Page 1 of Baked

CHAPTER ONE

Striding down the terracottacobbles like a man on a mission, Hunter knew what most people saw as they crossed the street to avoid him. But just because most people compared his physical build to the Hulk, it didn’t mean he also had the whole wrath thing going on too. Although, if he was ever going to suddenly develop anger issues, this week would have done it.

He was pissed as hell. Nine months he’d stayed away. Kept his distance. Damn well tortured himself. And all for nothing. Because now? Now he didn’t have a choice. There would be no staying away anymore. Not while Rachel was in danger. It changed everything.

What kind of man would he be if he let something happen to the woman he’d not been able to stop thinking about since he first laid eyes on her, just because he couldn’t get over himself?

A shit one.

Exactly. He was fine being many things. A man of few words. A man most people had to stretch their necks to see fully. He was even fine being a man who tipped the loneliness scale a bit too enthusiastically. But he drew the line at being a shit one.

That being said, he knew what going to her meant. He wasn’t dense. There had been a reason he’d stayed away. A good one. And now he was willingly throwing himself into the fire.

It meant he was done running. Done fighting his feelings. It was time to claim his honeybun. It was time to claim Rachel. And that’s exactly what he was on his way to do.

Stopping outside the pastel pink storefront, his eyes went to the even pinker neon sign that hung above the window display. The nameFairy Bakedwas flashing above a line of pretty cupcakes that had been sprinkled with assorted candy.

You’ve got this. Just go inside and calmly explain that starting from today, she is not to go anywhere without an escort.

Easy.

Blowing out a deep breath, he pushed through the glass door, vanilla hitting his tongue as soon as the shop bell rang. Mouth-watering.

Speaking of mouth-watering, Rachel’s head poked up from beneath the counter, those blue eyes going wide at the sight of him.

“Uh, Hunter, what are you doing here? I mean, um ...” She scrambled up from the floor, giving him a better view. Even under her cotton candy apron, he could tell how tight that tank top was. And he definitely already knew how perfect her ass looked in those jeans. “Did you want your usual?”

His usual was two dozen doughnuts for the guys at the fire station. He hadn’t always been so generous though. No. Not until nine months ago, when his friend Zach had introduced him to the local bakery owner. Who just so happened to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. With her cute button nose, skin creamy enough to give milk a run for its money, and pouty pink lips. He’d decided then and there that a diabetic coma was worth the risk. It was why he allowed himself one visit a week to Fairy Baked, to get his fix.

“No, honeybun, I’m not here for doughnuts today.” It only took one of his big steps to take him all the way over to the counter. Not breaking eye contact, he stifled a groan as her sugary sweet scent hit the back of his throat.

Don’t fucking sniff her, man.

He was trying not to. He really was. But his body responded to absolutely everything about this woman. She was a goddamn enchantress, casting her fairy magic over his body and flipping switches in his brain he didn’t even know were there.

“Uh, I don’t suppose you’re here for a cupcake?” Her voice was shaky. A bleak reminder of why he was there. That and the black eye that was making his fists clench.

It had only been a day since he’d received her panicked call. Asking him for help because she was scared. Scared because her asshole dad had turned up. Once he’d gotten over the initial shock of her having his number, he’d been pissed as hell.

“No, baby.” He made sure to keep his voice gentle. “We need to talk about what happened.”

Her cherry-red ponytail whipped around as she gave him her back, pretending to busy herself by reorganizing the neatly stacked pile of pink cake boxes. He was right. Her assdidlook fucking perfect in those jeans.

Control yourself, man. Keep your head in the game.

Another groan stifled, he tried again. “I think it’s best we work out some sort of schedule. I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself. Not until it’s safe. Now, I can pick you up and drop you off at work most days ... but when I’m on shift, I’ll have to get one of the other guys to do it.”

The other guys being his friends from work—fellow firefighters Zach, Benny, and Luke. And if they were busy, he was sure his friend Cody would be willing to help out. He’d said as much. He also happened to be married to one of Rachel’s best friends, Cat.

That seemed to get her attention. “Did you hit your head, Hunter Campbell? Is that what’s going on? You had a bad fall.” The shake in her voice was magically fixed as that ponytail whipped back around. “’Cause that’s the only explanation I can think of as to why you’re in here proposing you walk me around like a damn dog. What’s next? A collar? A leash?”

Don’t. Stop it.

Her hands were on her hips now, cocked to the side in a challenge. That was more like it. This was the side of her he was used to seeing. The fiery fairy. Not the fragile shell of one that he’d watched her shrink into since her dad showed up.

“This is not up for discussion. Until Cody can locate your dad, you’re in danger.”

Turns out her father was a scumbag. You name it, he did it. Gamble, drink, abuse. The thought of his little fairy growing up with such a man turned Hunter’s stomach. No wonder she’d fled to Woodvalley to get away from him.

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