Page 1 of Obsessed Fox

PROLOGUE

Maisie

Halloween was my holiday. The annual Halloween party in Willow Creek was not only the only social event I was willing to attend but also the one that I actively put together each year.

This year’s theme was a masked party and I must say it was nice seeing my idea come to life.

I wore a short black leather skirt, my chunky black boots, and a long-sleeved black shirt. But it was the mask that I loved the most. It was all black and shined with black rhinestones that covered more than half of my face. But if I thought it would mean people wouldn’t recognize me, I was sadly mistaken.

“Great party, Maisie. I love the theme. Such a great mystery not to know who everyone is,” Valerie said and I only knew based on the sound of her voice from coming into the bakery twice a week since I opened for some chocolate chip cookies. Her costume certainly didn’t give her away. It was similar to mine except in a baby blue but with a long skirt instead of a short one and her mask covered more of her face than mine did.

The people in this town took hiding your identity to a whole new level.

“Thank you.” I didn’t give away that I knew who she was in return. Better to keep up appearances for the sake of the party. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I was nervous not everyone would like hiding who they are.”

This town didn’t know the meaning of secrets. The fact that I was able to keep one surprises me to this day. Everyone was so up in each other’s business that keeping something to oneself was unheard of.

“We love a good mystery and this is certainly one. Oh, I better go see who else I can keep my identity from.”

I snickered at the thought but said my goodbyes.

As the party host, I kept my identity not as secret as the rest. I wanted to be available if anyone had any questions. Just as I was about to go check on the desserts, something caught my eye.

Or more accurately someone.

All dressed in black from head to toe, I couldn’t tell from this far away who it was but there was something about the person that got my blood pumping and my heart racing. It had been so long since that happened that I was eager to find out who the mystery guy was.

I made it one step before I was stopped again. Only this time by Janie. My one and only employee.

“Hey, boss!” Janie’s overly cheerful voice gave her away.

Well, actually her outfit did. Whereas I wore nothing but black, Janie was as bright as a rainbow with butterfly wings on her back to boot. She was my opposite in every way, but I wouldn’t have anyone better by my side in the shop.

“Hey,” I returned in a much more normal tone. “Everything okay? Did we run out of something? Need me to go back to the bakery to grab stuff?”

I was an overbaker by nature, so I had twice as much stuff baked at the shop just in case. I was ready to run out the doorand grab what we needed, but Janie stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“We are still good. The mini version of your desserts was a brilliant idea. Everyone is raving about them and happy to try something new so that they can find another favorite. Plus, if anyone is going back to the bakery, it’s me. Tonight is your night to let loose and I’ll be damned if I let you work instead. You need one night off.”

Okay, so maybe I was a bit of a workaholic. I used the bakery to escape . . . well . . . what I was running away from. It was the only way to ensure I didn’t form any unnecessary connections with the people in this town. There was no telling when I would need to pack up and leave.

So yes, I worked every day from open to close. It was a necessity, but I couldn’t tell Janie that, so instead I agreed.

Partially.

“You’re right. Things at the bakery are going so well that I can afford to take one night for myself.” I mentally crossed my fingers at the small white lie. I would work if the situation arose.

“Exactly.” I could practically see Janie jumping up and down clapping. “And if the party needs any desserts, they are already boxed up, so I could swing down in a jiff and grab them. Go enjoy yourself.”

I thought about the mystery man that I could only get a quick glimpse of. I would love for him to distract me for the night.

I quickly shoved the idea away. Not only was it a bad one, it was areallybad idea. The last thing I needed was to form a connection like that with someone in town. It would be disastrous.

Sure, I had sex over the years while running from my past. There was no way to go over a decade without it, but it was only with people who I knew I would never see again. Back then I never stayed in a town for more than a couple of weeks.

Willow Creek was different. I was here too long already. I put down roots. I changed my name. Took out a loan on a bakery and had an apartment. All things I never expected to do when I traveled through the small town.

Now the only way I could keep all those lies from surfacing was to keep everyone at arm’s length. To keep my barriers up nice and strong.

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