Page 14 of Craving

She’d hustle harder than she’d ever hustled in her life. No courthouse wedding would be without a cake from The Sweetest Thing. She’d do whatever she could.

“What the hell,” Frankie said with a cheery smile. “I’m feeling generous. I’ll give you four. But Miss Fox, if you’re late…” He twirled his finger in the air. “All this is mine.”

The three men walked out of the bakery, leaving an oppressive weight in the air behind them. Hands shaking, Camilla locked the door as soon as they were through, then had a miniature panic attack, then turned to look at the business she’d poured her heart and soul into for the past decade.

She had four weeks to fix this. Four weeks to live like a pauper so she didn’t lose it all. Four weeks to pay off the monster from her nightmares once and for all.

She hoped Marlon didn’t mind her sticking around a little bit longer than planned, because Camilla had nowhere else to go. She’d be living like a nun for the foreseeable future; otherwise, she’d lose everything.

This was not good.

FIVE

Marlon checked the time and scowled. Camilla hadn’t called.

He pulled up outside the bakery, but she’d drawn the blinds on the unbroken window. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, worry gnawing on his gut. Was she okay? She’d looked like hell when he left her that morning.

Then the door opened. Camilla stepped out and locked the bakery’s front door, so Marlon got out of the car and leaned on the hood. She turned and saw him.

“Marlon,” she said, sounding shocked.

He gave her a slow blink and arched a brow. “You,” he answered slowly, “didn’t call me to say you were done with work.”

Planting her hands on her hips, Camilla gave him a look full of false bravado. He knew it was false from the shuttered look in her eyes. “Last time I checked, Mr. St. James, I’m an adult, and I can make my own way home.”

Her voice trembled slightly, and Marlon’s heart thumped. She looked worn out, and all Marlon wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and fix everything that had gone wrong. Instead of answering, he moved to the side of the car and opened the passenger door for her. She scowled at him, but then her shoulders slumped and she got in. She sank into the seat with a long sigh, and Marlon hustled around the front of the vehicle to get behind the wheel.

A part of him knew he was acting on his overprotective urges—but the other, bigger part of him didn’t care. Camilla needed help.

“Can we stop at the bank?” Camilla’s lids hung low, like the heat of the car had made her suddenly drowsy.

“Sure.”

He made the detour, and Camilla shuffled to the deposit slot then slid back into the car. When they’d stopped at a red light, Marlon glanced over.

Camilla had fallen asleep. Her face was soft, her hands limp in her lap. Marlon drove as smoothly as he could, but she woke up when he turned the engine off. She rubbed her eyes, making a little plaintive noise.

“Inside,” Marlon growled, frowning at her.

“You are very grumpy, mister,” she said, but she followed him inside anyway.

The food Marlon had made earlier filled the house with the scent of home. Camilla let out a little noise as she kicked off her shoes, stumbling slightly.

Marlon put a hand on her upper back. “Food, then bed.”

“You treat all your roommates like this?” Camilla grumbled.

“Last I checked, you’re the only roommate I’ve got, sweetheart.” He led her to the kitchen, where he’d set a place for her at the round kitchen table. He served her a bowl of chili with a thick slice of buttered bread, and Camilla audibly moaned as she took the first bite.

“This is going straight to my hips,” she said absentmindedly before biting into the bread.

“Best place for it,” he replied, then frowned as he served his plate. Did she not realize her hips were perfect?

When he turned, she was looking at him strangely, like she was trying to figure out if he’d been insulting her or not. Then she went back to her food. They ate in silence, and Marlon’s heart settled at having her near, where he could take care of her.

He’d question himself about it later.

When she stood up to clear her plate, Camilla swayed.

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