek.
My breaths frosting over steel as I panted faster and faster.
Heat envelops my body even though every window is open and it’s cold enough to freeze my tail off.
“That’s… I mean, we wouldn’t…”
“Sweetie, I am old, not geriatric. I remember what it was like to be young and in love.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “An office romance was brewing right under my nose.”
“It’s not that serious, which is why I was trying to keep it a secret.”
“Ha. Then you should tell Mave not to look at you. His behavior gives it away.” She tilts her head. “I had known that he was interested in you from the start. I did not think it was reciprocated.”
“Not at first.”
“You had misunderstood him before?”
“Oh, no. He’s still a jerk.” I grin. “He’s just… a kind-hearted one.”
“Mave’s a good man.”
“But even good men may not be cut out for relationships.”
“You doubt his ability to commit?”
“I doubt if I’m ready to get hurt if he can’t.”
“He will treasure you.”
“How can you be so sure? I’ve only known him for a couple weeks.” I wipe my fingers against the apron. “It’s scary to give my heart to someone after all the pain I’ve seen. Men are really good liars.”
“True. A man can tell you all kinds of sweet words to get what he wants.” Her eyes narrow as if she’s remembering her own difficult experiences. “He will promise you the moon if he has to. That is why you should observe him like a hawk.”
“What should I look for?”
She taps her chin. “Observe his values and worldviews. Also, watch the way he treats his mother and sisters. His actions will reveal whether he cherishes you.” She smiles. “You’ll know when you are a man’s priority if you’re paying attention.”
I nod, soaking it all in.
The door to the kitchen swings open.
“So this is where the magic happens,” a deep voice says.
A huge grin spreads on my face when I turn around. “Austin!”
“Hey.” He gives me a friendly smile in return.
My eyes slide down his tall frame. “You look nice.”
He’s dressed in a navy button-down beneath a sleek blazer. Dark slacks. Solid blue tie. He clutches his trusty briefcase close. Pale fingers nervously run over the handles.
“Thanks.” He juts his chin at me. “So do you.”
“What this?” I strike a pose in my brown shirt and khakis.
Leona stumbles into the room. “Austin, there you are. You ready for me to show you around?”
“It’s okay.” He smirks at me. “If Clark’s not too busy, I was hoping she’d do the honors.”
Leona scowls.
She’ll hate me even more now. I try not to let her angry stare get to me. “Actually, Austin, today’s not the best day for a tour.”
“Why not?”
I explain everything about the fire. Leona interjects whenever she can, coloring in the details even though she’d only heard about the incident through me and Rosa.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Clark,” Austin says, clasping my shoulder with a worried frown on his face.
“Thanks.” I nod. “Fortunate
ly, the smoke’s cleared out now and we haven’t gotten any complaints from the customers. It seems like everything worked out.”
“Except for the documents that got destroyed in Mave’s office,” Austin grumbles.
“Yeah. Except for that.”
Austin points down the hallway. “Is the room back there?”
“Actually,” I stop him from leaving, “Mave’s with the company liaison right now. I’m not sure when he’ll be done, but Vultan seemed in a hurry to speak with him so it might be a while.”
“You can grab a table while you wait.” Leona sidles close to Austin. “I can serve you personally. Show you what we do here.”
“I think I’ll just hang out back here with Clark.” Austin levels those stunning eyes on me. “If it’s not too distracting.”
“Of course not. You’re welcome to stay.”
Leona’s smile fades. “Are you sure? It’s a lot cooler out front.”
“The window’s open.” Austin gestures to the glass. “So I think I’ll be good.”
Bells jangle outside.
More customers are arriving.
Leona sighs heavily and plods out of the kitchen.
Rosa pulls her lips in. “Should I give you two some privacy?”
“What for?” I grab her hand when she passes me by.
“It seems Mave has some competition,” Rosa whispers. “I’ll be outside helping Leona with the counter.”
“Rosa!” I hiss. “We need to finish baking—”
“Later.” She scurries out of the room.
The backstabber.
Austin clears his throat. “It’s nice in here.”
“It’s just a regular old kitchen.” I chuckle.
He licks his lips. Hesitantly broaches, “You know… I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to drop you home yesterday.”
“Why?” I wipe the counter.
He draws closer to me. His voice drops an octave. “Do you really not know?”
I glance up and my eyes fall into his.
Before I can say anything, Vulture flies through the kitchen. Hurrying past without bothering to greet us, he barges through the door and disappears from sight.
Confusion leaves me speechless.
Austin arches an eyebrow. “Is something going on?”
“I’m not sure,” I say hesitantly, peering into the hallway. “Mave and Vultan don’t get along.”
“Isn’t the company liaison technically higher in rank than a manager?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t seem to matter to Mave.”
“That’s strange.” Austin tilts his head. “The way he talked to Leanne Antaya, I never would have thought he was just a mere manager.”
“Mave is like that,” I mumble, peering down the hallway. “He says exactly what’s on his mind no matter what. It’s annoying, but it also means I can trust him. He doesn’t hide what he feels.”
The hallway remains empty.
Mave is still in his office.
Should I check on him?
I take a step.
Austin slides into my way. “After you left, Leanne and I started talking. She mentioned you.”
“Me?” I poke a finger in my chest. “My name fell from Leanne Antaya’s lips?”
“She called you ‘spunky’. Said something about what a great match you’d be for her grandson.”
My expression falls flat. “I love Leanne, but I do not want to marry her grandson.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”
“Not really.” He shrugs. “Most of my research on the company involved their mergers and acquisitions.” Austin bends over and rests his elbows on the counter. “What do you know about the grandson?”
