Jace sighed, knowing I understood exactly why he was asking.
“He told me you wouldn’t forgive him unless I do,” I said.
“Have you?”
“I don’t know yet. What happens when the baby gets here? What if it all becomes too real, and he leaves me high and dry—stops coming around, stops seeing the baby?”
“That’s a very real possibility,” Jace said carefully. “For what it’s worth, I did the same thing to Cassie. Couldn’t express my emotions like an adult and ran from them, which in turn hurt her, of course. She forgave me, but only because she saw me change my entire life to be a better man for her. Do you feel like Liam’s done that yet?”
I hesitated. “I feel like he’s trying to.”
“I think when the moment comes, you’ll know which decision is the right one.”
“That doesn’t sound complicated at all,” I said, huffing in frustration. I was the worst at knowing when the time was right to do anything. The universe couldsend me a million signs and I probably still wouldn’t see them.
“You got any fresh red velvet cupcakes back there?” Jace asked, nodding toward the kitchen.
“In the fridge. To the left,” I said.
Jace headed to the back just as the bell above the door chimed.
“Welcome, how can—” The words died in my throat, and my hands shook as I recognized the man.
He walked up to the counter like he belonged there.
“Howdy, ma’am,” he said, unfazed by my abrupt silence.
I could tell his accent was fake. He wasn’t from around here.
“You’re Molly. Molly McKinley, right?” His words came out too fast. “I’m new in town, getting married in a couple months, and I wanted to see what kind of wedding cake options you offer.” He lifted his hand as if to prove it, but there was no ring.A stupid psychopath stalker, great.
I took a step back.
He leaned closer over the counter, his shirt shifting just enough for my stomach to drop.
A weapon. Holstered at his side.
He had a gun. I was sure of it this time.
My mind raced. I could yell for Jace, but this guy would probably shoot him. Did he even see Jace walk to the back? Did he think we were here alone? Heprobably came in because he thought I was alone. But how had he known I’d be alone today?
I could have screamed and ran, but being pregnant meant I wasn’t exactly built for a hundred-yard dash.
Dammit. What could I do?
A blinking red light in the corner of the wall caught my eye. The security system—it was actively recording.
If I survived this, at least they’d have a face to put with the psycho stalking me.
Wait. Molly. The panic button. Duh.
I forced my breathing to steady and kept my face neutral as my hand secretly searched beneath the counter.
“Sure,” I said evenly. “I can come around the counter and show you a flipbook of some of my recent work.”
I rounded the display case, my fingers sliding along the underside until I found it, pressing the button at the last possible second.
Jace came back from the kitchen, pulling his phone from his pocket. He was probably getting the panic alert as we spoke.
