Page 7 of Devil's Valentine

“I’m here to get a tour and to find out everything that’s happened. I’ll get with club leadership and come up with a plan. We’re going to keep you and your bakery safe, Scarlett,” there’s a promise in his voice that sends a shiver down my spine.

The way he says my name should not feel so good. It’s like sparks traveling along my skin.

Before I know what’s happening, he reaches up and tucks one of my curls behind my ear. A gasp escapes my lips at the way it feels when our skin touches. “Walk me through it and let me help you,” he whispers softly.

As I nod, the words spill from me. I walk him through every incident, every time I’ve found graffiti, and the break-in. He asksme about my schedule, and I fill him in as far as when I arrive at the bakery and when I leave. His dark eyes study me as he soaks up every word, until I mention that I’m here before the sun comes up, then something like anger flashes across his face.

“Do you have cameras?”

“No,” shame coats my words, “I wasn’t able to afford them at first with the equipment I needed for the kitchen. I did install an alarm system after the break-in.” My eyes drop to the floor, and I squeeze them shut. “I know it wasn’t smart. It’s not like I wanted to leave my business vulnerable.”

“Hey,” he coaxes me and grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger to raise my head up, “I’m not putting the blame on your shoulders, Sugar. That belongs firmly on whoever is terrorizing you and your bakery. I just want to know so a plan can be made to give you the coverage and the security you need.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes. When was the last time anyone showed me this kind of compassion and kindness?

There’s something so damn alluring in this man’s eyes. I want to fall into the deep abyss of his gaze, but I know I shouldn’t. He’s a biker. He wouldn’t want me.

Right?

“Thank you, Dean,” I whisper.

His eyes become hooded, but then his touch falls away from me and he takes a step back. Yeah, I must have just imagined that he could want me. No real surprise there.

“I’ve got you,” he husks.

All I can do is nod before he turns and stalks out of my bakery. What the hell just happened.

“Wow,” Valerie’s voice is flustered.

When I turn around quickly, she’s fanning herself with her hand. I can’t blame her. Frenzy…Dean is too damn good looking for his own good.

I can admit to myself that I want him, but he’ll never be mine.

But a girl can dream.

CHAPTER 4

FRENZY

The only way I’m able to walk away from Scarlett is because I need to get a plan together to make sure she’s safe. I don’t know who the hell has been messing with her bakery, but it ends now. There’s no way I’ll allow anyone to terrorize my woman.

And she is fucking mine.

I knew it the moment she walked out of the back of her bakery. I’ve never seen a more gorgeous woman, and the fact that she was clearly nervous only turned me on more. She’s like a cautious little fawn; one I want to protect instead of prey upon.

I’ll protect my woman.

“Fuck,” I groan, the sound lost in the wind as I ride my bike back toward the clubhouse.

Riding with my dick harder than fucking stone is not comfortable. Not at fucking all.

But I know it’s a problem I’m going to be having for the rest of my life. There’s no way for me to avoid it with how fucking sexy Scarlett is. Her curves had me almost falling to the floor to worship every single inch of her.

She looked so damn cute with flour on her apron and wisps of her hair falling out of the mess of curls on the top of her head. I know her hair will be long, and I desperately wanted to pull the band from it and find out just how gorgeous it is. It was almost impossible to hold myself back.

Now that I know Scarlett is meant to be mine, I’m going to do whatever I need to do to ensure that she’s safe. I need to move fast because I can’t imagine leaving her unprotected. Especially with how early she gets to her bakery, anything could happen to her.

When I get to the gate of the compound, Adam, a prospect that we’ll be voting on whether to patch into the club soon, is there to open it for me. A sense of peace fills me as I park in front of the clubhouse. This is my family, my home.

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