Page 75 of Suddenly Yours

Be reasonable.

Levi is a good match.

This bakery phase will pass.

It made my jaw tighten every single time.

I was happy when Max stopped by just before closing. He leaned against the counter with a coffee in hand while he waited to pick up the box of cinnamon cookies that Cora loved, and we chatted about the calls.

“He’s been calling me too,” he said with a slight groan. “He does seem to be getting… pushier.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “I’m avoiding him for now.”

“I’ll handle it,” he said firmly. “I’m serious, Missy. I’ll tell him to back off. You have enough going on. You could just block his calls?”

I met his gaze, gratitude swelling in my chest. “You don’t have to handle him and, no, I won’t block Dad’s calls.” I frowned. “That would be… rude.”

“I know,” he cut in gently. “But at least let me try to get him to lighten up.”

That was Max. Protective without being suffocating. Strong without trying to control. A sharp contrast to too many men in my past.

I loved him for it.

When I locked up later that night, it was still raining. Summer was moments away from starting, if the rain ever stopped. Even though the air was warmer, I was thankful I’d provided shelter for the cats. I spent a few minutes enjoying Sugar as she rubbed up against my leg under my umbrella. When exhaustion settled deep into my bones, I headed to my car. It was the good kind of exhaustion. One that I’d earned.

Even with graduation orders stacked sky-high and family drama buzzing unanswered in my pocket, I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

I was happier than I had ever been.

When I got home, I kicked my shoes off at the door and set my bag down on the hall table. The house was quieter than it should have been. Normally, if Cade hadn’t stopped off at the bakery in the evening, I came home to him banging or fixing something around the house. Tonight, however, Cade’s work boots weren’t by the door. There wasn’t any music drifting from the back rooms. No low hum of a saw or drill while he worked on something he’d promised himself he’d finish “tonight.”

Which was… odd.

I checked my phone. Usually, after work he would text or call me with his plans. I’d been so busy tonight that I hadn’t noticed the lack of a message. There was still nothing from him at this point.

He’d installed the security app on both our phones so we could keep an eye on the bakery, the job sites, the house. At first, it had been about safety. About Levi. About peace of mind. Now it was habit. Reassurance.

I pulled up the app and scanned the feeds without really thinking, my thumb moving automatically. The bakery’s cameras were all quiet. The parking lot and alley were empty except for the cats enjoying the dinner I’d set out for them. Then I moved to the job site and froze.

The time stamp of the last saved image told me everything before my brain could catch up. There was Cade’s truck pulling away, his headlights sweeping across the unfinished road as he left. Almost an hour ago.

My heart gave a sharp, painful lurch. If he’d left, then where was he? I glanced around the house and called his name a few times, then walked to the side window to confirm that his truck wasn’t in its usual spot by the detached garage. It wasn’t.

I texted him.

Where are you?

I waited for the three dots signaling his response, but they did not appear.

After thirty seconds, I sent another. Still no response. Then I called.

My call went straight to voicemail.

My hands started to shake and my heart spiked.

“Okay,” I whispered to the empty house. “Okay. Don’t panic.”

I called Max.