Page 40 of Saving His Sunshine

Sunlight peeks through the blinds as I blink awake, stretching my arms overhead. My hand falls to the empty space beside me and disappointment whispers through me. Alessandro's already gone.

He's probably with Dillon.

My stomach churns with anxiety at the reminder of what he told me last night. I can't believe Don may be behind all of this. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I thought Don was a good guy,someone I could count on. But maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe I just wanted to believe that because I needed it to be true.

With a groan, I force myself out of bed and slip into a sundress, determined to deal with the insurance paperwork today. Alessandro may have taken care of almost everything yesterday, and I love him so much for that, but I’m not his responsibility.

The equipment in the kitchen is going to have to be replaced. It’s far too expensive to do it on my own. There’s no way I’m letting Alessandro do it. Not when he’s already done so much for me.

I step into the living room and grab my keys off the table by the front door, determined to run to the bakery to grab the paperwork I need and run back. Alessandro won’t even know I was there. But before I even reach the front door, guilt slithers through me, and I hesitate.

I promised him that I wouldn’t go alone. I might be able to justify five minutes to myself, but I doubt my overprotective firefighter will see it the same.

Rivin pads over to me, his tail wagging, adoration in his big brown eyes. I stroke his silky ears, an idea forming. Rivin isn’t a person, but if he goes with me, I’m not technically alone, either...

"Want to go for a ride, buddy?"

He thumps his tail against the floor, grinning at me.

“Crap. What am I doing? I can’t use the dog to break my promise,” I groan. Alessandro would be furious.

I grab my phone instead, dialing my brother, Garrett.

It rings twice before he answers. "Hey, baby sis," his deep voice rumbles over the line, sounding exhausted.

"Hey. Did I wake you up?" I ask, cringing.

"Nah, the baby is sick," he mutters around a yawn. "She's been puking all night. I'm fucking exhausted."

"Oh no," I whisper, my heart clenching. "Poor little angel."

"Yeah," Garrett sighs, his voice going soft. "I fucking hate when my girls are sick."

A smile curves my lips at the sweetness in his tone. Garrett is an amazing dad and husband, just like he's always been the best big brother.

"Do you need help with something, baby sister?" he asks. "I feel like an asshole for not helping with the bakery yesterday."

"Garrett," I say gently. "You aren't an asshole. You have a sick baby. You can only do so much."

"Yeah, well, when I find out who broke into your bakery, heads will fucking roll," he growls, making me grin. Mostly because I’m pretty sure he means it.

"I love you; you know that?"

"Love you too. What do you need? What can I do?"

"For now, you take care of your girl. I'll hit you up when she's feeling better."

"Sounds good." He pauses. "When she’s over this, you can bring your man over for dinner."

My eyes fly wide open. "How do you—?"

"I’m the fucking high school football coach, Heidi. My boys say they don’t gossip, but they’re full of shit. Between them and their parents, I know everything in this town,” he says, chuckling. “Bring the man over for dinner next week."

"Okay," I whisper. Then my brows furrow, worry shooting through me. "But only if you promise not to hit him like you hit Bronx."

"Is he taking you to the sex club?"

"What? No!"

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