Chapter 24: Chapter 23

A wave of sheer panic hit me like a freight train. “I forgot. Shep said he was coming early to show me how to work everything with the new system. Um, I’ll just, uh⁠—”

“Get dressed, Reckless.” Then Anson licked clean the fingers that had just been inside me.

I gaped at him. “You didn’t.”

“Get dressed,” he growled.

I startled, bobbing my head in a rapid nod before glancing down at Anson’s crotch. “But, uh, you. Um.”

“Fuck. Don’t look at it. Makes it worse. I need to think about dirty gym socks or something.”

I choked on a laugh. “I’m sorry. I really did forget he was coming over early. I just need to turn off the shower. I think we’ve let the water run too long already.”

Anson scrubbed a hand over his face. “Please, for the love of God, get dressed. I’ll deal with the shower and your brother.”

I bit my lip.

“Don’t do that either,” he snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Clothes. Please. Preferably a parka.”

“I’m going.” I hurried into my bedroom, finally letting my laugh free.

“My blue balls aren’t funny,” Anson called through the door.

“Maybe just a little bit,” I yelled back.

I heard a muffled curse.

Biscuit lifted his head as if to ask what all the ruckus was about.

I covered my mouth with both hands. What the hell had I done?

My skin buzzed, and my muscles all but vibrated. I’d had a handful of relationships, even a couple of one-night stands in college, but I had never, not once, felt anything like what I’d just experienced in the freaking hallway.

We hadn’t even had sex. But, God, I wanted to. I wanted to know what it would be like to have Anson moving inside me, to—nope, nope, nope.

“Get it together, Rho.”

Biscuit cocked his head to one side.

I shook off my lust-induced haze and hurried to get changed. I put on khaki shorts and my usual work shirt with Bloom & Berry arched across the chest.

A soft mewl came from the box on the floor, and Biscuit was instantly on alert, heading over to nose at the kittens.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get them fed.” Lifting the box, I headed toward the sound of muffled voices. “Anson, can you grab Biscuit? He needs to go out.”

Anson let out a whistle, deterring the pup from snarling at Shep, and set to work taking him out on the leash. Back to communicating without words, I guessed.

Shep’s gaze cut to me the moment I stepped into the living space, and my brother did not look happy. I winced. This would not be good.

“Morning,” I greeted, trying to keep my voice as nonchalant as possible. I crossed to the kitchen, setting down the kittens and getting to work on their bottles.

Shep followed me, standing on the other side of the small island and staring me down.

Double crap.

“Want to help feed them?” I asked as if I had no idea he was giving me the death glare.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Shep demanded.

I flicked my gaze to him as I mixed the kitten milk replacer with water. I always kept the stuff on hand because I usually ended up with babies this time of year, and if they were dehydrated, you had to move quickly. “About what?”

“If you were scared to stay alone, you should’ve called me.”

The hint of hurt in Shep’s tone had me stilling and guilt settling in. The last thing I wanted to do was cause anyone in my family pain. “Is that what Anson said?”

A muscle in Shep’s cheek popped. “No. He said that he wanted to make sure the system was up and running properly before you stayed alone. But I would’ve stayed here. You know that.”

I did. God, did I ever. I looked up at Shep, making sure he really saw me. “Not everything is your responsibility.”

Shadows flickered in his amber eyes. “You’re my sister in every way that matters. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

But it was more than that. Shep carried the weight of the world, and I was starting to really worry about him taking on that sort of pressure. “It means everything that you care so much about me, but I can take care of myself. Sometimes, that means asking a friend to stay because I realized I wasn’t quite ready to be on my own.”

I wasn’t sure what Anson and I shared could be classified as friendship. It was more. But something undefinable. The kind of bond that made you feel truly seen for the first time.

The fluttering in Shep’s cheek intensified. “A friend?”

I let out a huff. “You asked me to cut him some slack. I did.” I sent Shep a pointed stare. “He needs people. And I like his grumpy ass.”

Shep scoffed. “Grumpy is an understatement.”

My lips twitched as I lifted the first kitten out of the box to feed her. “True. But I find it kind of funny now.”

Shep studied me for a long moment before finally lifting the black-and-white baby to give him another bottle. “You’re right. He does need people.”

“We all do. It’s just harder for some to let them in.”

Shep went quiet as he fed the kitten. “Your new coworker that way?”

My gaze flicked to him. “Thea?”

He nodded. “I’ve seen her at the bakery a few times. She’s pretty abrupt. I feel like maybe I did something to piss her off, but I’m not sure what.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Shep was wonderful in so many ways, but he was also used to women in this town falling at his feet. Between his golden-boy reputation, the successful business he’d built, and the Colson family name, he was a catch. But he might’ve gotten a little too used to the status.

