Page 29

The man’s grip loosens, but he doesn’t let go. I open my eyes, darting my gaze towards the voice, to where Sterling is standing on the other side of the counter.

“This isn’t your business,” the bald guy seethes.

Sterling moves slowly and without breaking eye contact with the other man, and then he’s on the same side of the counter as the two of us. His green eyes are dark, his lips pursed tightly. The danger in his expression makes my heart trip over itself. But not with the same brand of fear running rampant through me as the guy squeezes my throat again.

“I’m making it my business,” Sterling says. “Now. Let. Him. Go.”

“Got the milk bo-” Kiernan walks into the bakery from the kitchen, his sentence dropping when he sees the three of us.

“What’s going on?” Kee says, pushing past Sterling. “Get your hands off him!” Kee yells and I feel the man’s grip loosen. “I’ll call the cops.”

Wordlessly and quicker than humanly possible, Sterling grabs the back of the other man’s neck and rips him off of me, dragging him to the door. “No need, I’ll take care of this.” He whispers something in the man’s ear before pushing him out onto the pavement. The man disappears around the corner and I dip my head and sag against the counter. Kiernan inches closer and tips my chin up using two fingers which he pulls away as soon as I’m looking at him.

“You okay, Cass?”

I nod, then wipe at my throat again and again and again, batting away the lingering sensation of that awful man’s hands on me. My breathing picks up and I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Cass. Hey. Stop.” Kiernan squeezes my wrist and then says, “Hold on.”

There’s the sound of water running, and then a wet cloth is placed in my hand. I open my eyes then use the cloth to clean my neck, wiping away a feeling that I logically know is not there, but that I can sense, anyway. Like somehow he’s left the ghost of his hands on my skin.

“Thanks,” I mutter, embarrassment making my cheeks burn as I realise Sterling is still in the store and bore witness to the last few minutes.

Blowing out a breath, I wipe my face with the towel one more time, then finally look up and search him out. He’s standing in the centre of the bakery, one hand on the back of a bistro chair.

“Would now be a bad time to ask to try that scone?” His features have softened, but I note that his free hand is balled into a fist.

“I mean, your timing isn’t great,” I joke, garnering a smile from him and a snort from my best friend. “But there’s never a bad time to order a scone. Take a seat and I’ll bring one over.” Sterling dips his chin and slides into a chair at the table closest to him.

“I like your t-shirt today,” Sterling says, and I look down at the white tee I pulled on this morning. It’s an older one with a slice of apple pie on it and the words ‘Crust me, I’m a baker’.

“Thanks.”

“So, should I trust you, Caspian?” he asks.

I grin. “Of course. The t-shirt doesn’t lie.”

Sterling laughs and I instantly feel a little better.

“Ho-ly shit,” Kiernan mutters, shaking his head at me with a sly grin on his face before he turns his attention to Sterling. “I’m Kiernan, by the way. Best friend. Employee of the year. Skilled photographer.”

“Pain in my ass,” I add to both Sterling and Kiernan’s amusement.

Sterling rests both his hands on the table. “Nice to meet you. I’m -”

“The hot new guy in town,” Kiernan interrupts.

“I prefer to go by Sterling.”

“Bet he could go by ‘Daddy’,” Kiernan says under his breath, though the way Sterling smirks at the two of us, I wonder if he heard. I elbow my friend and he mouths “what” at me. I don’t want to call Sterling Daddy, but I wouldn’t complain if he called me a good boy. I would be so good, too.

Fucking hell. Now that the thought is there…

Shutting the door on that image, I head into the kitchen, where a new batch of scones is on the counter. Much like Applesauce, who is so often right on my heels, Kiernan follows me.

“He likes you.”

“He’s just being friendly.” Even as I say the words, I’m secretly hoping Kiernan is right.