Page 62 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

Ruby finished with her customers and made her way over to us. A big, welcoming smile lit up her face. “Welcome to the grand opening of Red’s Sweet Salvation. How did you hear about us?”

“Oh, it’s me, Jess... oh crap.” Jess bit her lip and slid a guilty look at me.

We’d mentioned using fake names on the way here and Jess had pretty much blown it.

“Damn it to hell,” Alden grumbled beside me.

“I’m sorry. I’m not cut out for this cloak and dagger stuff,” Jess groaned.

Ruby stepped back, looking uncomfortable. “Maybe I should give you two a minute. I’m not sure what’s happening right now.”

I sighed. The couple had also left soon after we entered so at this point there was no one else here to hear Jess’s slip up. “It’s too late now.”

Jess pushed her sunglasses on top of her head. “It’s me, Jess. We met a few weeks back at the marketplace. The idiot Issac—”

“Oh, my God. Jess! Yes, I remember you.” Ruby rushed around the counter to envelop Jess in a big hug. “I can’t thank you enough for your help that day.”

Jess leaned back enough to see her face, her arms still loosely around Ruby. “He didn’t come back to bother you again, did he?”

“No, and I kept an eye on his social media. He hasn’t said a negative thing about us.”

“Good. He’s such a jerk.” Jess’s eyes shifted to me. “Ruby, this is my friend, Alden.”

“Any friend of Jess’s is a friend of mine.” Ruby let go of Jess and stuck out her hand.

I noticed she had a firm grip as we shook, the right amount of pressure, and she let go after a few seconds. Her pale blue eyes met my searching gaze, and her body language seemed open, non-threatening.

“Thanks.” I decided to take a chance. My instincts were telling me I could trust her. “We need you to not tell anyone you saw Jess here.”

Ruby’s head whipped around to look at Jess, her light skin turning even more pale. “Are you okay?”

Jess gave her a smile and waved her hand like it was no big deal. “I will be. Just a little attempted kidnapping to deal with.”

Ruby blinked. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

“Afraid not,” she answered.

“Well then, I think news like that calls for some cupcakes. Holy crap, Jess. That’s a lot.”

“Yeah, but I’ve got Alden.” Jess smiled up at me. “He’ll protect me.”

When she looked at me like that my heart yelled,Mine, and it took everything in me to hold myself back from pulling her to me and kissing her until the end of time.

I had to get some air, some space from Jess. “I need to call Gage. Will you be okay for a few minutes?”

While Jess chatted with Ruby about the store, I stepped over to the door so I could keep an eye on Jess and anyone who might be outside.

Gage picked up on the second ring. “What’s up?”

This was the distraction I needed: focusing on the reason I was here. “Nothing. Any leads on Jess’s kidnappers?”

“No, the fucking car was stolen and the cameras in the front of the venue conveniently went out just before the truck arrived.”

We easily ruled out a random and convenient kidnapping. Whoever this was knew Jess and was likely tied into the gifts she’d been getting. “So whoever it was knew she’d be there.”

“Exactly, and the tracker must’ve alerted them when she got close to the front door.”

“That’s my guess, too.”

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