Page 43 of Jack

“We’re going to the bakery. Mom talked to Emily. You start work in the morning. Thought you might like to meet her first.”

How does someone find a job in just a few hours with no experience in the field? These people are insane. I’m a nurse, not a baker.

“I’m going to work at a bakery?”

“Yep. I work at the shop with Jay, so I can drive you to work.” He’s perfectly fine with this.

The drive to town takes fifteen minutes. Jack talks about all the places we pass along the way, which seemed few and far between to me. Willow Creek isn’t as small as it sounds. It’s a really charming town. Jack pulls into the parking lot of the bakery downtown. The gray building with the pink cupcake sign is adorable.

“I work at The Cupcake Cottage?” This can’t be real.

He laughs and points to a side street across from the bakery. “I work at Jay’s Garage around the corner.”

“That’s simple enough. I like it.”

“Jay is simple and easygoing most of the time. His work, however, is amazing. I’ll show you sometime.” He sounds really proud of his cousin.

He’s out of the truck and at my door before my foot touches the running board. He offers me his hand. “Always wait for me.”

“I can get out of cars and open doors for myself. No one has ever helped me before.”

He doesn’t move, and there’s no way I can step around him. His eyes seem to pin me in place. “Then they were doing it wrong.”

He has no idea just how wrong things have been in the past. I just got out of the worst relationship in my life. Everything about the man in front of me should instill fear. Nothing about his appearance says sweet. Yet, here he is, showing me kindness.And surprisingly, his bad-boy qualities draw me to him. My mind’s so messed up.

He steps back and walks beside me to the front door. The bakery has another parking lot on the other side. Four bikes sit in two of the spaces closest to the door.

“Friends of yours?”

“No.”

We look through the huge front window. A bike glares at us from the other side of the glass. Another leans on the front counter near the cash register. He either knows the lady behind the counter very well, or he’s harassing her. Two more bikers wander around the shop. Jack moves me behind him and reaches for the door.

I grab ahold of the back of his cut. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I most certainly do.”

Jack opens the door and walks up to the counter like he owns the place. “Emily, how’s it going?”

Emily glances at the four bikers one by one before replying, "Seen better days. Can’t remember when."

Is that some kind of encrypted code? I already need a biker’s manual. Might as well add a bakery one to the list.

Jack leans on the counter and faces the other biker. “Trace, what brings you to town?”

“Passing through, McLeod. Won’t be here long, so don’t get your panties in a wad.”

Jack doesn’t take his eyes off Trace. “Emily, are these guys bothering you?”

“Not exactly bothering. Not helping either.” Emily doesn’t flinch.

I feel the other three men move closer. Two behind me, one on my left side. I turn to face them and walk backward to the glass display case. There’s another on the other side of Jack and the fourth biker.

Jack looks at the three over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t take another step toward her if I were you.” He turns back to Trace. “It’s time for you to leave.”

Trace straightens. He looks around Jack and grins at me. “So this is the woman to get you off your ride.”

“Should we call the cops?” I ask.

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