Page 7 of Betrayed

AndIintend to keep him with me as long asIcan.

5

CONNOR

The food atThePieShopis the best thingI’veever put in my mouth.Idon’t say that lightly, either—beforeIwent to prison,Iled a privileged life.I’vebeen to restaurants with threeMichelinstars and steak houses where there was nothing under a hundred dollars on the menu.Butafter three years of prison slop, the food in front of me is more than gourmet—it’s fucking ambrosia.

It feels strange to eat with metal silverware again.Inprison, we always got plastic—it’s way too easy to stab someone with a metal fork or sharpen a spoon into a shiv.Themetal feels unfamiliar in my mouth but whatever—this is just part of the taste of freedom.

I inhale both plates and drink the sweet tea whichSunnykeeps refilling.It’snot too sweet, which is nice.JustasI’mfinishing up, she comes to sit across from me in the red vinyl booth and puts down two pieces of pie.

“There you go—StrawberryStreusel, just likeIpromised you,” she says, smiling. “Andthat other one is today’s special pie—BlueberryBacon.”

“BlueberryBacon?”Irepeat, raising my eyebrows.Itsounds like a strange combination.

Sunny gives me an impish grin, her pert, freckled nose wrinkling.

“Doesn’t sound very good, does it?Butit is,Ipromise.Goon—try it.”

I’m getting really full, butI’mnot about to say ‘no’ to her pie—not after all the letters she wrote me describing the many different kinds she makes.I’vebeen wanting to eat her pie for years now—which sounds really dirty, but get your mind out of the gutter.I’mpretending to be her big brother.

I take a bite of theBlueberryBaconpie andI’msurprised at how delicious it is.It’smade with fresh blueberries in a light, flaky crust sprinkled with tiny, crispy bits of bacon and the whole thing is topped with fresh maple whipped cream.It’sfucking amazing.

“This is fucking amazing,”Isay toSunnyasIshovel in another bite.

“See,Itold you!”Shegrins at me, looking so damn adorableIwant to lean across the table and…and what?

She’s supposed to be your little sister,Iremind myself again.Butthere’s something about her—something about the way she felt in my arms whenIheld her.Andsomething about her scent too—it made my innerWolfperk up.Whichdoesn’t make any sense—she’s human,I’msure of it.Ithad to beKane’sfather who was aWere.Ifhis andSunny’smother had anyWereblood at all, it was probably diluted.

But the way her soft, curvy body felt against me when she launched herself into my arms and her warm, feminine scent…Itry to push the forbidden thoughts away.

I’m sure if anybody else had run at me that way,Iwould have gone into defensive mode at once.Livingin prison, you learn to watch your back.ButSunnydidn’t feel like a threat—she felt warm and she smelled so sweet.Ican still feel her eager kisses all over my face…

“…ask if my friendAnnabellecan come cover my dinner shift,”Sunnysays andIrealize thatImissed something she said.

“Uh, what?Sorry,Iwas focusing on the pie,”Ilie and take a bite of theStrawberryStreusel—it’s even better than theBlueberryBacon.

“I saidI’mgoing to get someone to cover my shift so we can go back to my place and get reacquainted,”Sunnytells me.

“Oh,Idon’t want to interrupt your work,”Iprotest. “Ireally just stopped by to say hello and try some of your famous pie.”

“You want to leave already?”

Sunny pouts—an absolutely adorable expression on her sweet face.Shepushes out her lush lower lip and makes sad eyes at me.Thenher expression changes—gets more determined.

“You don’t think you’re just going to eat my pie and then walk out on me, do you?” she demands. “Idon’t think so, big brother—I’vebeen waitingyearsfor this reunion and it’s not nearly over yet.”

She’s a bossy little thing—Ikind of like that.

“Well…okay,”Isaid.Itcan’t hurt to go see her house and chat some.Herletters kept me going in prison and gave me hope—the leastIcan do is takes some time to “catch up” with her.

Sunny doesn’t wait to hear any more.Shegoes up to talk to the cook and owner ofThePieShop, who just goes by “Cookie.”Iknow all about him from her letters.He’sa veteran and outwardly gruff but according toSunny, he’s a “marshmallow inside.”

Apparently he really is a softy because even thoughIcan hear him grumbling,Sunnycomes back with a wide smile on her adorable face.

“Come on.”Shetugs at my arm, pulling me up to a standing position. “Let’sgo.”

“I have my truck out back—shouldIfollow you?”Iask her.

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