Page 43 of Baked

Sliding down Hunter’s body was always a good time, but she had a feeling that this time would yield very different results.

He took her to the bathroom before dropping her back onto her feet. Next, he spun her around to face the mirrored wall above the sink, his bulky frame standing guard behind her as his hands dragged down to her waist, his intense, dark eyes never leaving hers.

What was going on?

“I’m gonna show you what I see, honeybun.”

Rachel looked at her own reflection. She saw messy red hair that needed a brush. A faded T-shirt that she’d washed one too many times. And yet another pair of jeans that were part of the rotation.

Nothing damn special.

“I see the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

He placed a kiss on her neck, his eyes still not leaving hers.

“I see a woman who’s lived through a lot of shit and come out stronger.”

Another kiss.

“I see a woman with a big heart who would do anything for the people she loves.”

And another, his lips dropping to her shoulder.

“I see a woman who taught herself how to bake the most delicious damn cakes I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.”

Yet another kiss.

“I see a woman with more ambition in her pinkie finger than most people have in their entire lifetime.”

Moisture pooled in her eyes as his mouth continued to lay kisses along her shoulder.

“I’ve been single for ten years. Inten years, not one woman turned my head. Tempted me. Prompted me to do anything other than walk away. But you ...you, I couldn’t just walk away from. And when I realized you had the power to hurt me way more than my harpy ex-wife ever could, even then, I still made excuses to see you. To get my fix. Now look into the mirror, baby. See what I see. Your beauty. Your strength. Your heart.”

She wanted to tell him that this was yet another prime example of why he was too good for her, but she bit her tongue. She had an inkling that wouldn’t go down so well.

“Take a good look, honeybun, ’cause right there, that’s the woman I’ve fallen in love with.”

Fallen in love with?

Oh my God. I can’t breathe. Have I stopped breathing?

Rachel whirled around so fast she felt a little dizzy. “You what?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you,” he repeated.

Cool as a cucumber, while she was sweating buckets. Goddamn, even her boobs were sweating.

“But ... how? When? It’s only been a few weeks ... I mean—” This was not going well. Hunter must have thought so too, or he wouldn’t have silenced her with his finger.

“It’s okay. I’m not expecting you to love me back. Not yet anyway. I know technically it hasn’t been that long, but I realized something today. The reason I couldn’t stay away from you ... it’s because you’re it for me, Rachel. You’re who I want to be with, for however long you’ll have me. Even if that means one day getting my heart ripped out. The risk is worth it.You’reworth it.”

Her mouth was dry. And she was acutely aware that no words were coming out of her mouth as Hunter looked down at her expectantly.

He loved her.

How was that possible? She never got the guy. Especially not the hot one. She was the weird friend. The one who gave advice and pretended she knew what she was talking about. Since when did the weird friend get their own love story?

The disbelief causing her throat to restrict was palpable. Love was something she’d craved. All her life. And now here it was, standing before her. Telling her it was okay to trust it. She was safe. Her heart was safe.

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