“Be careful, please.”
“I will.”
***
By the time Raptor got downstairs flames had engulfed the bakery. The brick building had so far kept it from spreading, but it would only be a matter of time. He’d have to get Rori out of there. The heat was overwhelming. He threw open the back door and jumped back in case there was another explosion. That’s when he heard the sirens in the distance. Hopefully, there’d be something left by the time the fire trucks arrived.
Barefoot and only wearing jeans, he grabbed the fire extinguisher next to the door and worked on the fire. The heat scorched his skin, and the glass that was strewn across the floor cut his feet, but he had to make sure no one was inside.
Grabbing a damp towel from the sink he held it over his face and using the spray from the extinguisher moved through the kitchen and into the front of the bakery. The smoke was thick and billowing out of the front where the plate glass window had been replaced only hours earlier.
“Son of a bitch,” Raptor said and inhaled smoke. Gasping for breath, he checked once again for anyone, but the bakery was empty. Retracing his steps, he made it back outside in time for Hank to pull up.
“What the fuck happened?
“I think someone tossed a Molotov cocktail through the bakery window. There’s no one inside.”
“What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t. It was more instinct than anything.”
“Where’s Rori?”
“Upstairs I hope. I told her to stay.”
“Me too. I bet she was thrilled. Your feet are bleeding, stay here and wait for the sheriff and fire trucks, I’ll go get her.”
“Okay.” Raptor leaned against Hank’s truck and tried to catch his breath, his lungs were burning from the smoke he’d inhaled, and his voice sounded hoarse even to his own ears. He should have thought twice before going into the building. If someone had been caught in there, it would have been the person who started the fire, and he deserved what he got.
“She’s not there.”
“What? Are you sure? You checked everywhere?”
“Yeah. The door was open, and she was gone.”
“Fuck. I shouldn’t have left her. I told her I’d never leave her.”
A scream pierced the night. Rori. “Where did that come from?”
“Over there, look.”
A dark figure was in the process of dragging Rori across the parking lot of the neighboring building. They were headed toward a truck, and she was fighting him every step of the way. Taking off at a dead run even though his lungs felt like they were going to explode, he circled around the building and approached the soon to be dead man from behind. The dirtbag never had a chance, he just didn’t know it yet. Raptor was Delta, they always completed their mission or died trying.
“Let her go.”
“What? Fuck you, dude.”
“You don’t want to mess with him, he’ll kill you,” Rori said, her voice about ten octaves higher than normal.
“Bitch, I’ve told you for the last time to shut the fuck up.” It was all he had to hear, Raptor’s fist collided with the side of the man’s head, and he went down, thankfully she pulled away before he took her down with him.
“Raptor, watch out.”
He turned in time to see a lead pipe coming for his head. Yeah, he was going to need to brush up on his situational awareness skills, they were definitely lacking.
“Drop it, or I’ll shoot,” Hank said from behind the second dirtbag.
The lead pipe hit the ground with a resounding thud, and Rori threw herself into Raptor’s arms.
“Are you okay, angel? I’m sorry I left you again.”
“You didn’t. You were doing your job for me. I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me, but I think I need to take some martial arts training for next time.”
“There better not be a next time.”
Hank nodded and grabbed the guy who had the lead pipe and dragged him over to the sheriff who’d pulled up behind the burning building.
“Thank you for saving me again. You’re making a habit of this.”
“Angel, you are my life. I love you.”
“I love you, Jasper. I really like that better, I hope you don’t mind.”
He lifted her into his arms and took her lips in a demanding kiss. “You can call me whatever you want, angel. I’m yours.”
Epilogue
Eagle Rock, Montana, six months later…
Rori stood out front of the new and improved Prince’s Patisserie, newly rebuilt and ready for the grand re-opening tomorrow. She’d been baking up a storm once they got the final sign-offs on all the inspections. Who knew it was worse to rebuild then start from scratch. Jasper, true to his promise, had been there every step of the way. Even taking a permanent job with the Brotherhood Protectors.
The two guys who’d set the fire flipped on Cynthia Marshall as soon as they sheriff took them into custody. That’s what you get when you hire idiots. Even if they hadn’t, the sheriff had been able to recover their fingerprints from the brake line, and they were going to be in jail for a long time.
