Page 67 of Hot for Hostage

It took Sadie longer than I thought necessary to pull herself together—and she struggled to catch her breath—but she eventually straightened with a flushed face and tears in her eyes.

“You just lied to spare my feelings. That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” she managed to get out, beaming at me. A crazed giggle spilled out as she wiped the tears. “And now you think I’m a terrible baker!”

She broke into another cackling fit, and I looked between the cookie and her, not understanding. My frown only deepened. “Mind filling me in?”

But she was too overcome with laughter to answer. When she finally straightened again, it was with pursed lips and a side-eye at the tray I’d taken the cookie from. I’d never felt more out of the loop.

“I’m afraid that wasn’t a cookie, Dav,” she said delicately. Her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile, wide eyes sparkling with amusement. But there was sympathy there, too. “…It was a dog treat.”

Every muscle in my body locked, and the crumbs turned to ash in my mouth.

Adog treat?

That didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would bother tobakesomething for dogs. They’d eat trash at the bottom of a dumpster if they could reach it.

She’d even taken the time to decorate it with icing, like some gourmet cookie you’d find in a fancy bakery.

Dogs didn’t care about decorations.

What was wrong with the world?

I cut a look at Antonio, but he only nodded gravely and cast a wary glance between me and Sadie. Then the craziest thing happened. My chef—the man who had been loyal to me for years, who’d moved here from Bologna for me, and who had known this girl forless than a day—took a small protective step toward Sadie’s side of the counter.

As if he were prepared to step in if I attacked her.

I was getting really tired of people assuming I would hurt Sadie.

“Boss,” he began warily, bracing himself next to her. “It wasn’t her fault?—”

“You’re saying I ate something made for a dog?” I asked Sadie, managing to keep my voice level as I ignored Antonio.

Her smile turned uncertain before slowly fading. But I didn’t want it to go away.

“Oh, you’ll pay for that,” I promised her.

Sadie tensed, reminding me of the nervous bunny I’d met at Bruno’s, and I felt a sudden urge to chase her.

The thought must’ve shown on my face, because she tiptoed around the far side of the island, eyeing me warily.

“Okay, now wait a second.” She held her hands palms out like she didn’t mean any harm. The bag of icing hung limply from one hand. “You can’t blame me. I made them for the shelter, and it’s not my fault you ate one.”

I eased around the other side of the island, and she quickly mirrored my steps. “Yes it is. You made it look so good, then it tasted like shit.”

Sadie sucked in a breath, brows pinching in a frown. “It’s cheese and chickpeas, and you said you liked it!”

… Chickpeas?

I regretted not spitting it out.

“I lied.”

When she widened the gap between us, I changed direction to cut her off. Sadie switched direction, too, hugging the counter as she picked up her pace until she was jogging around the island. “There’s nothing wrong with humans eating homemade dog treats! They’re perfectly safe. Nutritious, even. I would never feed Bear anything I wouldn’t eat myself!”

Her voice got squeakier with each word, breathing growing shallow.

I easily matched her pace, and Antonio stepped back to let me pass.

Sadie’s eyes bulged at my pursuit, and she skidded to a stop, facing me head-on. She lifted the bag of icing, aiming the nozzle at me like a weapon that’d ward me off—just like she’d done with Vince’s piece at Bruno’s. “Stop right there!”

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