The kitchen—and therefore, my entire world—wasn’t the same without Gage in it. A really weird thing to think about considering he hadn’t been in either very much. Not in the grand scheme of things. He hadn’t grown up with me or gone to school with me, hadn’t worked with me or been my neighbor. He’d simply appeared one day, and since then, he’d always been there.

On second thought, always seemed excessive. He hadn’t always been there…he’d just spent a lot of time in The Baker’s Cottage kitchen and thus with me since I’d opened the place. Lots of very quiet time on his end, making my nerves flare hot and bright as he listened to me babble on about everything and nothing.

Not that he was the only thing making me nervous, because even though he’d left, I couldn’t relax. The butterflies I tended to get when around Gage had stayed put in my stomach, my nerves refusing to settle and even growing worse the longer I spent without him. Four days under his constant watch, and I was ruined. Absolutely ruined. The fact that I didn’t have that big, burly shadow looking out for me was a reminder that things could go wrong quickly. And then what? What would I do if he wasn’t there to fight with me? Not to protect me, really, just…to have my back. And for me to have his. Because things could just as easily go wrong up on that ridge as they could here in town. A thought that didn’t do a damn thing to help me relax.

Alder sat on the stool in the corner, my guard in case the Soul Suckers showed up, but his presence didn’t instill the same confidence in me as Gage’s did. Alder seemed like an excellent protector—tall and mean-looking and altogether scary when he got mad—but he wasn’t my wild mountain man. He didn’t watch me the way Gage did. In fact, he tended to keep his eyes on Shye. Understandable, and yet…I almost felt like a third wheel in my own kitchen.

But Gage hadn’t left me alone with only Alder and Shye. He’d left me with his dog too. Rex had stayed with me throughout the day, keeping tight to my legs and staring at me every time I moved an inch. The dog had done exactly as his owner had told him to—he’d guarded me. And he’d done it with cocked ears, an almost constant tail wag, and a goofy doggy smile on his face. I was seriously beginning to fall in love with Gage’s dog. How was he so smart and still so adorable?

“You know, the health department will close me down if they see you.” I shook my head when Rex wagged his tail harder and looked up at me. The beast wore such a loving expression, I couldn’t deny him. “Yeah, yeah. Just…hide in the back if anyone comes in, okay?”

I tossed him a piece of beef fat from the counter, frowning when he scarfed it down and whimpered for more. I’d already fed him a few times, something I was sure I’d hear about from Gage. But I couldn’t tell Rex no when he seemed so sad and hungry.

I was a sucker. “Greedy dog.”

Rex scooted closer, still looking up at me, still wagging his tail. Irresistible and completely distracting, just like his owner.

I’d fallen behind that morning because of Gage’s tendency to steal all my attention. Not that I would complain out loud about any of it—having a big, bearded, sexy man throw you on a counter and eat your pussy like it was a veritable feast wasn’t something to complain about. Especially not when I remembered the feel of his thick fingers inside me, the arousing scratchiness of his beard against my skin. The way his voice deepened and his words seemed to fuel the fire burning with me.

I can’t wait for you to ride my face.

Yeah, not a damn thing to complain about except that he’d needed to go into work. I hadn’t been able to keep my heart from racing since he’d left, hadn’t found my place of calm either. Even the monotony of the tasks I’d done a million times couldn’t clear my head. I knew it was because Gage wasn’t with me, but still—this was my kitchen, and no biker gang was going to make me feel uncomfortable in it.

Except, as I stared down at my gloved and bandaged hand, I knew that thought was a lie. They’d already made me afraid to be here alone. It was easy with Gage spending all his time with me, but without him? Being out of the safety of his watchful eyes? I just wanted to go home and hide. A fact that made me feel weak and useless.

“Gage is going to kill you,” Shye said as she barreled through the doors. Alder grinned and grabbed her arm, tugging her between his spread legs to hold her close. To nuzzle her neck and kiss her collarbone. That was when I looked away—third wheel for sure in a kitchen I no longer felt safe in. Definitely weak.

“He won’t kill me. He’ll just…be a little mad.” Okay, little was an understatement. He’d heard the same instructions from the doctors that I had—no working, rest the hands, easy stretches every day to keep the skin from tightening too much, but that was it.