Jim’s parents had begged for mercy for their daughter. Pleading that she was not in her right mind. Rori felt sorry for them but the woman was a danger to those around her, and she hadn’t been upset at all when she’d been sentenced to ten years in a medical facility for the criminally insane, even better that it was in Massachusetts. If she never met that woman it would be too soon as far as she was concerned. Although there were times in the middle of the night when she was cuddled up against Jasper that she realized if it hadn’t been for her they’d never have found each other again.
He’d been working on fixing up her parent’s house in his free time. They figured they’d keep it for when they had a family someday. He hadn’t proposed yet, but Rori and Sadie had a little side bet going that it would be soon.
“It looks perfect, Rori. You and Jasper did a great job.”
“For a while there I didn’t think we’d ever reopen.”
“I knew it would work out.”
“Yup, that’s what you said.”
“I’m glad you kept the name the same. I was wondering if you’d change it.”
“Jasper and I talked about it, but he said it was my baby and could call it whatever I wanted. My parents made it possible, so I wanted to keep the name.”
“I hope you baked enough for when you open the doors, I have a feeling you’re going to be packed.”
“I don’t think I could fit anything else in the cases, I even have overflow in the back.”
“What’s Jasper up to?”
“I’m not sure, he was upstairs working on something. Probably getting in to more trouble on Petfinder. He’s determined to get a dog.”
“Dogs, houses, new job, I’d say he’s settled in pretty well.”
“Yeah. I had my doubts in the beginning, but he is a man of his word.”
“Rori?”
“Speaking of the devil.” Jasper was hanging out the upstairs window in their apartment. Sadie laughed.
“What’s up?”
“Can you come up here?”
“Yup, I’ll be right there.”
“I’ll let you go. I’m sure Hank has his hands full with Emma by now.”
“Thanks for your help with getting the bakery ready for tomorrow.”
“My pleasure, I hope it means lots of discounts in my future,” Sadie said as she waved and headed to her car.
Rori went upstairs and found Jasper sitting at the dining room table. “What’s up, baby?”
“I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
“This.” He lifted a single cupcake and handed it to her. It was pitiful but adorable. He’d gotten the icing consistency wrong, and it dripped down the side. He’d been learning to cook at her side and bake too. It had kept her busy all winter while the bakery was under construction. And he’d taught her other things, like how to make l
ove at least fifty different ways, in positions she’d never believed possible. But mostly he proved his love to her day after day.
“Thank you. It’s umm…beautiful.”
“I know it’s not up to your standards, but it’s my first attempt and totally from scratch. I got the recipe off of Pinterest. That website is unbelievable. There’s so much stuff, I wasn’t sure which recipe to try. It all looked so good.”
“Why didn’t you ask me for one of mine?”
“Because I wanted to surprise you. And if I’d have asked you’d have tried to help and that would have defeated the purpose.”
“I’m surprised you even know about Pinterest.”
“I’m a man, but I do pay attention occasionally. I’ve heard you and Sadie talking about how you can find just about anything on there. Aren’t you going to try it?”
The hopeful look in his hazel eyes grabbed at her heart. There wasn’t a thing she’d deny him if it was in her power. It was worth everything she’d been through to have found him, and he’d shown her the true meaning of love.
“Of course.” Carefully peeling the paper wrapper off the side of the cupcake, she took a big bite and hit something hard. As she pulled the cupcake from her mouth, a ring fell into her hand. Covered in cake and frosting was a heart-shaped diamond. Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked up to find him on one knee in front of her.
“My dearest angel, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making my dreams come true?”
“Yes, oh yes, Jasper.”
“I love you, angel.”
“And I love you, my protector.”
They were both covered in icing and cake before they came up for air and he finally slipped the ring onto her finger.
About the Author
Lynne St. James is a member of the Romance Writers of America and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her lifelong dream to be published came true in 2012 when her first book was released with Siren Publishing. From then on there was no stopping her.
She lives in the in the mostly sunny state of Florida with her husband, an eighty-five pound fluffy Dalmatian-mutt horse-dog, a fourteen-pound Yorkie-poo, and a cat to rule them all. Lynne likes to pretend her office is her private domain, but you can usually find one or more of her furry babies keeping her company.
When Lynne’s not writing, she’s reading, taking pictures, and sometimes even cooking—to the great relief of her hubby. But mostly, she’s in her office with a huge mug of coffee, surrounded by books, stuffed animals, and post-it notes, and writing her next happily-ever-after.
Where to find Lynne:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorLynneStJames
Website: http://lynnestjames.com
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