“Too expensive. I just can’t swing it right now. But I’m sure it’s fine. It was probably a random guy seeing an opportunity,” I say, loading up one of the boxes with lemon curd tarts with fresh strawberries on top.
“I’ll see what I can do as far as a discount,” he says, popping a tart in his mouth. “It would make me feel better knowing you two were safe when you’re here. Especially at night.”
Sarah crosses her arms and shakes her head. “You should have to pay for that, you know.”
“You’re giving them away to the homeless!”
“Are you homeless? Did you suddenly get evicted from the place we spent ten minutes of pleasure in today?”
“Ten!” he exclaims. “Try an hour.”
She shrugs. “Fifteen minutes.”
“At least half an hour.”
“Okay, twenty-three. Doesn’t answer the question, does it?”
Pouting, he pulls out his wallet. “Fine, how much?”
I wave my hand in the air, smirking at Sarah. “It’s fine, Scotty. You know you’re welcome to sample the products when you’re here. You’re honestly my best advertisement.”
And I mean that. He goes out and brags about my shop, and business has almost doubled since Sarah brought him in here. He and the Perk Up Café get the word out about my bakery the best.
“Did you see that?” Scotty asks, setting the box on the counter as he walks to the door.
His hand moves to rest on the taser in the holster on his hip. I love Scotty, but I’m kind of glad that’s all he carries. He’s anexcitable one, especially after consuming his body weight in sugar. I worry what he might do with a real gun.
“See what?” Sarah asks, walking over to join him. “What’s out there?”
“That SUV. It’s driven by a few times now.”
I frown. “Are you sure it’s the same SUV?”
“Yep,” he says. “It’s kind of my job to notice these things.”
“Don’t get snippy with Phoebe,” Sarah says, punching his arm.
Walking over, I rest my hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. He seems anxious.”
“That SUV is casing out the place,” he says and locks the door. “I’m calling Pacino.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I say.
My words fall on deaf ears as he pulls out his phone and calls his boss. As much as it may seem like I’m protesting, I’m kind of happy. I want to see Tucker again. He’s grumpy and dark, and I should want to stay as far away from him as possible. But there’s something underneath that calls to me.
Something dangerous, and I don’t know what I’d do if he happens to show any interest in me as well. The way he makes me feel tells me I’ll let him chew me up and spit me out.
No, it’s better to keep a safe distance. But just because you’re on a diet doesn’t mean you can’t eye up the dessert cart, right?
Chapter Three
Pacino
“Leave my sister the fuck alone!” Zeppelin Molloy shouts, getting everyone’s attention.
Lainey Sloan rolls her eyes at both her brother and Wylie Ballard before continuing to clean up a table at the Seven Crows.
It’s a very complicated web. Wylie Ballard happens to be Zep’s older half-brother, and he hits on Zep’s sort of stepsister. Even though there’s no blood relation between Lainey and either man, it still feels a bit incestuous.