I set the patchwork kitten back in the box and picked up the orange tiger stripe. “I get the sense she hasn’t had it easy. She’s guarded with me, too, but we’ve gotten friendlier as time has passed. Just don’t push it.”

Shep tensed. “What do you mean she hasn’t had it easy?”

I sent up a mental curse. I never should’ve put it that way. That sort of thing set off Shep’s white-knight complex. “As far as I know, she’s good now. I can just tell she’s been through some things.” I glanced up at him. “You know how it is. We’ve got a radar for people with scars.”

There was no way we couldn’t when our siblings had been through so much. You developed a sort of alert system for people who had been through trauma. And I wasn’t sorry about it. It had given us all empathy that most people didn’t have.

Shep scowled down at the counter. “She shouldn’t be dealing with whatever it is alone.”

I smiled at him. “You’ve got the best heart, you know that, right?”

Redness crept into his cheeks. “I just meant she needs some friends.”

“I know. But I love that you think that way.”

The front door slammed shut, and Biscuit pulled Anson down the hallway, panting happily. As Anson came into view, my eyes widened. He had dirt streaked across his cheek and down one side of his jeans.

“What happened?”

Anson glared at Biscuit and then me. “He saw a bunny and thought it would be fun to chase it. He dragged me a good six feet through the dirt.”

I rolled my lips over my teeth to keep from laughing.

“Do not laugh,” Anson growled.

“I’m not,” I said, barely holding it in.

“I see it in your eyes,” he accused. He scowled at Biscuit. “No more treats until you get some proper training.”

Biscuit just looked up at him with adoring eyes.

“Damn it,” Anson muttered.

Shep chuckled as he set the black-and-white kitten back with its siblings. “You’ll last an hour, tops, before giving that dog a treat. Even if you do look like you took a dirt bath.”

Anson turned his glare on Shep. “I’m going to work.”

He dropped the leash and headed for the door.

Shep and I shared a look, and then both burst out laughing.

“I heard that!”

I pulled into a parking spot outside The Mix Up. A few cars were nearby, but it was still early enough that the big breakfast crowd hadn’t descended, and thankfully, the mornings were still cool enough that I could leave the critters in my SUV while I ran in.

My phone buzzed in the cupholder, and I swiped it up.

TRACE

Had a word with Davis. He’s got an alibi for the night of the fire, but it’s thin. Still waiting on prints to come back from the crime scene, but we have his from a drunk and disorderly during college. We’ll be able to compare.

I let out a long breath as I stared at the screen. Davis was the only person I could think of who had real anger when it came to me. I also couldn’t imagine him wanting me dead. It seemed like a big leap. But I didn’t have any better ideas.

ME

Thanks. I’m running to The Mix Up and then work. You need a caffeine and sugar hit?

TRACE

I’m good. Text me when you get to work.

I sent him a salute emoji in response, then gripped the wheel and closed my eyes for a second. I forced myself to think about the good stuff. The things that weren’t fire or threats or hatred. I thought about cute kitten mews. Biscuit dragging Anson through the mud. Anson’s hand between my—nope.

My eyes flew open. That was a dangerous game. Better to think about whatever bakery treats I was about to indulge in. Much safer to everything except my cholesterol. Cracking the window, I turned off my engine and hopped out in front of the newly painted sign for The Mix Up.

The new owner had taken over less than a month ago but had already turned the place upside down in the best way. The previous owner had done a decent job with the baked goods, but the décor hadn’t been anything special. Sutton had taken everything to the next level.

There were homemade breads, pastries, and treats on top of breakfast and lunch offerings. But her specialty was cupcakes. The creations she concocted were unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Everything from unicorns to monsters in every imaginable color.

But I wasn’t looking for a sugar coma, just a pick-me-up to get me through the first few hours of work. The bell over the door tinkled as I stepped inside, the incredible smells wrapping around me. The space had white walls with dark, exposed beams overhead. Shabby-chic chandeliers hung, giving the place a feminine feel. And the accents of teal in the banquette seating and counter gave it a vibrant energy.

A woman with piercing, almost turquoise eyes smiled widely at me. “Morning, Rho.”

“Morning. It smells amazing in here,” I greeted as I made my way toward the counter. There were only two other patrons, both of whom were enjoying breakfast and their papers, so you could hear the soft strains of country music coming through the speakers.

“Always love hearing that,” Sutton said, her eyes lighting. “What are you thinking this morning?”

I glanced up at the chalkboard behind the counter. The antique frame and curlicue writing only added to the charm of it all. My gaze landed on a new addition. An egg sandwich with caramelized onions and fresh greens. “Oooooh, I want the special to go.”

