Page 114

That’s the stuff.

With my coffee in hand, I walk over to the back door of the apartment, the one that leads out into the storage hallway above the bakery and unlock it, stepping out. Just past the storage area is another door that leads out onto a little balcony that I’ve fallen in love with since living here. I can take my coffee out here on my mornings off and people-watch to my hearts content. It’s private and secluded while still being right in the middle of the action.

A warm breeze brushes along my skin as I step outside. It’s early enough that it’s not too hot yet but I can tell it’s going to be a scorcher of a day. Maybe Dalton and I will just stay inside the apartment instead of going outside. I smile against the rim of my coffee cup as I imagine all the things we could get up to.

My feet stutter across the tile of the balcony and I suck in a breath.

Owen.

He’s standing across the street from the bakery, large and imposing on the sidewalk, with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes are firmly on the bakery and my pulse pounds in my ears as I watch him.

He hasn’t seen me.

And somehow that makes it even creepier.

He’s watching the bakery.

He’s looking for me.

I let out a little scoff. He never cared much when we were together, never watched out for me or noticed me, except when it came time to get one of his needs met.

So, why the fuck does he care so much now?

Why go to all this trouble to stand outside the place I work and watch for me?

My hand shakes and a drop of coffee splashes out of the mug, landing on my foot. I let out a hiss and take a step back, shaking the liquid off my foot.

When I look up again, Owen is staring right at me.

My heart jumps into my throat and I gasp.

His brow furrows and he takes a step forward.

I turn around, retreating back into the hallway and racing to the apartment with my coffee spilling all around my feet. As soon as I walk through the door, I close it behind me and lock it, my chest heaving with every breath I take.

“Baby?” Dalton says, coming out of the bedroom. He takes one look at my face and crosses the hallway in three long strides. “What happened?”

“I…uh…” I mutter, my hand shaking violently. He takes the mug from my hand and sets it on the table next to him before turning back to me. One hand slips behind my neck to steady me and the other cups my cheek.

“Talk to me, sweetheart.”

“Owen,” I whisper. “Outside.”

His gaze darts to the door at my back. “Where?”

“Across the street. I went to the balcony and he was there.”

“Stay here,” he says, gently pulling me away from the door so he can unlock it. “I’m going to go check.”

I shake my head. “No. Don’t leave me.”

He pauses, his gaze bouncing between the door and my face before he nods and threads his fingers through mine. “We go together, then.”

I nod, following along behind him as he unlocks the door and steps out into the hallway. When it’s empty, a sigh leaves me. There is no way in hell Owen would have been able to get inside and up the stairs without a hell of a commotion from Mila but my brain is not being rational right now. Dalton looks at the coffee spilled all over the floor as we make our way over to the balcony door and turns back to check on me.

I give him a little nod.

I’m not going to say that I’m okay but I’m also not not okay.