by Adele Niles
She turned to look at me, still smiling, but there was something about it that made me nervous.
“Bradley.” Her voice was too sweet. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Of course.” I shrugged.
“Great.” Kenzie came down the steps and grabbed me by the wrist. Her nails dug into my skin. She pulled me into the corner.
Not exactly private.
“Bradley.”
“Yes?”
Kenzie let go of my wrist. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Her hand shot up and grabbed a fistful of my hair.
“Ow! Ow! What the hell, Kenzie?!”
She yanked, and I bent toward her. She held me so we were eye-level. Her other hand pointed accusingly into my face.
“Bradley Briggs, you listen to me.” Her tone was sharp, and she wasn’t even trying to be quiet. I was never gonna live this one down. “If you fuck this up—if you hurt Lora—I will literally destroy everything you love. Do you understand me? I will burn your sketchbooks and trash your tattoo setup. I’ll—I’ll cut up all your stupid tight jeans!”
God, what did she think was going on?
“Kenzie, chill. It’s not that serious.” I laughed, giving my sister a smile. She couldn’t stay mad at me for long. “I’m not gonna hurt her. It’s just sex, okay? Friends with benefits. Nobody can get hurt if there’s no feelings.”
Nothing to worry about. Problem solved.
Or not. Kenzie jerked my head closer, her voice a hiss. “Lora’s in love with you, you fucking idiot.”
Warmth ran through me—not straight to my cock, like it normally did when I thought about Lora. It kind of lingered in my chest. I felt myself smile.
Suddenly, there was a lot to worry about.
I couldn’t let Kenzie know.
“I mean, can you name a girl who doesn’t love me?” I grinned.
Wrong answer. Kenzie let go of my hair, but her other hand was already moving, closed into a fist the way Benny and I had taught her—fingers curled tightly together, thumb to the outside.
She struck me in the chest. The sound of the impact was shockingly loud, and it hurt.
Lifting those huge bags of flour at Bakeology had made my sister strong.
Normally, I’d consider this a good thing. But I groaned in unexpected pain, putting my hand to my chest and staring at her.
“I’m serious!” She pointed at me again, threatening.
Shit.
I took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay, I get it.” I paused, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, okay? Don’t worry.”
Kenzie stared at me for a moment longer. She turned on her heel, ponytail bouncing, and started toward the door. One hand on the bar, she turned and pointed at me again. “Everything you love, Bradley!”
She opened the door and left, letting it shut behind her.
I took a deep breath and turned.
God, everyone I worked with was staring at me.
Benny smirked. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? You and muffin girl?”
“Her name is Lora, asshole.” I stomped forward. Logan still held the bag from Bakeology, the top folded down.
I snatched it out of his hand.
“Hey!” He held his hands up, shocked.
“Shut it.” I shook my head, opening the bag.
There was nothing inside but crumbs.
Chapter Sixteen
Lora
The shop wasn’t usually this crazy, even on a Saturday, but we were packed. Every time we sent a customer on their way, it felt like two more would show up. And there was a guy in the back of the line who looked familiar, but I couldn’t get a good enough look to place him. Our part-timer, Addison, was busting ass to keep up with orders and make coffee, but we were starting to run low on muffins and cupcakes.
Where the hell was Kenzie?
The door opened again and I groaned internally, but heard a familiar voice calling over the crowd. “Excuse me! Trying to get back to the counter, sorry!”
Thank God.
Kenzie came around the counter and put her apron back on. “Sorry,” she said to me, smiling apologetically.
“No worries, but it got crazy as soon as you left.”
She shook her head and immediately leapt into action, bagging up orders and helping Addison make and hand out lattes. I finally turned to get a batch of muffins out of the baking tray, putting them in the case. With all of us working, the line started to move faster.
Normally, this would be a good thing.
But today, it gave me a chance to see the familiar guy.
Chris.
Oh, no. What the fuck was he doing here?
My pulse immediately started to race. I turned away and grabbed a bowl full of half-stirred batter, but my palms were sweaty. It was hard to keep a good grip on the spoon.
It had to be the texts. I’d sent him stupid drunk texts, and now he was here to talk about them.
And I wanted nothing to do with him.
This was bad.
“Kenzie?”
My voice must have sounded weird, because her head snapped up immediately. She looked at me, then came to my side. “What’s up? You okay? Don’t get sick on us now, Lora.”
“No, I—I’m not sick, but…” I swallowed. My throat felt tight. “Chris is in the back of the line.”
Kenzie’s brows furrowed as she thought. She gasped softly. “Chris Chris? Your ex?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” She took a deep breath, then made her voice louder—she wanted people to hear her. “Okay. Just go take a breather in the back. If you’re still feeling sick, go home. Toss the batter you worked with.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. I took the bowl to the back, where people would think I was throwing out the batter.
I turned and pushed through the door to the back kitchen.
Why did he have to show up like this? I’d been drunk when I texted him. It wasn’t worth him driving down here to do whatever he was trying to do.
