Page 98 of Frosting and Flames

I nod. “That wasn’t really my choice, though. His apartment lease was up and he said he couldn’t afford the rent increase.”

“Ah. So he strong-armed you into it.”

“I guess. Looking back, a lot of dating him wasn’t my choice. Or, rather, I didn’t make a big deal about going along with whatever he wanted. I was too focused on getting the bakery back in good shape. Which was stupid to let him do, now that Ithink about it. But maybe it also means I didn’t care that much.” I shrug. “And he sensed that. Then did what he did.”

“Don’t you for one second put any of the blame for his screwup on yourself.” He cups my cheek. “He never deserved you.”

I shouldn’t be surprised by the intensity in his voice. He hasn’t seemed to like Kyle since day one. And Kyle didn’t like him.

“Why don’t you like each other? Did something happen between you two?”

His lips purse for a moment before he sighs. “When I got back from juvie, he tried bullying me. Spouting shit about how I was an arsonist. How I wanted to kill you and your sisters.”

I suck in a breath. “You didn’t—”

“I know. But I felt terrible enough about it myself without him adding fuel to the fire.” He’s quiet, contemplating. “In hindsight, he was insecure and trying to look cool by putting someone else down. Someone he thought wouldn’t do anything about it, because I wouldn’t have before.” He shakes his head. “But he didn’t think it through. I’d been locked up for months with a bunch of adrenaline filled teenage boys all looking to prove themselves, and I’d learned a few things.”

“What’d you do?” I whisper. How come I’ve never heard this before?

“Nothing too bad. Just gave him a black eye. And told him if he bothered me again, I’d do the same to his other eye in front of the whole school.”

I press my hand to my mouth to cover the chuckle that escapes me. “You didn’t.”

He nods, the ghost of a smile lurking over his lips. “He’d still make these offhand remarks every once in a while. Stuff that would skirt the line without actually crossing it. I let it go, though. He wasn’t worth my time.”

“That’s mature of you.” I rub my hand over his shoulder and down his arm, tracing over his tattoo. I love that I have the freedom to do this now. “But he did cross the line at the pancake breakfast.”

“Hmm. Are you saying I should have made good on my threat from over a decade ago? At my place of work? In front of Ryder?”

I frown. “Who’s Ryder?”

“The Mickey Mouse pancake boy.”

I bite my lip, grinning. “Maybe not.”

Nick turns more serious. “I don’t care what he says about me. But if he ever said anything about you, all bets are off.”

There’s a steady force behind his words that makes a sudden lump rise to my throat. For so long, I’ve been holding myself together, staying strong. The one to handle things alone. And for Nick to offer his defense, his protection…

My heart thuds with gratitude, something blooming quietly under the cracks I’ve been so careful to keep sealed.

“Did he ever text you again?” he asks. “After the first time he saw me on the doorbell?”

And even knowing Nick would safeguard me, I don’t want to put him in that position. To worry him. To start drama. To ruin this perfect moment.

“No, he never texted me,” I murmur, which is the truth. “Now, enough about Kyle.” I lean forward and kiss him, and Nick quickly gets on board with the change, rolling over to cover me, his body pressing me deliciously into the mattress.

“Are you ready for round two?” he whispers seductively in my ear, snaking a hand between us to rub soft circles over me, preparing me again.

I’m ready. So ready for everything he has in store for me.

Afterward, as I lay in a puddle of bliss, he kisses me gently before grabbing his shirt to pull over his head.

“No,” I moan, reaching out to touch his abs one more time before they’re covered up.

He grins. “I can’t go home shirtless.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him he doesn’t have to go home at all. But he has nothing with him to spend the night, and I have to get up a hell of a lot earlier than him for the bakery.

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