Page 62 of Knot Baked Out For This
"Just judging," I say with a smile that could cut glass. "You know, being objective about quality. Recognizing real worth versus pretty facades."
Her eyes narrow. "Some of us don't have to compensate with quantity."
"And some of us don't have to compensate at all," Levi interjects smoothly. "We just appreciate quality when we find it."
Did he just?—
"All natural talent here," Luca adds, his voice deceptively mild.
"Nothing artificial about Hazel," Rowan finishes, and there's something dangerous in his tone.
They're defending me. As a unit. Like a?—
No. Don't think it.
Alexis's perfect composure cracks slightly. "Well. Enjoy the pie. I'm sure you'll find it... satisfying."
She stalks off, and we all stare at her pie like it might be poisoned.
"Ten bucks says she put laxatives in it," Levi whispers.
"Twenty says arsenic," Luca counters.
"You're both paranoid," Rowan says, then adds, "Fifty on salmonella."
I cut four pieces with the dedication of someone defusing a bomb. We all take synchronized bites, ready for death.
It's...
"Fuck, that's good," Levi groans.
"Really good," Rowan agrees, looking personally offended.
"Suspiciously good," Luca says darkly.
"She bought it," I realize. "That's store-bought filling. I can taste the preservatives."
All three Alphas turn to stare at me.
"You can taste preservatives?" Rowan asks.
"You can differentiate store-bought from homemade by taste alone?" Levi adds.
"That's... incredibly hot," Luca says, then looks surprised he said it out loud.
Did he just—did they all just?—
My face goes nuclear. The crowd goes silent, waiting.
"It's just... I bake for a living... it's not..."
"Incredible," Rowan says firmly.
"Talented," Levi adds.
"Perfect," Luca finishes, and he's looking at me with those storm-gray eyes like he's seeing me for the first time.
This is too much. Too intense. Too public. Too?—