“Perfect choice.”

“I’m a sucker for anything with caramelized onions.”

“It’s the whole salty-sweet thing. What about to drink?” Sutton asked.

“I’ll do a hazelnut latte.”

“You’ve got it,” Sutton said, turning toward the kitchen. “One special.”

“Coming right up,” an older voice called.

Sutton set to work on my coffee as I tapped my credit card against the reader. Then I moved down to the bakery case to admire some of her work. I just shook my head as I took it all in. There were cupcakes that looked like adorable buckets of popcorn, ones with strawberries cut to look like flowers, a few penguins, and her signature rainbow unicorns.

“I can’t believe you can make all this,” I muttered.

Sutton chuckled. “It’s kind of an addiction. I love coming up with new ideas.”

“Well, I’d say you have a gift.”

“Moooom,” a little boy called as he charged out of the kitchen.

Sutton gaped at him as he skidded to a stop in front of her. “Did you eat some of the frosting I was working on?”

The little boy’s eyes shifted to the side. It would’ve been a dead giveaway of guilt if blue stains weren’t already all over his face.

“Luca.”

He grinned up at her. His teeth were blue, too. “The blue’s the best kind.”

Sutton shook her head. “Go wash your face in the bathroom. We need to head to school, and I can’t take you looking like you’re about to audition for The Blue Man Group.”

His face scrunched. “What’s blue man group?”

She ruffled his hair. “Musicians who dunk themselves in blue paint before every performance.”

Luca looked thoughtful for a moment. “I’d try out if they dunked me in blue frosting before every performance.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Me, too. Blue is the best.”

He grinned at me. “Mom’s working on the cookie monster cupcakes right now. She’ll give you one if you ask real nice.”

“Thanks for the tip.” I winked at him, and he charged for the bathroom. “How did you make such a cute kid?”

Sutton laughed. “His cuteness makes up for all the mischief he gets into. I swear, I need ten of me to keep up with him.”

Her words had me taking stock of the strain on Sutton’s face. She covered it well. Concealer hid the worst of the dark smudges beneath her eyes, and a wide smile disguised the lines of tension around her mouth. But I could only imagine what it took to run a bakery and be the solo parent to a six-year-old son.

“I bet. He looks like he has triple the energy I do.”

“More like quadruple,” Sutton said with a shake of her head.

“Order up,” a man with white hair and a lined face said as he exited the kitchen. He grinned at me. “Thought it was you, Rho. How’s Lolli?”

“Gettin’ up to all sorts of trouble, per usual.”

“You ask her when she’s gonna marry me, will ya?”

I chuckled. “You know she’s impossible to pin down, Walter.”

He placed a hand over his heart as he handed me the to-go box. “It’s the chase that makes it so fun.”

“I’ll see if she has any plans to let you catch her.”

“You do that.”

I gave Sutton a wave. “Thank you. And good luck with your own little cookie monster.”

“I’ll take it,” she called. “Thanks for coming in.”

I headed out into the early morning sunlight but came up short as a figure stalked toward me. Davis’s lip curled as he glared at me. “You sicced your foster brother on me?”

Oh, shit.

I’d shared with Trace the text that Davis had sent yesterday because, as much as I didn’t love all the brotherly interference in my life, I wasn’t an idiot. That text was cruel at best, threatening at worst. And the fact that Davis was stressing the word foster only pissed me off more.

He’d never seen my family as true siblings. Never understood our bond. Once, when I was heading to Nora and Lolli’s for dinner, he’d asked why I spent so much time with people who weren’t actually my family when I could be spending time with him. That had been the end of things for me.

I rolled my shoulders back, reminding myself that people were just inside the bakery. “I didn’t sic anyone on you. But I did share the text you sent with my brother, also known as the sheriff. Because he’s trying to find out who set that fire you were oh so concerned about.”

Davis’s jaw went hard as granite. “Are you insinuating something, Rhodes?”

“No. I’m just sharing the facts. And you can lose my number. If you don’t, I’ll make sure to let Kye know just how intent you are on getting in touch.”

Davis’s face paled.

Guilt flooded me. Not that I’d scared Davis, but that I’d used Kye’s reputation to do it. People saw the tattoos, knew his past, and put him in that dangerous category when he was anything but. But they didn’t see how gentle he could be: with Fallon, with his niece, with every animal I took in.

“I don’t know why the hell I ever thought you were worth it. You’re nothing but a glorified gardener with a nice ass. I’ll find better in two seconds,” he snarled, charging down the street.

“Thanks for saying I have a nice ass,” I called after him.

But a chill skated down my spine because I’d seen real hatred in Davis’s eyes.