Yeah. Just like with the dog, I couldn’t sit still knowing the people of Justice were hungry and wanted my food. So I’d cooked a few dishes. Nothing too much—a batch of bread from some dough I’d frozen the week before, a chicken and rice soup, along with a beef stew that came together quickly. Just a couple of things to package and sell on a carry-out basis. Nothing too strenuous. My hands barely hurt from the effort. And if my fingers wouldn’t straighten all the way because the muscles felt tight, well…I’d work that out later.

Okay, yeah. Gage was going to kill me.

“Let me help you.” Alder jumped up, grabbing the empty stock pot I’d been shoving along the counter, too worried about hurting myself more to actually lift it. “Where do you want it?”

“In the sink. I need to rinse it out before I put it in the dishwasher.”

“Consider it done.” He headed to the sink, Shye smiling after him.

“You are so gone,” I said once he was out of earshot, shaking my head. That girl had fallen hard and fast for the former Green Beret. Not that I could blame her. Alder looked at her the way anyone in their right mind would want to be looked at—as if she were both something to eat and someone he’d never get enough of.

Luckily, she seemed to realize how good she had it. “Yeah. I am. Though I have a feeling you’re not far behind me.”

My face heated, and I—for once—had nothing to say. Obviously, my attraction to Gage Shepherd was strong enough for the little blonde to notice, and I wasn’t about to deny that. I just…didn’t know what to do about it. Other than let him have his way with me whenever and wherever it pleased him.

Shye laughed and headed back into the dining room, manning the front and selling orders for me. Alder soon followed her, leaving me alone in the kitchen with Rex and my soups. I didn’t mind his absence. Not really. At least, not at first. I kept expecting Gage to come through the doors, though. Kept waiting for him. And all day, the anxiety I’d felt at his not being there had grown. I hated it—hating feeling so reliant on him. Hated knowing those biker bastards had gotten to me. Hated the fact that, hours after I’d assumed we’d have left, my hands had started to ache horribly and I just wanted to go home to rest.

The restaurant grew quiet as the hours passed, the orders for soup and bread tapering off to nothing. I almost had my kitchen clean and back to rights when I finally took a step away from my tasks and looked up. But this time, I wasn’t disappointed.

Gage.

He stood in his usual corner, looking unusually rough and grim. And dirty. Filthy, really. Dried mud made his jeans appear awfully stiff, and he had more dirt on his face and hands. My god, the man must have come straight from the job site. Or from burying a body. He looked that filthy and lethal in the moment.

I could only think of one thing to say. “You scared me.”

I expected a smile, something to acknowledge the reminder of the other night when I’d said the same thing to him. I didn’t get it.

“You’re not supposed to be working.” Even though his words seemed scolding, his voice wrapped around me like a blanket, soothing my frazzled nerves. Calming me quicker than anything else could have.

“People were hungry.”

“And you couldn’t help but feed them.”

My heart pounded heavy in my chest, my attention not on what I’d done at all because he was here. “Where’ve you been?”

That heavy brow came down a little, changing his expression. “Work.”

“That’s it? Work?” I didn’t feel right questioning him that way, and I especially didn’t feel right being irritated at such a short answer. I also didn’t know what I was doing. I should have run to him, wrapped my arms around his thick neck and stolen every bit of comfort he had to offer me. Instead, I hid behind my prep counter and tried not to think about how much I needed him. How badly the tremors running through me were rocking my body. How much better I would feel if he would just hug me.

And so I started babbling, a bitter tone to my words that even I heard. “Work. Okay, yeah. I knew that. I guess I didn’t expect it to take so long, though. I’ve been here with Alder and Shye. And Rex. Your dog hasn’t left my side. He hasn’t been outside in hours, though. Alder wouldn’t let me take him for a walk, and he didn’t feel—”

I nearly screamed when he grabbed me. Without a word, Gage spun me around and bent me back, his arms supporting my weight as he planted a deep, hard kiss on my lips. And oh, was it good. He stole my breath, licking into my mouth and devouring me in a way no man had ever done. Grabbing me tight and holding me as if I might disappear. Making my legs shake and my knees go weak with his lips and tongue and hands. Fuck me, the man had to be the best kisser on the planet. And he was kissing me.

