Page 58 of Broken Pact

“I just sent you some photos. They look familiar to you?”

There’s a pause and some rustling. I watch the taller guy light a cigarette, the flare of the lighter momentarily illuminating his face. They’re not from Rosewood, that much I know. I’d remember them if they were.

“Yeah, think so,” Hawke finally replies, his voice sharper now. “Seen ’em around a few times.”

“In Rosewood?”

“Nah,” he says. “Maybe The Alley? Or shit, I dunno, somewhere though. Why?”

“Saw ’em hanging around Coraline’s bakery the other day. I don’t know, something doesn’t feel right about them.”

Hawke sighs. “Sure it’s got nothing to do with the fact that some guys are sniffin’ around your girl?”

My tongue flattens to the roof of my mouth. “Look into them for me, will you?”

“Is that an order?”

I pause, my eyes narrowing on the dash. “Does it need to be?”

He huffs a laugh under his breath. “Yeah, yeah. I’m on it. Anything else?”

“Yeah, check out the old tailor’s place in Avalon Falls, too. I want to know who owns it now, and any other properties near Sugarplum Bakery.”

“Someone’s obsessed,” he mutters.

I ignore his dig. “Do it quickly, yeah? And let me know what you find.”

“Got it. Later, man.”

I hang up and toss the phone onto the passenger seat, my eyes locked on the two men. They’re still loitering, not making a move, but that doesn’t ease the knot tightening in my chest.

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease. But it lingers, like a shadow in the corner of my mind. I need to stay sharp, keep my cool. Whoever these guys are, whatever shit they’re into, I’ll figure it out. And then I’ll make sure it doesn’t touch my girl.

28

CORALINE

It’s Sunday morning, and I’m in the kitchen at the bakery, working on a batch of carrot cake cupcakes with vegan cream cheese. It smells so good that I’m having a hard time not making extra to eat for myself. I mean, carrots are healthy, right? It’s practically breakfast food.

It’s been a few days since my first official fake date with Jasper, and while we’ve texted a little bit, he hasn’t made an effort to see me again. Which is totally fine, I reason with myself. It’s what I wanted.

Then why the hell do I feel so . . . disappointed?

I kind of thought I’d have fun making him work for it. Ya know, earn my attention or favor or whatever.

Ugh. I huff an annoyed breath, sending my loose baby hair framing my face flying outward. I knew I shouldn’t have read those fake dating romance books. I was too curious, and I ended up staying up until one a.m. last night, because I quite literally couldn’t put the latest one down.

And now it’s got me kind of twisted up. But I just have to take a deep breath and remind myself to chill out. This isn’t fiction.

The familiar ringtone of my phone cuts through the soft instrumental music in the background, pulling me from my thoughts. Mom’s photo flashes on the screen, and I answer with a quick swipe. Her warm, smiling face fills the screen, framed by the wood trim of her living room.

“Hey, Mom,” I greet, adjusting the angle of the phone to hide the chaos of the counter next to me.

“Good morning,” she replies, her voice bright. “How is my darling daughter doing?”

I smile at her affectionate tone. “Good, Mom. Just finishing up some orders. Mrs. Marshall ordered a bunch of cupcakes for her granddaughter’s birthday party.”

She shifts slightly, the paused TV in the background. “I was catching up on my show when I remembered that I hadn’t spoken to you yet. Family dinner tonight.”

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