After Peyton left, I moved at half speed, trying to get myself as presentable as possible before opening the shop. I was very grateful that I had a good stock of frozen baked goods that would take a third of the time to put out. Normally, I would never serve frozen products, but I liked to keep a stash back just in case of emergencies. Granted, a night of wild, passionate, dirty sex wasn’t an emergency, but it would still work.

I rushed through the city, thankful most of it wasn’t yet awake. When I unlocked the back door, I immediately started coffee and preheated the oven. As the tantalizing scent of coffee filled the store, I resisted the urge to drop everything and pour myself a cup. It wasn’t until the muffins were done and in the display case that I finally succumbed to the coffee.

My mind was still hazy, but when the lights flickered to life and I unlocked the door, I felt slightly more human. Every step I took was a reminder of the night before. My body ached in the most wonderful way. Even as I ran my fingers through my slightly damp hair, my scalp seemed to scream at the memory of Peyton tugging on it as a handle as he rode me from behind. I smiled and my heart started to flutter. The door opened.

“I was starting to worry about you,” said Margarete, looking me up and down.

“Why?” I wondered.

“Well, dear, I always come by here on my way to get the morning paper. Normally, you are in back and the smell of muffins fills the street. You weren’t here this morning.”

Her eyes questioned me but I just smiled. She was older and very much a believer in good morals. Telling her I was late because of wild sex wasn’t a good idea. Our town was small and Margarete was the head gossip. Instead, I pulled a still-warm muffin from the display case and carefully wrapped it for her.

“Thank you for your worry. It’s on the house today,” I said with a smile.

“Well, now, you don’t have to do that. I was just worried about you, honey. Jenny said you and a young man were seen leaving here late last night.”

I tried to offer her the muffin again. “I do have a life outside the bakery, you know.”

“Oh, yes, dear. I understand. You know, I have a nephew who lives in Glouster. He would be just perfect for you. I believe he’s a preacher.”

I pursed my lips, trying not to laugh at the idea of my dating a man of faith after everything that I had seen. I knew that she had good intentions, but I was happy with the only man I was dating.

“Thank you, but I’m actually seeing someone now.”

Her eyebrow raised. “That troubled looking man from last night? Do you know what the bible says about tattoos? I don’t like the looks of him. You are such a sweet young lady.”

Thankfully, the door opened again and another customer came it. Taking the opportunity, I shoved the boxed muffin into Margarete’s hand as she was distracted and slipped to the other side of the counter to take the customer’s order. I intentionally chatted with the pregnant woman for some time, faking interest in all the details of her life until Margarete finally stormed away, her muffin still clutched in her hands. Letting out a sigh, I let my hostage go and slipped once again into the back room to sip my tepid coffee.

Was she right, though? Was I courting trouble with Peyton? He was a little rough around the edges, but otherwise, he seemed like a respectable man. I had been wrong before, though. So very wrong. Collins once again popped into my mind as I shuddered. He had been a monster. He was the reason I was on the run. A man with no soul and no remorse, he’d violated me. When he didn’t get his own way, he’d taken what he wanted, not just from me but also from my best friend at the time.

A member of the Irish underground, Collins was a monster but a charming one. When I’d first met him as a teen, he’d seemed so charming and caring. It wasn’t until it was too late that I’d discovered the truth about him. He had an anger buried deep inside him that took control once the high powers of the mafia had given him his own territory. It was good for a while, but once it turned, the slippery slope all but consumed him.

Cornered, raped, and alone, I’d found a way to escape and fled from his clutches right into the arms of the FBI. Before I left, though, there had been a catch, one that might have cost me my life if I wasn’t careful about whom I spent time with. I had to testify against Collins. It had been one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I shuddered as I thought about that rainy spring day.

His eyes were frozen on me as I sat on the witness stand. My testimony had been damning, reliving the rape and kidnapping. I answered every question to the best of my ability and held my own when cross-examined. The elders of the organization sitting behind Collins in the pews shook their heads as I spoke. As murderous as they were, even they couldn’t condone his actions against me. Shannon was still missing. I could only assume the worst about her fate.

“You may step down now, my dear,” said the female judge, her eyes filled with pity after hearing me speak.

I slipped down, carefully avoiding everyone’s gaze. When I heard his voice, I knew it was him, and I looked up out of habit. It was like I was a dog, reacting to the call of my owner.

“You bitch,” he hissed.

“Order! Counsel, control your client or I will,” the judge hissed.

“You will pay for this,” he continued, ignoring her threat. “I don’t know when and I don’t know where, but I promise you, I will hunt you down.”

“Counsel!” she yelled.

I shook and took my seat, but not before he made one final threat. “If you think it was bad before, just wait until my men find you. There is nowhere you can run, Brandi. Nowhere.”

I shuddered again, trying to forget the memory of that afternoon. His threat still sent fear coursing through my body. I didn’t know much about Peyton, but he didn’t seem like the mafia type. He didn’t seem like the killers that Collins had brought into his inner circle. He was rough around the edges but otherwise kind. Still, I’d known men in the past who seemed sweet enough, only to discover they were monsters with no souls.

I needed to find out more about him tonight. No matter what, I had to be sure that he wasn’t part of Collins’s crew before we went any further. In my heart, I prayed that he wasn’t. I didn’t want to run again. I didn’t want to start over. Worse, I didn’t want Peyton to be one of them. I wanted him to be a wonderful man because I desperately wanted him in my life. In one night, he’d stolen my heart.

The door chimed and I peeked at the camera. Two men had come in, both of them looking rough. My heart started to race at the sight of them. Even through the poor quality of my black and white camera, I could see their strong Irish features. Swallowing my fear and puffing out my chest, I stood up. I refused to live a life of fear. That wasn’t who I was anymore. I wasn’t the docile and complacent Brandi anymore.

I was Rosa, a strong and independent business owner. “Hi there. Can I help you two with something?”

“Just passing through. You sell coffee?” one of them asked.

“I sure do,” I said as I started to pour. “Anything else for you?”

They both shook their heads. “Nope.”

They paid and headed back out the door without another word. I let out a sigh of relief to still be standing, but I made a decision as my heart started to settle back down. I needed to talk to Peyton and find out who he really was besides the amazing lover I’d known from the night before. If he cared about me, he would answer the questions, and if not, then there would be no future for us. Hopefully, I would still be here with him come tomorrow morning.