A smile danced across his face when he pulled away. “You missed me.”

Yes. But that one word refused to come. Instead, I said, “Your dog has eaten me out of house and home.”

His grin only grew, as if he knew what I was thinking. “You didn’t have to feed him.”

“Yeah, well, you try to disappoint that face.”

Gage hummed, and he took a step back to lean a hip against the counter. He kept his hands on me, though. Pulled me right between his legs so my body practically rested on his. Thankfully. “Bishop’s back in town, and we had a job to do out of town. There was a problem on the way back, but it all worked out. That’s why it took so long.”

“Oh.” Rex chose that moment to rub against my legs, giving me the perfect excuse to look away from those dark eyes that saw too much. “I shouldn’t have thought—”

“Princess.”

“Yeah?”

He pulled me in tighter, resting his hands on my ass. Holding me up. “You can ask me where I’ve been. If it’s not with you, though, it doesn’t matter. Because with you is the only place I want to be.”

Double oh. My heart jumped, practically diving into my stomach and scattering the butterflies until there was nothing left of them. Peace and calm washed over me, and my nerves finally—finally—settled. I sighed at the warmth spreading through me, letting Gage hold me. Letting him wrap me up and keep me in his arms. Melting into his touch the way I’d been wanting to all afternoon.

Gage rubbed my back, his big body relaxing around mine as he held me. As I acquiesced to the need to surrender to this. To him. Silently. Too silently, apparently.

“Was that too much?” Gage finally asked, his voice low and deep. Soothing.

I shook my head, breathing him in. “Not at all. I just…wasn’t ready.”

For him. For this. To feel so needy. To want so much. But I did—I wanted. So, so much.

Gage kissed the top of my head and gave my ass a solid smack. “Well, get ready, Katie Baker, because I’m not going anywhere. Now, give me your phone.”

I jerked back, his words—the order to hand over my phone—surprising. “What?”

“Your phone. Give it to me.” He smiled all slow and sweet. “Please.”

I pulled my phone from my pocket, unsure if I wanted to give it to him. It was just so personal. Most of my life was inside that device. “What are you going to do with it?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you afraid I’ll see something I won’t like?”

“No. I just…it’s my phone, and you’re being very demanding.”

“I said please.” He nodded toward the device still clutched in my hand. “Fine—you drive. Unlock it and click your Find Friends app.”

Find Friends…the app that let you see where anyone’s phone was if they gave you permission. Where you could track down people when they weren’t with you. I’d never really used it, not having anyone I’d needed to keep track of. Not wanting anyone to be able to know so much about me either. Still, I did as he said, the pieces of what he was giving me slowly falling into place.

“Pull up my name,” he said in that deep voice that sent shivers up my spine. I looked away from the screen, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes held mine, his smile still in place. Relaxed and calm and completely comfortable with his actions. “Add me.”

Two words that made my throat dry and my heart race. “But then I’ll know where you are.”

“Exactly.”

“Are you sure? What if you don’t want me to know something?”

But Gage never flinched, never faltered. He simply said, “Add me. I’ll approve it.”

So much confidence. Maybe some people would have seen this move as unimportant or not a big deal, but I didn’t. I knew exactly how much trust you needed in order to give someone that much access to your life. I didn’t take this lightly.

I clicked add and typed in his name until his contact information came up. Until his name on my screen didn’t terrify me. Then I clicked send. “All done.”

He grunted as his phone pinged, reaching into his pocket to pull out the device. A few taps and he showed me the face of it. “Now, it’s done. You can know exactly where I am at all times.”

But it didn’t feel done—in fact, it felt one-sided. Something I could fix.

Not a nerve in sight, I took his phone from his hand, pulling up the same app and searching for my name in his contacts. Clicking buttons until I’d added myself to his list. Until I gave him the same access he gave to me.

Once done, I handed his phone back to him and went through the steps on my own to approve his request for access to my location. No fear, no anxiety, no butterflies. Just Gage and me and a plethora of satellites keeping us together. “Now, it’s done—and it’s a two-way street. If I can know where you are, you can know where I am.”

