Page 121 of Love Without Control

“You still choose me even when I get bitchy?”

“Always. In the light and in the darkness. I guess today is an example of the latter.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “And you weren’t bitchy. You were just upset and disappointed.”

Her lips pressed together, and I saw the slight trembling of her chin. “Maybe they can talk to the witness and…” The words trailed off because we both knew that was unlikely. “I think I want to take Juliette’s newest book and sit on the beach for a while. I need some literary escape.”

“Do you want me to come with you? I can be quiet so you can read.”

She dragged her knuckles down my cheek. “Would it be okay if I go by myself?”

No, I want to cling to you like white on rice.Instead of voicing that, I smiled. “Of course. Take your phone with you and call if you need me. I can be there in a couple minutes.”

Eden stood and picked up her phone and the paperback from the coffee table before bending to press a kiss to my lips. “Thank you for loving me, Mr. Osbourne.”

“It’s my greatest honor, Mrs. Osbourne,” I returned, standing and following her into the kitchen. I watched through the glass door as she snagged a beach blanket from a shelf on the lanai and headed toward the back gate. I gave her five minutes before following her to the beach.

My eyes found her immediately from my hiding place behind a small building. She was facing away from me, on her stomach, feet kicked up behind her. A vibration in my pocket notified me of an incoming text message, and I pulled it out to check the screen.

Eden: Stop lurking, Dracula. It’s creepy AF.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I tapped out a quick message.

Dane: Sorry, I was worried about you.

Eden: I’m fine. Go check on the bakery or something. Love you.

I looked up from my phone to see my wife’s head turned in my direction. She blew me a kiss, and I returned the gesture before reluctantly turning to head home. We’d both taken some vacation time from work to watch the trial, though no one besides us knew the reason. I guessed it wouldn’t hurt to go check on my bakery.

Entering the back door, I was hit in the nostrils with the scents of sugar and chocolate. Barry looked up from the cake he was meticulously decorating.

“Hey, boss. Thought you were off this week.”

“I am. Just wanted to make sure everything is going okay.”

“All good back here, but I heard Maria yelling into the phone a few minutes ago.”

“I’ll check on her,” I assured him as he got back to work on the cake.

On my way to the front, I waved to a couple of the other employees we’d hired in the past few years as business had grown. Kevin, Barry’s best friend, no longer worked at Sweet Heaven. He’d gotten married two years ago and moved to Key West with his bride, though they stopped in for a visit every time they were headed to the mainland.

Maria, the sweet, quiet young student that used to work the register, had grown into one hell of a manager. I’d taken a chance on her, and it had paid off big time.

“Hey, Maria,” I said, poking my head in her small office to find her pulling her purse strap over her shoulder.

“Dane, hey. Sorry I’ve got to run. TJ didn’t show up to do deliveries today. Again.”

“That’s the third time this month. Want me to talk to him?”

She shook her head, making her ponytail swing. “Nope. I already fired his ass. I called three people who’ve turned in job applications recently, and they’re coming in for interviews this week so I can get him replaced. But now I have to get those cookies to the animal shelter in twenty minutes.”

“Whoa, slow down. I can take the delivery.”

“Oh thank god,” she said, tossing her purse down and not even bothering to argue. “I put Becca on the register, but she’s still learning the nuances of the POS system. Miguel is up there too, and he can help her, but he stays busy this time of day with barista duties.”

“Yep, people need their afternoon caffeine fix.” We’d put in a fancy coffee bar around four years ago. It had brought in a younger crowd, and profits had risen thirty percent since then. “Let’s get the cookies loaded.”

As we began stacking boxes into the back of my new Ford Explorer, Maria said, “Your neighbor kid is doing a good job. Too bad he’s not old enough to drive, or I’d put him on deliveries.”

“Cooper’s a good kid,” I said. “Hard to believe he’s a teenager now.” I’d hired him a few months ago to bus tables, and he worked his ass off. He was saving money to buy a car.

---