I needed to leave, but my only path out was through the front.
Dammit.
I put the bowl of batter on the counter, turning and looking out the window in the kitchen door. I nudged the door just slightly with my foot, opening it enough that I could hear what was happening in the front.
Chris had just reached the counter. “Hey, is Lora here?”
Kenzie stood with her back straight, head held up. “She’s busy in the back. What can I do for you?” She was using her asshole-customer-voice on him.
“You can go get her and tell her to come out here.”
Why did he have to be a dick?
“She’s baking. The muffins don’t make themselves.” I could imagine the tight grin on her face, the way she always looked when somebody was being unreasonable. “She’s gonna be back there for a while.”
“Fine. I’ll wait.”
Chris turned away from the counter and walked out of my line of sight, but the door didn’t open.
He really was going to wait.
Shit.
Kenzie turned her head, catching sight of me in the window. She shrugged.
I couldn’t hide forever. I took a deep breath and came out of the back.
“Sorry,” Kenzie whispered as I passed.
It wasn’t her fault.
Chris sat at a table in the corner. He looked up at me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his expression.
I eased down into the chair across from him. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He looked at me for a moment, then shook his head. “What the hell were those texts last night, Lora?”
I sighed and lowered my voice. “I was drunk. It was a mistake.”
“Were you trying to make me jealous?”
I shrugged. “Like I said. Drunk. It was a mistake. Can we just drop it? It won’t happen again.”
He snorted, drumming his fingers on the table. “What about the part where you said you missed me?”
I di
dn’t remember that one.
“I don’t miss you. You cheated on me! With my best friend!” I was still whispering, but it was heated, almost frantic. I rose from the table, shaking my head. “This conversation is over. Okay? I made a mistake, but it’s over. We’re done. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
Chris stood, too. He shifted. I was in the corner now, and he was blocking my only path out.
I could see Kenzie over his shoulder. Her eyes were wide, and she started to move around the counter.
“I’m not done talking to you.” Chris kept his voice low, but took a step toward me.
I backed up, my back hitting the wall. My stomach twisted, nerves coupling with the hangover.
“I dumped Cate,” he said, “so me and you could try again.”
No. I didn’t want that. I shook my head.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For everything. I didn’t set out to hurt you.”
“But you did!”
“And I’m asking you for a chance to make it up to you.” Chris’s brows dropped and his mouth drooped as begged for another chance.
“No.” I shook my head again.
The shop door opened.
I turned my head.
Bradley.
Chapter Seventeen
Bradley
“Kenzie, hey. So can I get a muffin and coffee, since you gave mine away?” I smiled at my sister, approaching and leaning on the counter. “I’m still hungry, you know.”
“Uh, yeah.” Kenzie nodded, but the expression on her face was wrong. She kept glancing over my shoulder.
“You okay?” I straightened up. “What happened?”
She forced a smile, but her lip trembled. “I just, I need your help. For a second. And then I’ll hook you up.”
She looked over my shoulder again and nodded her head.
I turned to see what she was looking at.
Lora.
Lora, backed into a corner by some douchey-looking guy in khakis.
That wasn’t acceptable.
“I got this,” I murmured to Kenzie, then turned, crossing Bakeology in seconds.
Lora’s eyes lifted to look at me. She was shaking.
The guy turned and looked over his shoulder. He was nothing impressive—a good few inches shorter than me, in decent shape, but not strong. He was dressed like an accountant or something.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
I put one hand on his shoulder and moved him out of my way.
The guy spluttered angrily. “What the hell? I’m talking to her!”
“Not anymore.” I shook my head and turned to look at Lora. “Hey, are you okay?”
Lora nodded slowly, reaching up with both hands to smooth her hair. “Yeah.”
The guy looked from me to Lora. “Really? This is the new guy with the big dick? Some kind of biker meathead?”
I laughed. “Please. If you knew what a real biker looked like, you wouldn’t say that. Want to meet the King’s Devils? I can call a few of them down.”
The guy’s face went red. He looked at Lora again. “Are you kidding me?”
Lora looked at him for a moment, silent, then turned her head to look at me.
“Thank you.” Her voice was quiet. It reminded me of when we first met. “Chris is just leaving.”
“What? I am not.” The guy turned toward Lora again, hands balled into fists. “We’re not done talking!”
Chris. Her ex.
Oh, fuck this guy.
“I think you’re done talking.” I turned to face Chris. “Lora wants you to leave.”
“I’m not leaving until she gives me a second chance!”
Chris lifted his scrawny arms and made a significant mistake. He tried to shove me.
I didn’t move.
He realized he’d fucked up immediately, eyes going wide, face flushing red again.
I turned my head. “Lora? You want to give this guy a second chance?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“You heard her, asshole.” I reached out, putting my hand firmly on the center of his chest. “Time for you to go.”
I took a step forward. Chris opened and closed his mouth a few times, staring at Lora. He finally spoke.
