Page 73 of Owning Emma

Chapter 35

ROMAN

The snow had begunto fall by the time Emma and Shaw’s alarm clock went off, and I spread my arms out, wrapping them around both their bodies in hopes that they didn’t leave the bed. I fucking hated that they had to get up so early to work the bakery in the mornings. Each morning, after I saw them out, I never could go back to sleep, and I lay in bed for another hour or two, worrying. Wondering. Seething. Thinking.

Shaw was close to finishing up with going through and organizing all the paperwork from the various business branches. But it was taking too long. Forever really. And I knew he was working as fast as he could. I often caught him up in the middle of the night, hours after Emma and I had gone to bed.

In the meantime, the threats still loomed. Little threats, less bold than previous ones now that we had the extra protection of Royal’s men living at the compound. But still threats. Still possible harm to my loved ones. Still worry I couldn’t quench until it’s eliminated. Still heart pounding fear that something would happen to them, come between us, destroy the fairytale we built around the three of us.

My palm clenched, itching to reach for the tokens I bought for Emma and Shaw, the ones I promised myself I would wait until this evening to share with them. They had been in my saddlebag almost a week, and each day I couldn’t help but open the compartment and stare at them in wonder and maybe a bit of fear. It was proof of my commitment to them and although things appeared to be going well, I always feared rejection.

My phone buzzed and I knew it was Shaw, reminding me that I promised to take over Emma-watch for a few hours so he could get some last-minute shopping done. Our men had thinned, most going out of town for the holiday, but those who remained refused to watch Emma, knowing that on Christmas Eve, if you have hands and are not a customer, you are being put to work.

The men loved Emma and feared her just the same. I’d never seen anyone make them quiver as much as when her temper flared up, and I couldn’t even pretend that the sight of it didn’t make my cock hard as a damn rock. It was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen and that little kitten with claws was all mine. All fucking mine.

I parked my bike behind the bakery right next to Shaw’s truck and cut the engine. I had just started walking to the door when Shaw pulled it open. “You’re late.”

“You sound like a woman,” I pointed out.

“Everything closes in less than two hours,” he grumbled.

“You shouldn’t have waited until the last minute. Do you want the bike?” I offered, knowing he wouldn’t peek inside my saddlebag and that the slight flurry of snow wouldn’t stop him from riding. He was more of a motorcycle man than I was, but lately he stuck with the truck because it was easier on Emma.

He held out his hands, and I tossed him the keys. He caught them midair. “It’s busy as fuck in there, man.”

“It’s busy as fuck out here too,” I pointed out. “Be careful with my bike.”

He waved me off as he took the helmet from my hand. “I’m always careful.”

He held my gaze, and I hated that out here, we weren’t quite ready to be us. We weren’t ready for the world to look at us differently and judge us or to show any sort of weakness that could be used as fuel against us. If my love for either Emma or Shaw was revealed, I knew it would give Krank more power to cause harm.

I couldn’t let that happen.

He took a step back before putting his helmet on and strolling to the bike and straddling it. “I’ll see you at home?”

“The shop closes early tonight,” I reminded him, thankful that it was Christmas Eve, and I wouldn’t be here all damn night. Shaw was definitely a better helper than I was.

I watched as the bike roared away before I stepped inside, my eyes instantly finding Emma. She was a frayed mess, with her messy bun and flour on her cheek. Her apron was speckled with frosting and what looked to be some sort of red glaze. Her eyes found mine, and she blew out a breath that made her stray hairs flutter. “There you are.”

“Need help?” I asked, and she gave me a look that clearly said she wasn’t in the mood for any of my obvious bullshit.

“That line over there is the preorders.” She pointed to a line against the wall about ten people deep, which was nothing compared to the one her father was currently attending. Who the fuck knew Christmas was such a big holiday to shop for?

“What the fuck do you want me to do with that information?” I was already feeling overwhelmed. How the hell had Shaw managed to not crumble under the pressure all day?

Emma’s dad shot me a glare over his shoulder, and I mentally flipped him the bird. She sighed, probably out of exasperation that I wasn’t a damn mind reader, and came closer to me. “Go to that line, get their name, and find their order on the shelves and counters on that side of the room.”

She pointed to shelves and counters covered with bakery boxes, and I was suddenly feeling anxious as hell. Yeah, this definitely wasn’t my favorite place. She stepped closer to me, glancing at her father for a moment before standing on her toes and placing a soft kiss to my lips. “You’ve got this, I know you do.”

With the power of her reassurance in me, I pulled my body away from her touch and forced my steps to move toward the line that seemed to have grown. In reality, it wasn’t hard work, but the pressure of the people that just kept coming was so damn overwhelming that I’m surprised I didn’t have a panic attack before the store closed. Still, the hours seemed to pass quickly and before I knew it, Mike was flipping the sign in the window.

Closed.

Thank fuck for that.

If only that meant I could pull Emma into the back room and fuck her senseless against the pantry wall. But a clearing of Mike’s throat reminded me that wouldn’t happen. I braved a glance in his direction and found his eyes locked on me. Fuck, I wondered if he knew. If he could fucking tell that I had his daughter laid out on my kitchen island, consuming her like a fucking feast while the coffee slowly brewed this morning.

The thought had me more determined to steal her away even when I knew her father’s eyes were on me, watching me like a hawk. I grabbed some disinfecting spray and a clean rag and began wiping down the counters and display cases. I hadn’t been here as often as Shaw, but somehow over the last few months, I’d learned the drill of closing and opening well enough.

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