My breath hitched, and I backed away from the door slowly, silently. My heart pounded against my ribs. He was looking for me.
I didn’t know how he’d found me, how close he was to knowing the truth. But one thing was clear. I wasn’t safe. Not yet.
I glanced at the clock. Beau should be in soon. Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe Rafael had it handled. But my gut screamed otherwise.
I wasn’t sure what scared me more, that someone from my past was catching up to me…
Or that I might have to tell Beau the truth. And risk losing this strange, sweet, flour-dusted life I was finally starting to build.
I buried myself in the kitchen, hands moving on autopilot as I kneaded dough like it had personally offended me. The rhythmic motion helped, a little.
Push, fold, turn. Repeat. I tried to focus on the texture, the scent of the yeast, the comforting weight of routine. But my heart was still racing.
Dorian slid up beside me with a tray of cooling muffins, setting them down with a little more force than necessary.
I glanced up, and he raised an eyebrow at me. No words. Just a look. A silent question.Everything okay?I hesitated too long.
“Right,” Dorian murmured, then turned back to his work like nothing happened.
But I knew better. Everyone here had sharp ears and sharper instincts. I wasn’t going to be able to pretend forever. Still, I tried.
I focused on the honey-cardamom filling for the afternoon buns. Measured, whisked, poured it into the piping bags. I told myself I wasn’t shaking, told myself I was fine.
The kitchen door swung open.
I didn’t look up. Not until Rafael stepped in, wiping his hands on a rag, his face unreadable. He leaned against the counter across from me, watching me in silence for a few beats.
“He’s gone,” Rafael said finally. “Didn’t stick around too long.”
I didn’t stop piping. “Okay.”
“Didn’t give me a name,” Rafael added. “Just said he was looking for someone.”
I kept my eyes on the pastry in front of me. “Weird.”
Rafael tilted his head. “You know him?”
I risked a glance at him. “No.”
He didn’t blink. Just held my gaze with the kind of look that stripped right through your defenses.
“Look, Sean,” he said, voice low and calm. “I like you. We all do. You’re good with customers. You’ve got great ideas. You work hard. But Beau and I… we’ve been through a lot to build this place. To make something peaceful.”
I nodded, throat tight. “I don’t want to bring trouble here.”
Rafael didn’t move. “Then don’t.”
“I won’t,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “I swear, I don’t want any of this to follow me.”
“So you are running from something.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
Rafael exhaled, like he wasn’t surprised. “I’m not asking for the details. Just be straight with us when it matters. This town… it’s not like other places. People here, we look out for each other. And we remember.”
“I’m trying,” I said softly. “I didn’t expect to care so much about a bakery. Or this town. Or—” I bit off the last part. I wasn’t ready to admit it. Not out loud.
But Rafael’s eyes softened, just a little. He nodded. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