“I can’t believe you! You stupid slut! You’re giving up on me for some long-haired, tattooed freak? He probably doesn’t even have a job! He’s gonna use you up and throw you out. You think you’re the first girl he’s done it to?”
“I don’t care.” Lora raised her voice, taking a step forward. “I’m in love with him.”
That took all the fight out of Chris. His arms dropped and the color drained from his face.
Hell, I didn’t know what to say, either.
But first, I had to handle the asshole.
“Out. Now.” I pushed Chris backward. He walked, stumbling a little, until I had him outside the shop.
The door closed, and I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him in close.
“Let me give you a little advice,” I said, my voice low. He stared up at me in horror. “Stay away from her. She doesn’t want you. You fucked around once, and she’s done. And now she’s with me. And if you come around here again, I’ll do a lot worse than escort you out of the shop. Got it?”
Chris looked at me, taking a step back. I let him go. He straightened his shirt, backing away a few paces.
“This isn’t over, asshole.”
I laughed. “Cool. Bring it.”
He turned away, stalked into the parking lot, and got in his car.
I knew they were just words. There was no way he was coming back, ever.
I turned and went back inside.
Lora still stood in the corner, both hands pressed to her mouth. She looked up and our eyes met. She didn’t move.
I went to her. Sighing, I put one hand on the top of her head, then stroked it down the back of her neck. I slid my other arm around her waist and pulled her to my chest. She’d shared her feelings, and they only strengthened my resolve to finally tell her about the emotions that had been warming my chest all morning.
“I love you, too, Lora.”
Chapter Eighteen
Lora
Everything was awful.
Chris had made a huge scene, and then Bradley had shown up, and even though it was over—for now, at least—people were staring at me.
What was I going to do?
Bradley came back into the shop, and I looked up at him. He hugged me tight and started to say something. Typical Bradley, saving my ass and then comforting me.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out, talking over whatever he was saying. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
Wait. What had he said?
I looked up, blinking at him. “What was that?”
“I love you,” he repeated.
That…sure did change things.
“Really?” I asked.
“Really.” He nodded.
I glanced over his shoulder. Kenzie was serving a woman who’d just walked in, but she caught my eye and smiled, giving me a nod.
That was all the acceptance I needed.
I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck, and pulled him down into a kiss.
I didn’t let it last long. I was still at work, after all. I eased back, looking up at Bradley.
He was smiling.
I smiled back.
“Hey, Bradley.” We both turned to look at Kenzie. She held up a bag and a cup of coffee, putting them on the counter. “Oh, hey—nice jeans. Don’t let anything happen to them.”
Bradley snorted.
I gave him a questioning look, and he shook his head.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said.
“Okay.” I nodded. “So, do you want to get together tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll come get you after work?”
“Perfect.”
Bradley crossed the shop. He checked inside the muffin bag and, satisfied, picked up the coffee cup. He gave me a nod befor
e turning and leaving Bakeology.
* * * * *
We sat beside each other at The Republic, each of us drinking a beer. Bradley kept one hand on the small of my back.
“Girls keep giving you the stink eye,” he murmured in my ear.
I leaned to kiss him. “Good. Let them.”
It was good not to have to sneak around anymore.
We’d been here for an hour already, drinking and talking. Bradley was happy to call me his girlfriend now. I was just as happy to call him my boyfriend. Other women at the bar looked miserable about it, but their opinions didn’t matter.
We were happy.
I leaned into Bradley, one foot on the ground so I didn’t fall from my bar stool. He hooked his arm around me. His fingertips found the hem of my shirt and slid underneath, brushing bare skin.
“Not fair,” I murmured.
“Why not?” He leaned close and kissed me again.
I laughed and pulled away. “Because. I already want you all the time. There’s no need to tease.”
Bradley grinned at me. “But maybe I like teasing.”
He unwrapped his arm from around my waist, stroking his hand down my thigh.
I was already wet.
I leaned into him and kissed him again. “Hey. You wanna get out of here?”
“Can I finish my beer?”
“If you have to.”
“Deal.” Bradley clinked his bottle against mine and gave my thigh a squeeze.
* * * * *
We burst through the front door. Bradley remembered to grab the keys and lock the door behind us; if he hadn’t, we probably would have just left it open.
I pushed my hands under his shirt, fingers running over tattooed skin. He grunted appreciatively and pulled me in for another kiss. His tongue slid inside my mouth. I sucked on it teasingly. He grabbed my hips and pulled them flush against his.
He was already hard. I wanted to steal glances of his apartment, to see where I was, but I was already too distracted, his hard cock screamed to be released.
I reached out, rubbing him through the black denim.
“Fuck,” he mumbled against my lips.
That was the reaction I wanted.
I pulled back from him, ripping off my shirt and throwing it to the floor. Bradley dropped his as well, then moved closer to me. He unbuttoned my jeans, sliding them halfway down my hips, and glanced downward.