I open my mouth. “He’s—”
“Clark!” Mave’s urgent voice stops me in my tracks.
Footsteps thunder down the hallway.
Moments later, Mave marches into my line of sight, looking just as irritated as Vulture did when he tore out of the bakery.
“I need to talk to you,” Mave says, grabbing my hand.
Then his eyes take Austin in.
The scowl on his face turns flaming hot. “You’re here?”
“I heard about the fire.” Austin straightens. “Tough luck, man. Is there anything salvageable in the aftermath?”
“Yeah. A few,” he grinds out.
I step closer to Mave. “Is everything okay? Vulture looked furious when he left.”
“Forget, Vulture. We have something we need to discuss.”
“Right now?” I glance at Austin.
“Were you two doing something more important?” Mave bites out, his gaze searing Austin like a cattle brand.
Seemingly unruffled, Austin folds his arms over his chest. “Clark was just telling me about the CEO’s grandson.”
Mave’s hold on my wrist falls away. “You know who he is?”
“I’ve never met him,” I admit. “But during my training, I heard some people at HQ talking about him.”
“The family’s super private,” Austin explains. “They completely scrubbed the grandson from the spotlight when he was young. He should be in his thirties now though? If I’m correct.”
“What did the rumors say?” Mave asks.
“That he’s cocky, rude and a jerk to women.” I scowl just thinking about it. “Apparently, he prides himself on screwing his way through the world.”
Mave turns a shade whiter.
Austin scoffs. “Rich heirs are a real piece of work.”
“Apparently, he’s never worked a day in his life. He lives wasting his grandmother’s money on stupid trips and wild parties.” I shake my head. “A total dirtbag.”
“Those are just rumors, Clark,” Mave growls. “Why are you crucifying some guy you’ve never met without hearing the full story?”
“Because every rumor has a kernel of truth,” I shoot back.
The muscles in his jaw work furiously.
“Hey, look at it this way. You might be a jerk sometimes,” I tease, “but you’re nothing like him.” I pat his arm. “Even though you have an inheritance, you’re still working hard. You don’t depend on your relative’s money to make it in life.” I smile. “That’s something I can respect and admire.”
His nostrils flare. “What if I was like him?”
“If you were some entitled jerk who spent his entire life galivanting around?” I shudder. “I could never ever accept that.”
“Never?”
“I love Leanne Antaya, but after everything I’ve heard about her grandson, if I ever saw him in person I’d probably punch him in the face.”
Austin laughs. “No explanation?”
“None. Just…” I pretend to swing.
Mave frowns darkly. If he clenches his teeth any harder, he’s going to crack his jaw.
My eyebrows lift. What?
Mave spears me with a glare. “Follow me, Clark.”
“Now?”
Turning stiffly, Mave marches in the other direction.
Did he just pull rank on me?
Austin quirks an eyebrow.
“I’ll be right back,” I murmur.
Annoyance pulls my chest tight. I hurry behind Mave, gearing up to tell him off.
We enter the employee lounge.
The moment Mave closes the door, he grabs me by the shoulders, shoves me against the wall and kisses me roughly.
My eyes burst open.
Trembling fingers palm his chest and push.
“Mave, what’s going on?” I demand, touching my moist lips in shock.
“I’m not going to lose you,” he mumbles, his eyes closed and his grip on me tightening.
“Lose me? To who? Austin?”
“I won’t, Clark.” He looks up, desperation in his normally arrogant and self-assured gaze. “You’re too important to me.”
“What?”
“I won’t do anything to jeopardize what we have.”
&n
bsp; “Hey. Hey.” I cup his jaw. “Why are you acting like this? Talk to me.”
He sighs. Nuzzles my palm.
But he doesn’t speak.
Confusion clouds my mind, but I push past it and reach for Mave.
He looks like he’s on the verge of falling apart.
Spiraling.
Heading somewhere dark. Fast.
A force rises inside me.
A primal need to protect him.
To assure him.
To love him.
Stroking his bristly cheek, I rise to the tips of my toes and kiss Mave softly.
Our lips dance in a tender caress.
Then I lean forward.
Kiss him harder.
Hold him tighter.
The passion I’ve been keeping at bay rises to the forefront.
Mave licks at my mouth.
Pulls my body flush against him.
Paws my chest, my side, my back.
I wrap my arms around his neck.
Moan in pleasure when his hands dip beneath my polo. Big fingers brush tender skin.
Yes. Please. Yes.
We’re escalating beyond the boundaries I had in place, but I can’t seem to stop.
Heat singes my veins.
I feel my head knocking back into the wall as Mave crushes me beneath his body, his hips slamming mine.
I ground myself into him. Desperate for more.
Eager to be the anchor he needs.
He grabs the back of my neck and kisses me harder.
His hips roll with intent.
I meet him.
Every rhythm.
Every stroke.
Our clothes are on.
It shouldn’t be this mad.
This wild.
This wicked.
But it is.
An intimate rock drives a dark growl from Mave’s throat.
His lips pop away from mine.
We stand back.
Stare at each other.
My gloss transferred to his mouth and now it’s shiny with promise.
There’s a wildness to his expression that reminds me of a wolf.
A lone wolf.
Majestic but lonely.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I stare into his eyes.
He swallows. Runs a hand through his hair.
“I mean it.” I rub my thumb over his cheek. Wrap him in a hug. Inhale the sunshine that still lingers in his shirt. “I swear, Mave.”
He lets out a breath. Shakes his head. “I don’t believe you.”