Hawthorn grunted and turned away.
I was halfway to the door when I read a small handwritten sign taped to the inside of the window. "Help Wanted - Early Morning Hours - Inquire Within."
I stared at it, and my wolf was very interested, telling me whatever I had to do, I needed to do it with this man.
This was silly. I should keep walking, find that motel, and figure out my next move. I didn't need a job in a tiny town working for a grumpy baker who made my pulse race. That was the opposite of lying low and figuring out my life.
But my savings wouldn't last forever. The warmth, smell, and the cozy chaos of a small bakery called to me. The corner of my heart that had been frozen for months was maybe starting to thaw.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I turned around. "Are you hiring?"
Hawthorn emerged from the back room carrying a large container of flour. He paused when he saw me and his brows rose.
"You know what bakery hours are like?"
"I'm guessing very early."
"Try two-thirty in the morning."
Most people would balk at that. "I'm an early riser."
"Right." Hawthorn set down the flour with a thump and I couldn’t help noticing the muscles in his arms. "Have you ever worked in a bakery before?"
"No," I admitted. "But I'm a fast learner. And I'm strong so I can lift things and do whatever you need. I won't complain about the hours."
"Everyone complains about the hours." Hawthorn crossed his arms, and the movement made his shoulders seem impossibly broad and I swallowed hard. "Everyone says they can handle it, and then a week in they're dragging themselves around like zombies and making mistakes."
"I won't."
"You don't know that."
“Let me prove it." I met his gaze. “Give me a one-week trial. If I can't handle it, I'll walk away. No hard feelings."
He studied me. There were shadows under those dark eyes and lines of tension around his mouth. The exhaustion rolled off him in waves. Whatever help he had, that person was long gone for the night.
"You got a place to stay?"
“The Sleep Easy Lodge, apparently."
“Oh, right. References?"
My stomach sank. "No. I'm... it's complicated."
His eyes sharpened. “Are you running from something?"
"Family drama." Not a lie, exactly. "Nothing illegal. I just needed to get away and clear my head."
There was another long pause. Hawthorn's gaze hadn't left my face, and heat crept up my neck under that scrutiny. Then he sighed which was heavy with exhaustion.
"Fine. One week. Show up at two-thirty tomorrow morning. The door's in the back alley. Don't be late. And if you can't hack it, tell me right away instead of just not showing up. I hate that."
I perked up and so did my wolf. He practically wagged his tail. "I’ll be here. I promise. And I’m Zale."
"Yeah, well, Zale.” Hawthorn was already turning away again. "We'll see."
I clutched my paper bag of pastries and headed for the door. The bell chimed again as I stepped back out into the snow. The cold air helped clear my head, though Hawthorn's scent still clung to my clothes. I could smell that rich espresso scent on my coat and in my hair. It made my wolf whine for more.
I found the lodge easily enough. It was small and tidy and Miriam at the desk did give me a better rate when I mentioned Hawthorn's name. The room was simple but clean, with a soft bed that made the awful bus ride worth it.
