Page 56 of Hero's Prize

As a matter of fact, he had described in great detail what he would do to her if she ever called herself that again around him. Of course, he had to have known that thepunishmenthe was threatening couldn’t be taken very seriously—especially when it involved him tying her up in his bed completely naked.

The thought had her squirming a little, which should be impossible, given how they had used each other to exhaustion last night. She needed to get out of this bed before she found herself kissing her way up his body.

She eased her way backward, aware that she was once again sneaking out. This time, she would at least leave a note for him.

But she didn’t even make it out of bed. “Sneaking out again?”

He pulled her in for a kiss, and she ran her fingers along his hard jaw. “I wanted to let you sleep.”

“What time is it?”

“Early. Before six. It really is okay for you to go back to sleep. I need to go in to the bakery.”

“I thought you said you had someone who did the cleanup for you.”

He looked so grumpy, it was pretty endearing. “I do, but today, I’m needed there for other things, to make sure there are no hiccups. There’s a big catering order being picked up. The shop staff can’t handle that and all our normal business.”

He trailed his fingers up her arm and across her collarbone. She couldn’t stop her shivers. “You work too hard.”

“I’ll admit it’s been a little hectic with trying to fit in my classes with the campers. But that’s temporary, so I’ll get caught up on my sleep soon.”

He slid back, stretching as he sat up. “I’ll come with you.”

“You really don’t have to. No need for both of us to get up this early.”

He reached over and grabbed her wrist, tugging her to him. “It’s still a little dark outside, and I’m not letting you walk over there alone. So, if I can’t talk you into staying in bed, I’m coming with you.”

He kissed her, and it was all she could do not to lose her resolve. If it weren’t for this catering order, she would definitely leave her shop workers to manage on their own.

“Trust me.” Kiss. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than in this bed with you.” Another kiss.

She felt the outline of a smile in his lips against hers. “In that case, you better get going, or we’re definitely not making it out of this bed.”

Twenty minutes later, they were on their way down the block to Fancy Pants. It was still early enough that there weren’t many people out, but all it would take was one person glancing out a window and seeing them walking together at this hour, and the cat would be out of the bag. Oak Creek was many wonderful things—but at the end of the day, it was first and foremost a small town. Gossip reigned supreme.

“You do have coffee at that place, right?” Colton threw an arm around her shoulder. That definitely wasn’t going to help if anybody saw them, but she had no desire to move away from him.

“In abundance. Every type you could want. And all sorts of breakfast foods too, so I think you’ll survive.”

She let out a squeal as he slapped her on her ass. She planned for them to go in through the back, but she saw something sticking out of the front door where the customers would come in. How had she missed that last night?

“Hang on, let me see what that is.” She pointed toward the front door and jogged that way.

She heard Colton call her name just as she realized that the object wedged in the crack of the shop’s front door was a knife.

“Ella, don’t touch it,” Colton said from behind her.

She wasn’t really listening to him. She was too busy studying the weapon. Why was it there? Why would somebody leave their knife jammed into her door? Maybe it had fallen on the ground, someone had found it, and this was their way of getting it back to the owner?

No, that didn’t make sense. Why would someone do that? Small children came to her shop all the time. This could be dangerous. She was mad. She moved more quickly toward the door, ready to grab the knife before someone got hurt.

Colton’s hand on her arm stopped her. “Leave it.”

“Why? Somebody might get hurt. We have children who come?—”

She stopped when she saw the picture the knife had speared to her door. One of Colton, although you couldn’t really make out his face because the blade had gone straight through it.

She looked over at him. He was taking this way too calmly. “What aren’t you telling me?”

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