“Not helping,” I groan, pacing up the street past the bakery. “I need you to tell me I’m not making a huge mistake.”
“It’s fun, and that’s all. I mean there’s nothing really there, so no one else needs to know. Not even Mom and Dad.”
“It’s not for fun. Ireallylike him.”
We’re on the phone but I can almost hear her brows narrow inward. “No, Ellie. He’s twenty years older than you, and he’s your ex’s dad. Can you imagine how awkward that’ll be at holidays? How does that even work?”
“Trust me, I know.”
“I don’t want to tell you what to do,” she continues, “but I’m saying don’t do this! The consequences are huge! Maybe you forgot that we live in a small town. People talk, judge, and make up their minds based on rumors. This will send them over the edge. You guys’ll be lepers cast off the mountain.”
Part of mewantsto be cast off the mountain. I’d gladly live in the middle of nowhere with Silas if it meant he spanked my ass and filled me up every morning.
My pussy twitches again at the thought of his big, rough hands on my hips, his balls slapping into me, his dominant voice barking out orders.
Shoot, I’m digressing again, and I just caught Josie out of the corner of my eye.
“My boss is looking for me,” I sigh. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay, but don’t have too much fun tonight.”
“Have fun with the spices,” I snark playfully and hang up the line before she can rebut. She’ll get me next time, but I need the win today.
It’s good timing too. Josie is making her way toward me. She’s an older woman with long gray hair and a sweet smile that usually brightens the room. Right now, though, her brows are knit together like she’s on the edge of blowing a gasket.
Can’t say I blame her. This is her livelihood, her dream, her heart and soul. Everyone in town knows and loves the bakery.
“Can I see you in the back?” She nods toward the kitchen where flour and sugar paint the walls. The entire place is goingto need restocking and a major cleaning. I can’t believe Adam did this. Sure, he was nonchalant when we dated, but he was never violent or mean, and I’d never thought he would destroy someone’s property.
My stomach churns as I follow Josie through the wasteland of ingredients and who knows what else to the back to where her office sits tucked into a corner, a red cupcake now spray-painted on the door. She leans against the stainless-steel table before us as though exhaustion is getting the best of her.
“Ellie, I’m just going to cut to the chase. I really like you, and I know your family has a good standing in the community, but I can’t have your personal life interfering with your work. Adam left notes for you all over the walls of the shop. He said some pretty damning things about you and his father.” She pauses for a long moment then drags her gaze back up to mine. “Things that I’d rather not repeat. I don’t know if any of this is true or not, but I need you to handle your business before I allow you back in mine.”
My heart hammers against my chest as I stare blankly ahead. I want to ask to see what he wrote and know exactly what Adam thinks he knows, but it doesn’t feel like the time.
That, and I’m mortified to find out.
“I understand,” I whisper. “I assume you’re thinking the same about the apartment?”
Her lips turn to thin lines as she nods. “I’m sorry. You’ll be responsible for the damages he’s caused to the rental.”
I don’t know what kind of damage he’s done up there. If it’s anything like the bakery, it’ll be in the thousands. The best part is, I no longer have a job to pay for any of it.
“I’m sorry about this Ellie,” Josie lands her hand on my shoulder in comfort, “but I have to think about my customers and my business.”
“I totally understand,” I say, my shoulders tight. “I would feel the same way. I, ugh, I’m happy to help clean up.”
“No.” She shakes her head and stands straighter. “I think it’s best if you go resolve things with Adam as soon as possible. Maybe with a police mediator. Don’t go alone.”
Have things really gotten this bad? Am I really at the point where I need a bodyguard and a police mediator?
Heat crawls up my neck. It’s part humiliation, part fear for what comes next.
Is this Adam’s big stand? Is there more coming? Does he know what Silas and I did this morning… or last night? Does he know his father laid me out on the bed and came all over me? Does he know he spanked my ass on the kitchen island today before he took my virginity?
How informed is he?
Heart hammering, I push through the front door and keep walking, letting the cool air hit my face as I weave through the growing crowd of strawberry lovers beginning to line the street. I should go find Silas, tell him what’s happened with my job, but for some reason, my brain goes offline, and I just walk, letting the crowd swallow me up.
