Seth grinned down at his blanket, immediately bolstered by the vote of confidence.
Hell yeah, he could.
Seth knewthere were those who would consider the early call time a real downside to his profession. Most people—especially young people—didn’t want to wake up at three thirty in the morning to start their day.
But Seth didn’t actually mind it. It was kind of soothing, to be going out into the world while everyone else was still asleep. He still loved chatting with people—loved sharing food and gossip—but he also loved this fresh start to each day all on his own.
He didn’t know if that made him an introverted extrovert or an extroverted introvert or just a person like any other, with different wants and different moods depending on the time of day.
But he did love it, getting into his car at quarter to four, with everything quiet and still around him. Today it was gray but not rainy, and the air smelled like forest and damp earth.
Seth’s gloomy mood from the day before was gone, washed away during the night. He was ready to start anew, ready to bear the slow and bumpy grind to starting his own business.
Everything stayed that way—quiet and still and peaceful—until Seth arrived at the back entrance of his bakery, the one that led into his kitchen.
There was a young man standing there, right in front of the door, in a collared shearling-lined jacket and faded jeans. His dark hair was parted more or less in the center and was long enough to tuck behind his ears, and he had dark brows to match his dark eyes, and a startlingly pretty face.
Seth stopped where he was, about three feet from the door. He was 90 percent sure this was the guy who’d knocked him over in the rain. Even though Seth hadn’t gotten a detailed picture of his features, the impression was somehow the same.
Which maybe should have been freaking Seth out more than it was, but the guy looked so…normal. Younger and hotter than a random assailant had any right to be, but…yeah, more or less normal.
“Hello,” Seth said calmly, clutching the keys to the bakery in his fist. “We’re not open yet.”
Dark eyes watched him closely, but the kid didn’t say anything. He seemed to be studying Seth, clocking every inch of him. Sethwas suddenly overly conscious of his own appearance. Of his untamed hair and the soft pants he was wearing—the ones that were comfortable to work and stand in for hours—his ugly waterproof coat, the headband hanging around his neck, and the apron slung over the crook of his arm.
Seth would have guessed the stranger to be somewhere in his late teens or early twenties, but it was hard to say. His face was pretty in an almost boyish way, but his eyes…
Those eyes were deep and soulful and older than any easily estimated years.
Plus, Seth knew a thing or two about being baby-faced. People always thought he was younger than he was. It was the round cheeks paired with the slender build—it threw people off.
Was this kid living on the streets? Was that why he kept showing up at odd hours? His clothes looked clean, but that didn’t necessarily indicate anything. Plenty of people kept themselves neat and tidy while they struggled with housing. The kid actually had a bit of dirt smudged on one cheekbone, but somehow it only looked charming.
“Are you hungry?” Seth asked. Maybe that was why this stranger was standing outside the bakery. Maybe he was hoping Seth would toss out some more day-olds.
After a moment, the kid gave a small, jerky nod.
“If you come back at six, I’ll have fresh pastries, hot from the oven and everything.” Seth cocked his head. “Did you like what you tried last night?”
Another pause. Another jerky nod.
Maybe he didn’t speak? But no, he’d spoken last night, unless Seth had been imagining it.
I want to eat you. I want to eat you more than anything.
Seth couldn’t square those words with what he was seeing now in front of him, this seemingly shy kid who wasn’t speaking a word. Still, just remembering it sent a little shiver through him.
The kid cocked his head, his gaze darting over Seth like he’d noticed the tremble. He stepped to the side, away from the door.
Seth took advantage and walked confidently forward—fake it till you make it—managing to get the keys into the lock after only one misguided attempt. The movement put the quiet stranger a little behind him, and the hairs on the back of Seth’s neck stood at attention, as if in warning.Do not turn your back on this one.
There was a stir of air, and the light, breathy sound of an inhale.
Had Seth just been sniffed?
He glanced over his shoulder, but the kid was right where Seth had left him, his hands tucked in his pockets now, his gaze unerringly focused on Seth. There was a stillness to him that was unnerving, and yet Seth still couldn’t summon any real fear.
He opened the door quickly but paused there, one foot inside. “Come back at six, okay?” something had Seth saying. “I’ll give you something to eat.”
