Page 5 of Worth the Heat
Before I can act on my completely inappropriate thoughts, given the situation, Trace slams back into the bakery, panting. “Couldn’t catch him, man. Fucker is fast.”
“He runs marathons,” Isabella says absently as she steps back from me, and my hands drop from her.
“What was that?” I blurt out. “Who is he to you, and why does he think you have drugs?”
“He’s an ex-boyfriend, and I don’t know what he was talking about. Didn’t he say someone’s name?”
“He said Molly, which is another word for ecstasy.”
“I swear I didn’t take anything,” she says, her eyes closing. I watch as her hands ghost the space in front of her, as if she’s walking through something. “I didn’t see a bag or box on the counter. It wasn’t there. I doubt Ari would have grabbed it either.”
“Your sister was there too?” I ask. “But he wasn’t? What were you doing?”
Isabella sighs as her eyes open. She grabs a rag from the edge of the sink and busies herself by cleaning the counter. “I’m not sure I want to say what we were doing. It’s very out of character for me, and if he goes to the police, I’ll definitely be in trouble.”
“He won’t go to thepolice,” I tell her.
“How do you know?”
“If he does, he’ll have to explain the missing drugs.”
“He won’t tell the police about those,” she retorts with an eye roll.
“He may not, but you can sure as hell guarantee I will be.”
Isabella’s eyes whip to mine. “What? How would you even know if I was arrested?”
I cock an eyebrow at her. “Seriously? In this town, and with your family? I’d know before the police even made it to your door.”
“Could they even arrest me here? I mean, his apartment is in Denver. I can just avoid going to Denver from now on,” she says nonchalantly. “I didn’t even do that much that would involve jail time. At least I don’t think so. How much time do you think I’d get for glitter bombing an apartment and sticking really stinky shrimp all over the place?”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “What else did you do?”
Her cheeks tinge with pink as her face tilts to stare at the floor. “I may have put laxatives in his protein powder and superglued his shoes to the carpet.”
I let out a loud bark of laughter. “I fucking love that. What did he do that necessitated a quick glitter bomb?”
“I caught him with my best friend.”
My laughter dies as I take in those words. “The fuck? You caught him?”
“Yup.” She smiles bitterly. “Caught in the throes of passion.”
I feel anger rising, and I pull my phone from my pocket, ready to set my anger onto someone who deserves it. “Give me his name.”
“No.”
“Isabella.”
“I handled it. Nothing else needs to happen.”
I shake my head emphatically. “I disagree. I need to keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t come back here.”
“You don’t need to do anything, Sebastian. You are not responsible for me in any way, and I’m not a damsel in distress that needs you to solve my problems.” Her voice sounds one way, but I see the fear in her eyes. She’s rattled, but I’m probably the last person she’d ask for help.
“I know that,” I say in a huff, reaching up to scratch the back of my neck. Focus, Seb. Think of your words. Don’t stick your foot in it again. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you, if I knew I could have prevented it. I’d rather you hate me, but be safe, than for you to be hurt at all.”
Isabella studies me momentarily. I see the moment she shutters her heart. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I can just talk to Alex and get the Eternity Springs police involved.”
