Page 52 of Rebel Secrets
Not that my parents would let any of their kids think they were better than anyone else.I’d had a job at the arena by the time I was thirteen.And so had my brothers and sister.
I nodded.“It is.The arena doesn’t have anything booked this week so we should have the place to ourselves.Most of the guys take the month off, and my family’s pretty preoccupied with the wedding, so…”
“Absolutely.When do you wanna leave?”
“How about we get dressed, get some food and then head out?”
Ian paused for a second.“Is Erin’s bakery open?Can we stop there?”
For a second, I had the stupid thought that Ian knew about my dream.Then I came to my senses and realized the kid had a crush on her.My jaw locked for a split second against an absolutely ridiculous surge of possessiveness.
What the actualactualfuck?
First the dream, now this.I had Erin on the brain.But if I said no, Ian would want to know why I didn’t want to go to Erin’s place for breakfast, and I didn’t have an answer.At least, not a good one.
“Sure.No problem.”
Which is how I found myself walking into Erin’s bakery at seven in the morning.Ian wore a huge grin, which would probably make this all worth it.I still didn’t know what had happened to blow up his plans.I was hoping he’d have told me by now, but I also knew if I just kept my mouth shut, eventually he’d spill.He knew I was safe here.
“Erin.Hey.”
She caught sight of Ian before she saw me, and her smile did stupid things to my blood pressure.I knew what was going on.I just didn’t know why.Why, after knowing her for all this time, was she making me fuckingdreamabout her?Maybe I really did need to get laid.I just knew it wasn’t going to be her.We didn’t even like each other.
Not true.
“Hey, Rebel, you’re getting food, too, right?”
I snapped back to reality, where Ian was staring at me, confused, and Erin watched me with an expression I couldn’t read.I stepped closer to the counter, her gaze stuck to mine.Ian must have already ordered.
“What can I get you, Rebel?”
She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes, which were guarded.Why?I thought last night had gone well.Actually, I thought the last couple of weeks we’d managed to declare a truce.
What the hell had changed since last night?
I ordered what I always did, her cherry almond scones, watched her nod and retreat to the kitchen.
At the moment, we were the only customers, though I knew the café did a pretty decent business most mornings.
“Grab a table,” I said to Ian.“I’ll be back in a second.”
Not waiting for him to respond, I headed into the kitchen.
“Erin?”
She stood at the large table in the center of the room, with her back to me, throwing what I assumed was dough on the surface and kneading it like she had a vendetta against it.
“What did the dough do to piss you off?”
She let out a little scream and spun around with a little jerk.
“Rebel!What the hell are you doing back here?”
Pink flushed her cheeks, and she had a smudge of white on her chin that looked like flour.Her blue eyes flashed even brighter than normal, her lips parted as she breathed in heavily.I couldn’t help but notice the rise and fall of her chest, and the dream I’d had this morning replayed itself in my head with every detail in full color.
Jerking my gaze back to her face, I noticed how the freckles on her nose stood out just a little more.And how her hair seemed to be trying to escape her braid.My fingers curled into my palms.I wanted to set it free.
I had to swallow before I answered.
