Page 39 of Obsessed Fox

"Oatmeal raisin are all done and I see your melancholy mood hasn't improved since I left." She gave me a stern look.

"What can I say, I'm having an off day." I didn't look her in the eyes as I focused back on what I knew best.

Baked goods.

"I can tell, and so can everyone else in town. I know you prefer to stay out of the gossip but I heard more than onecustomer today talking about it. They all want to know what happened between you and Hendrix. Is the honeymoon phase over already?"

I stood up and blinked rapidly. "Are you serious?" I huffed and plopped my fists on my hips. "Why does my mood have to do with Hendrix? Can't I just be having an off day all on my own?"

Small towns were no joke when it came to the rumor mill. I knew they meant well, but I swear sometimes no one thought about a person's feelings when they chatted amongst themselves.

Janie put her hands in the air. "Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just telling you what I heard already."

"Well, next time keep it to yourself," I snapped. "I'm going back to the office. I don't want anyone else gossiping about my mood or making up more ridiculous stories."

I pushed through the swinging door with more force than necessary but I didn't care. The nerve of these people. Thinking my mood had to do with Hendrix. Small-town folks would find anything to talk about, even if they had to make it up.

Guilt ate at me as I got closer to my office. It wasn't Janie's fault. She was just being a good friend and telling me what she heard. I needed to remember to apologize after I calmed down. She would brush it off anyway but it was the thought that counted.

I was so caught up in fuming over the rumors that I nearly missed someone standing behind my desk. When my brain caught up to what my eyes were seeing, I gasped.

However, I couldn't move my legs. Or my body for that matter. I was frozen solid when the male finally spoke.

"It's good to see you, Marmar."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Hendrix

"I can't believe Maisie agreed to stay with your ass after you kidnapped her twice." Easton shook his head from where he sat at the large table across from me. Owen sat two seats to his right and Nolen was at the other end of the table typing away like a madman on his computer.

I had no idea where Maverick, Lex, or Aaron was today since they had yet to stop in.

"Haven't you heard, villains are the new heroes. Everyone loves them." I laughed at my own explanation.

"If you say so." Owen shook his head. "I bet Kati and Annalee are down at the bakery right now getting a completely different story. Maisie is probably telling them it's Stockholm syndrome or some other shit."

I wasn't worried about what these guys thought. I knew deep down Maisie loved me, even if she wouldn't tell me.

"Laugh it up, but in the end, I got the girl and nothing else matters."

They both grinned. "In all seriousness, we're happy for you. Maisie is great and she already gets along with Kati and Annalee. Which might be bad for us. They'll be ganging up on us in no time." Easton cringed.

It wouldn't bother me one bit if they did gang up on us. I was just happy Maisie was talking to other women. I watched her from the moment I entered town and the first thing I noticed was the lack of social life she had. Other than talking to customers at the bakery, I doubt she ever spoke to the people of Willow Creek. I was hoping, now that she planned to stay, that would change.

"Uh . . . Hendrix . . . we got a problem." I whipped my head over to Nolen who was focused on the screen in front of him. "Matthew just entered the bakery through the back door."

I was out of my seat and running out the door before anyone could say anything else. I passed Kati and Annalee as they sat on a bench just outside our building. I didn't bother to answer when Kati asked what was going on. My sole focus was on getting to Maisie as fast as possible.

I was glad Lex had gotten the cameras up before the bakery opened for the day. Otherwise I never would've known Matthew was paying her a visit. I threw open the back door and came to a skidded halt just in time to hear Maisie's disbelief.

"Matty?"

"Yeah, sis. It's me."

There was a squeal and then running feet. I stepped through the open door and watched as my girl threw herself into her brother's waiting arms.

Several footsteps rushed in behind me and I turned to see Nolen, Easton, and Owen all ready to have my back.

---