Page 2 of My Modern Viking Stalker

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I mumble, avoiding her eyes.

“Ten-foot tall, a buzz cut, rugged beard, and bricks for muscles. Ring any bells?” she teases.

I blush. I know who she is talking about, and, no, he is not my favorite customer. He has this permanent scowl on his face, and his Viking body is terrifying to even look at. He is not even my type. He smokes way too many cigarettes and is too serious to fit the type that usually appeal to me, but…

“Hello.”

That voice. Deep and raspy, possibly from years of smoking.

My nipples harden, poking at my bra, and I thank my lucky stars for the extra layer of protection the apron I have on provides. I don’t look up when the man speaks.

“Hi there, what can I get you today?” Bella speaks out when I nudge her from under the counter.

There is a prolonged silence, but I dare not look up.

“Muffins?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, we are out of muffins right now, but we have freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies and some of the best chocolate chip cookies you’ll ever find.”

My eyes stay rooted on the counter, but the rest of my senses are tuned into him. His scent, his voice, his presence, it’s all so overwhelming.

“I’ll have the chocolate chips cookies.”

“Okay, a moment please.”

I don’t look up as Bella attends to him, and it’s not until he is walking away that I lift my gaze. Today, he is dressed in a white shirt that does very little to hide his budging muscles. Something tells me he didn’t get those from the gym, but my curiosity will remain just that, curiosity.

“Are you seriously not going to talk to him? He has been coming here for over two weeks,” Bella whispers when the stranger walks to the seat by the window to wait for his order.

“Why would I do that?”

“It’s obvious that you like him, April.”

“No, I don’t.”

Okay, maybe I do, but something about him screams danger. The aura he exudes is of an angry man, and I wouldn’t want to draw his attention to me in any way.

I get the feeling that it’d safer if I kept my distance.

Still, I watch him roll up his sleeves to reveal a string of tattoos, and my breath catches. I didn’t even think I liked tattoos on men, but now, I guess I do. His eyes are on the window, staring into the busy street.

This is insane. Standing here, drooling over a man I’ve not so much as spoken to, borders on creepy, but I can’t make myself look away.

Bella snickers as she passes me on her way to deliver his order, and soon, he is leaving. He doesn’t turn to look back as he makes his way out, not that I expect him to.

I let out a sigh before going back to work. Now that I have seen him, there is no doubt that he’ll be at the back of my mind for the rest of the evening.

“Hello, ladies,” a voice calls to us from behind, and the hairs at the back of my neck stand up.

I must have been too distracted to hear him come in. David is the reason for my bad mood in the first place. I see Bella visibly tense at his presence, a reaction I understand.

Neither of us responds, but that doesn’t discourage him. David is the manager at the bakery and as the owner’s nephew, he thinks he has free reign over us. No one likes him and for good reason.

“Bella, don’t you think it’s late? You can leave, I’ll help April lock up.”

I see Bella hesitate, and I shake my head at her, assuring her that I will be fine to deal with David on my own. I don’t want her to lose her job because of me.

For some reason, David seems to have set his eyes on me, and, as much as I hate it, there is very little I can do about it that doesn’t result in me quitting or getting fired.

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