Page 10 of Prickly Pair
“It’s just been packed this morning,” she said, straightening back up. She was wearing a pretty purple sundress today and an apron with hearts all over it. My gaze dipped down to the V of her dress and then snapped up. I couldn’t ogle her. I mean, I could, but it seemed like a bad idea. “I don’t know why I’m always surprised when Monday mornings are busy, yet here I am. Can you guys give me just a minute? I need to pull a couple things out of the ovens.”
“Of course,” I said. “Need any help?”
“Nope. Be right back.”
Matthew and I watched her go. I exhaled and leaned against the case, humming in my throat.
“She works too hard,” Matthew said under his breath.
“Yeah.” I pressed my lips together, trying to figure out if there was a realistic way for me to add helping at the bakery to my schedule.
“So do you. Both of you should take vacations.”
“So everyone tells me,” I sighed. “When are we hanging out again?”
“Soon. You should come over and I’ll try and teach you a game.”
“You’re gonna make me be some sort of goblin creature again,” I teased.
Matthew chuckled. “Possibly. It was cute watching you try and figure out how to role-play.”
My cheeks were burning now. Was he flirting with me or was I projecting?
The door swung open again. I was still focused on listening to Evie curse in the back of the bakery, but finally glanced over.
And froze.
No fucking way.
Nick Steele stood in the doorway wearing dark jeans and a bright white T-shirt. His tanned skin was covered in countless tattoos. Sunglasses tugged at his collar, exposing the top of an inked four-leaf clover on his collarbone. In his right hand, he held acat carrier?A pair of lime-green eyes reflected behind the bars, spewing as much hatred at me as Nick’s held.
My spine straightened and I rolled my shoulders back, glowering.
Matthew glanced between us. “Uh. Know each other?”
“No,” I growled. “If we knew each other, then he’d be welcome. Instead, he’s buying up the fucking town and turning it into some sort of pyramid scheme.”
Nicklaughed.“God, Austin, is that really what you think I’m doing? This town could use the extra business I’m gonna bring.”
“You’re not gonna bring extra business here. Also, is that a cat? You can’t just bring a pet into a food establishment.”
He held up the carrier, and the cat hissed at me. “Lucky doesn’t appreciate you trying to tell us what to do.”
“Luckyshould not be in the bakery,” I snarled.
A loud curse echoed from the back, followed by a clatter and a cry.Fuck.Nick set his cat carrier on the counter, the three of us moving. But I was faster, rushing past the bakery case to the kitchen.
“Evie.”
She was sitting on the floor clutching her arm. The oven door was open and one of the racks was jammed there, tilted on its side. Several hot trays were on the floor around her, waves of heat radiating through the room.
I kicked them out of the way and knelt beside her. “Are you okay? Let me see.”
Evie pulled away, tears rolling down her cheeks. She was shaking, and her arm was clutched to her chest in a way that was scaring the fuck out of me.
“Go,” she sobbed. “I don’t want you here.”
Nick crouched behind her. “Evie? We’re right here, baby. Let us see.”
