Page 9 of Baked

The muffin she was holding didn’t make it into the box, as those blue orbs whipped back over to him. “You’re changing your shifts? For me?”

“Yeah, honeybun. I am. I know that one of the guys can pick you up on the days I’m working, but for my own peace of mind, I’d rather I was the one there with you.” She went to say something, but he cut her off, “Please don’t fight me on this, baby.”

He saw her face soften and hoped that was a sign she was going to let him have this.

“Six-thirty is fine.”Damn. It worked.“Some nights I stay up late and bake. But I’ll just do that on the days you’re on shift.”

He’d won. But it didn’t feel like a victory. Not when he caught sight of the defeat surrounding his little fairy.

Rising from his stool, he rounded the counter and went to her, his hands going around her biceps, attempting to take some of the weight away.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay. This is just temporary. They’re gonna find these guys, and then you can go back to living your life. I promise.”

Would he be able to go back to living his though? He’d been right to keep his distance before. As soon as he stepped foot in her apartment, he knew he was in trouble. Every inch of the space screamed Rachel. And it wasn’t just the sprinkles of pale pink accents dotted all over the place, it was the warmth he’d felt from the moment he stepped inside. That same warmth he felt whenever he was near her.

Control was easier from a distance. The voices in his head reminding him he was no good for her were louder. But now he was in her space. Eating muffins in her kitchen. Drowning in doe-eyed bright blue. He was wondering why the hell he fought this for so long. She was his. There was no going back now. Rachel had ruined him; he just hoped he wouldn’t ruin her.

“Hunter?”

Fuck me. I can’t think straight when she looks at me like that.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Thank you.” Those plump pink lips parted to draw in a breath. “I realized that I haven’t said that yet. For yesterday. For the day before. For today. Thank you.”

His fingers went to her hair, his thumb brushing the batter off an errant strand. “I don’t want your thanks, honeybun.”

“Then what do you want?”

He took a moment to search the ocean of emotion flickering in her eyes. She wasn’t ready to hear what he wanted yet. So he did what he did best: kept his mouth shut. “How ’bout you jump in the shower, and I’ll finish packing these up for you?”

One nod and he released her. Now all he had to do was not think about her naked in the shower.

Yeah, right. Good luck with that.

***

Hunter wasn’t backon shift until tomorrow. He normally did the same shifts as his buddy Zach: four days on, four days off—twelve-hour days, eight till eight. But today, he was hoping the chief would cut him some slack and let him switch. Just for a little while.

“What are you doing here?” Luke hollered as he entered the station.

He’d worked with Luke a long time. And like Zach and Benny, they were more like brothers than colleagues. It’s why Luke had been the first one he’d called last night to pick up his stuff. The only downside to having friends like these men, though, is that they are nosy-ass bastards.

“Need to speak to the chief,” Hunter grunted out, his footsteps unfaltering as he headed toward the back office.

It didn’t deter Luke; he was at Hunter’s side moments later, matching his pace. “This got something to do with you staying at Rachel’s last night?” A rare grin lit up his friend’s face.

See. Nosy.

“Yeah.”

“You’re really not gonna tell me?”

He ignored Luke.

“Okay, fine. Guess I’ll make a trip over to Fairy Baked and ask Rachel what’s up.”

That stopped Hunter in his tracks. “You leave her alone.”

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