Page 89 of Knot So Sweet
"Fuck off, Xaden."
He laughs. Hangs up.
I stare at the phone. Then at Liam, who's standing now. Stretching like a cat.
"Get your coat," I say. Head to the closet. "We're going to the bakery."
"You're driving?" Liam's already pulling on his jacket. "Should I be worried?"
"I don't drive like a maniac."
"You absolutely do when you're wound up." But he's grinning. "This should be interesting."
Twenty minutes later, I'm fumbling with keys outside the bakery. December air biting my face. Snow falling thick enough to blur the streetlights.
"You're nervous," Liam observes. Stamping his feet.
"Not." Key finally slides into the lock.
"Your hands are shaking."
"Cold."
"Bullshit."
I push open the door. Brass bell chimes. Familiar scent hits me. This morning's cinnamon rolls. Coffee. Underneath it, traces of Violet. Vanilla and something that makes my alpha purr.
"You're absolutely nervous." Liam follows me in. Shakes snow off his coat.
"Shut up."
I head straight for the back room. Flip on lights as I go. Need to set up before they get here. "Make yourself useful. Grab the chairs from storage."
"Grunt labor. Great." But he's already moving.
The back room is small. Barely big enough. But it'll work. I drag the table from the corner. Position it center. Legs scrape loud against the floor.
Liam returns with chairs. Sets them around the table. "You've got that look."
"What look?" I'm pulling the poker set from the shelf. Cards. Chips. Everything organized how I like it.
"Planning something."
“Leave me alone.” I arrange chips by color. Red. Blue. White. Green. Enough for four players.
"Please." Liam leans against the doorframe. “It looks like you've been planning this since morning. Question is whether you'll make it through a whole game without touching her."
Heat crawls up my neck. He's right. Violet in my space? I give myself an hour.
The brass bell chimes. Xaden's voice carries from the front. "We're here. It's a goddamn blizzard."
I leave the back room. Liam follows.
Xaden's stamping snow off his boots. And behind him...
Violet.
Dark jeans. Blue sweater. Hair messed up from wind. Snowflakes melting in the strands. Cheeks pink from cold. Carrying a plate of brownies. Smiling like she knows exactly what she does to me.
