Page 34 of Offside Rules

"Hi."

"Why do you sound out of breath?"

"I just lifted a giant bag of flour onto the counter. Why are you awake? It’s barely six."

"Because I have a job."

I take the phone in my hand before I drop it into the frosting. "Speaking of your job, how’s the road?"

"Long. We got in late. Somebody put me in a room next to the elevator."

"Poor baby."

"You’d say that until people started hauling bags past your door at two in the morning." He pauses. "Does the contractor still think he can have you back when they said?"

"They gutted my kitchen, so that’s progress at least."

"Is Ziegler leaving you alone?"

"Yes."

Wolf looks up. Beau isn’t making much effort to keep his voice down, and I turn toward the stove.

"I told you, we have opposite schedules. He’s been out of town."

"And now he’s back?"

"Everybody on his team is back, Beau. It was an away trip, not a permanent move."

The oven timer goes off. Wolf gets up, carrying his plate to the sink.

"I’ll get it," he says.

My eyes snap to his. He stops with his hand above the timer, and I reach over to silence it myself.

"That’s him, isn’t it?" Beau asks.

"Yes." I open the oven, letting the heat out before checking the cupcakes.

"I thought you said he was hardly around."

"He lives here. Occasionally, he has breakfast."

"Apparently with you."

"We’re using the same room." I tuck the phone between my ear and shoulder again and pull on an oven mitt, taking out the trays and setting them on the racks beside the stove.

"You’re sure that’s all this is?"

"God, yes. I’m baking. He’s eating eggs. Very scandalous."

Wolf shakes his head with a chuckle. I wish he’d stop looking amused. There isn’t anything happening, but Beau apparently needs a kitchen camera to verify it.

"Are you sure you won’t take the money and get into the shop? I’d rather you were there than anywhere near Wolf."

"The money doesn’t put an oven in the building today."

"He’s not to be trusted, Baylor. I know his type. And if he tries anything with you, I’m only a flight away. I’ll beat his ass. No questions asked."