Page 59 of Stopping Short

“Good morning! Welcome to Mulberry Lane Bakery! Take a look around and let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help you when you’re ready.” I smile at the little girl who already has her face practically pressed against the display case.

She’s intently staring at the treats with wide eyes. Her mom giggles and shakes her head.

I glance out the window to the shop and my brows furrow. Is that… Evan? I stare at the man as he glances around like he’s looking for something. I'm about to run into the back of the bakery when the woman breaks my focus.

“I think we need half a dozen cupcakes and a half a dozen cookies. Sweetie, do you want to pick out which ones?” She asks her daughter.

“Yes!”

I peek over at the street again, but the man is gone. I blow out a long breath and shake my head. He isn’t here. If he was, he wouldn’t hesitate to approach me. I'm just imagining things… right?

As soon as the woman and her daughter are gone, I head back into the kitchen and ask Emma to take over out front.

“Are you ok?” Sophia asks softly.

“I… I don’t know. I swear I saw Evan on the street, but when I looked again, he was gone.” I shake my head, still not understanding if my mind was seeing things or if it was really Evan.

“Follow me.” Sophia leads me through the secret door and into Bennett Bradley Security.

“What’s up, mama?” Peck smiles, but as soon as he sees my face, his lips fall into a straight line. “What happened?” Gone is the flirty husband and in his place is the serious protector Peck is to everyone else.

“Tell him, Harp.” Sophia places a hand on my lower back and nudges me forward slightly.

“I might be wrong, but I swear I saw Evan outside a few minutes ago.” I wrap my arms around my stomach and hug myself.

“Let’s take a look…” Peck trails off as his full focus is turned towards the computer. He pulls up several different video feeds onto the large screen on the wall.

“What’s going on?” Mason walks over with his arms folded across his chest.

“There might’ve been an Evan sighting. We’re checking the cameras now.”

I watch the feed intently and when I spot Evan, I gasp and my hand covers my mouth as tears fill my eyes. He’s staring into the bakery for several long minutes before he turns away, scanning the area.

“This is when I saw him.” I point at the screen.

“He knows you’re here. I guarantee he knows where you’re staying and is following you now,” Dad says softly. He comes up behind me and wraps me in a hug.

“What do I do now?”

“Now, we place men on him and follow him around,” Mason growls. “And you need to stay in the kitchen at the bakery.”

Chapter 35

Evan

This is almost too easy. I watched Harper enter the bakery and Jackson left a few minutes later. I’ve been scoping out this place most of the morning and it looks like only women work here. I shouldn’t have trouble getting to her. None of them will be able to stop me.

But I don’t want her to see me coming. I want to surprise her.

Hurrying across the street, I duck into a coffee shop and order a drink. I’ll watch from here and hope she leaves the bakery for lunch soon. If she doesn’t, I’ll have to come up with another plan.

Chapter 36

Jackson

I stare down at the text and swallow hard. He really is here. Harper has to be terrified. She barely slept last night because she was so scared of him showing up at my house.

Harper: Evan’s here and poking around the bakery.