Gage stared down at me, an unreadable expression on his face. “That’s a big step in the trust department.”

“It is.”

“You sure you’re ready for that?”

No fear. “With you, yeah.”

He yanked me closer, looking positively fierce and feral. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to earn your trust, Katie Baker, but I don’t take it lightly. I won’t break it.”

I loved the sound of a promise on his lips. “I know.”

“Good.” He brought my hand to his mouth to kiss the back. “What’s left for you to do here?”

I ran through the list in my head: a counter to clean, a cutting board to wash, and a knife to put away. “Just a few things to clean, then I can go.”

“Good. Let’s get those finished so we can get home before dark.”

“You’ve been working all day—just relax for a few, and I’ll finish up.”

“Fine, but don’t be afraid to ask for my help. I’m happy to give it.” He headed for his stool in the corner with Rex at his side. I should have been able to focus again, to get to work on the last few tasks I needed to finish now that he was back. Instead, Gage stole some of my attention, and when he picked up Rex, he had it all.

He plopped Rex on his lap, snuggling the dog and scratching behind his ears as if he’d missed the beast as much as he’d missed me. Rex curled into his owner’s chest, tail wagging faster than I’d ever seen it. Both just so happy to see one another. Why was that so damn hot?

But watching a man love on his dog wouldn’t get the work done, and I really did want to go home. My place, Bishop’s…didn’t matter. So long as I was with Gage, I’d be happy. So I finished wiping down the prep counter and tucking all my tools away, leaving everything perfectly placed for whatever might happen tomorrow. I washed the bread knife and made sure that was back on the magnetic strip where it belonged, too. One last task and we could leave.

I had just picked up the cutting board I’d been using to slice bread—the thick, heavy one made of slats of maple—when my right hand cramped horribly. I yelped and dropped the board, grabbing my hand and tugging it against my chest. Closing my eyes as pain shot all the way up my arm

Gage was beside me in a breath, pulling my arm away from me so he could look. His thick beard couldn’t hide his heavy frown. “What happened?”

“Nothing.” I shrugged when he gave me an irritated glare. “Just tired, I think. It cramped up.”

“Because you did more than you’re supposed to. How have your hands been all day?”

I couldn’t help but be honest. “They were fine at first, but after the past few hours, they’re… Not good.”

“You worked too much.”

I had…but I didn’t regret it. “People came to the restaurant. I had to feed them.”

“You served lunch?”

“Sort of. We did bread and soup, carry-out style. Shye did most of the running and selling.”

“But you cooked everything.” His frown intensified. “Did you talk to anyone?”

That question brought back the nerves I’d already squashed. “Of course. Some of the guys I’ve known forever worried because the restaurant was closed. Hunter’s dad even mentioned he hadn’t seen the lights on in my apartment for a few days. Once I told them about the accident and staying with you out at Bishop’s, they were fine.”

Something close to a worried expression flashed across his face, disappearing before I could pinpoint the exact emotion. “I’m sorry, princess. I should have been here.”

“You had to work.” I cringed as another cramp stiffened my hand.

Gage definitely noticed. “Have you taken anything for the pain?”

“No.”

“I can fix that.” He leaned down to kiss my bandaged palm before heading into my office. He returned with a packet of pain relievers—one probably from the first aid kit I kept in there.

“This will help until we get you home, okay?” His face darkened, eyes growing more worried. More intense. “But we’re not staying at Bishop’s tonight.”

“Where are we going instead?”

His frown deepened. “Someplace a little farther from town. I need to talk to Alder about it before he leaves, but then we’ll pack you up and get you out of here. Okay?”

I shrugged. It wasn’t like I was going to tell him no. Wasn’t like I really had a choice either. Not in a bad way, more in a “I refuse to be separated from him again” way.

Gage seemed to accept that as an answer, turning and heading for the dining room with Rex at his heels. But he wasn’t done with me yet. “Hey, princess?”

“Yeah?”

“Before I forget to tell you…” His smile blazed a path from my heart to my pussy and back. “I missed you too.”