“Joslyn!” two people yell the moment I step through the door to the bakery. Two bodies tackle me and I laugh, falling straight onto my butt, making them collapse on top of me. Paisley and Shaylin fall to the side, laughing.

“I missed you guys.”

Shaylin punches me on the arm softly. “Missed you too, Jos.” She hugs me once more. The bell above the door dings, and Butcher walks into the bakery looking scary times ten. He stares down at us like we are lunatics. Shaylin lifts her hand, and he pulls her to her feet and straight into his arms.

I will never get used to seeing such huge and scary men with their women. They look one way one second, and the next they are staring at their women, full of love.

They have everything I’ve always wanted. I have always wanted someone to love me. I want someone to love me like they can’t live without me, because I know once I fall in love I am done for—I love with my whole heart. It may just take a while to get there. Love is these people standing in front of me, looking at one another like their world begins and ends with each other.

Paisley gives me a sideways look. She is in love with someone. His name is Liam, and she has been crazy about him ever since he saved her from a crazed school janitor. Liam is just as crazy about her.

Paisley is going to school to be a nurse, and Liam is a SEAL. It’s only a matter of time before it all falls into place.

“Alright ladies, let’s get back to work!” Shaylin manages to walk away from her husband, and we follow her back to the kitchen. As she takes care of what needs to be done, I couldn’t take the smile off my face even if I tried. I missed this. I missed this place. Baking has been a passion of mine for a long time, and I am glad I am back.

Derek, Lane, my cousin Travis, and I are sitting outside the bakery, hidden from view. We are waiting for Robert to show up.

He is in town—our tech guy placed cameras in front of Joslyn’s place, and he was seen walking through the house, looking mighty pissed to see all of Joslyn's things gone.

It’s been three hours since Joslyn walked into the bakery and was tackled by the girls. She was smiling, looking so fucking happy and beautiful.

“You got it bad.”

My head snaps to Travis, who is leaning against the tree, smiling at me like a fucking idiot. Growling, I turn my head, ignoring him. Travis lives to get on my last nerve. He thrives on fucking with me, and I thrive on fucking him up.

“Aww, Wilder is in love. She is pretty.”

She is pretty. Why the fuck has he been looking at her? I whip out my gun, pointing it directly in his face. “Don’t even mention her at all.”

He chuckles and continues smiling at me like he doesn’t have a fucking gun in his face. “Well, she is.”

I put my gun back into my waistband; then I punch him hard in the face. He arches an eyebrow. His smile is now bloody, but that doesn’t affect it one fucking bit. God give me fucking strength not to murder my cousin. If I wouldn’t have to deal with my aunt, I would.

“Look,” Derek says, and I see Robert getting out of his car.

I laugh and walk toward him; his back is to me. The stupid fucker doesn’t even realize I am there until I am standing directly behind him. He jumps and grabs his door handle, trying to climb back inside his car. I slam the door shut.

“Robert, you haven’t been a good boy,” Travis says.

Robert’s eyes move to each of us, lingering on me. Fear me, fucker, I am the last thing you will ever see.

Our black van pulls to a stop beside us, the side door opens, and a prospect jumps out. “Climb on in, Robert.” I give him a hard push and he looks at me, startled. “Why do I have to go in there?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Why the fuck do you think?”

Robert’s knees buckle beneath him—fucking pussy. “I am going to die?”

“Yeah, you are.” I look down at the man who made Joslyn’s life a living hell. Made her leave her life, leave her home. He may look pathetic right now, but he didn’t a few minutes ago.

He was about to waltz in the bakery and take her.

“In the fucking van, or I will draw your death out even longer. In the van!” I yell. He runs to the van and climbs inside. The prospects slam the door shut, and they take off.

“Let’s get this shit down.” Lane climbs on his bike, and we follow him to the clubhouse.

* * *

“You don’t have to do this!” Robert begs, on his knees in front of me.

He is more pathetic than I fucking thought. “Did you give Joslyn a choice?” I grab his hair in my fist and pull sharply, making his head snap back, until he is looking at me. “Did you?” I roar.

He shakes his head. “I just wanted her.”

“Bad mistake, fucker,” Travis sings.

My fist digs into his mouth. “Don’t mention her!” I roar once again, shoving him away from me.

Robert bows his head, his hand resting in his lap. “I will not mention Joslyn again.”

“Did you just hear this fucker?” Travis laughs.

I take out my gun and take the safety off. I am done with this fucker, done with the games. At this moment Joslyn will be taking back her life, and she won’t have to be afraid anymore.

“Robert!” I snap at him.

He raises his head, and his eyes widen as he takes in the gun pointing at him. His face hardens, the evil part of him taking his place. The room quiets.

“Any last words?” I ask.

Robert grins evilly, the sniveling acting gone. “Tell Joslyn...”

The moment he says “Joslyn,” I pull the trigger. He falls face-first to the ground.

Robert is dead, never to bother her again. Her mom and her stepfather are out of her life for good. This is step one for Joslyn in becoming who she wants to be.

Lane stands next to me. “We will take care of this.”

I nod. “Thanks, man.”

Travis walks out of the room with me while the rest of the guys clean up. “So, what are we having for dinner?”

“We?”

Travis just grins at me. “Yeah, I want to meet Joslyn.” He takes off running before I can grab the fucker.

One thing about Travis: he is asking for an ass beating. Two: he is crazier than hell, and three: don’t ever piss him off. That’s the last thing you will ever fucking do. Travis is a fucker who will torture you and do that shit laughing.

I already dread tonight and pray to God that I don’t murder the shit.

* * *

“You want some more food, Travis?” Joslyn asks and Travis wiggles his eyebrows at me. My last nerve is almost gone, and it’s taking every fucking bit of my restraint not to stab this knife into his hand.

Travis touches her arm, making me see red. “Sure, Joslyn.” She takes his plate and walks into the kitchen. I pick up my steak knife and stab the side of his hand. The hand that touched Joslyn.

Travis laughs and pulls out the knife; then he presses a napkin to his bleeding hand.

Joslyn walks back in the room with two plates. She sets one in front of me and the other in front of Travis. My plate has more food than his. I give him a satisfied smile and he rolls his eyes.

“Oh no, Travis, what did you do?”

“I just cut my hand, I will be fine.” He puts his hand on the table before she can touch him. He is a smart fucker, sometimes.

I eye Travis’s hand every time he sets it on top of the table. It looks like a stab mark, and I am not sure how he managed to do that to himself.

“You may need stitches,” I suggest once more, because he is still bleeding.

Travis shakes his head. “No, I don’t need them. I do need to get going though.” He brushes his hair back. “The food was delicious, Joslyn.”

“Thank you.”

“I think you need to leave,” Wilder growls and I look at him, shocked. Why would he say that? He doesn’t notice me looking at him; his attention is fully on Travis.

Travis laughs and walks out of the room more quickly than he normally would. Wilder relaxes once he hears the door slam shut, his attention finally moving to me. “Go relax, Sweetheart. I will clean up.”

He takes all of our plates and walks out of the room, leaving me confused. I don’t understand men—that’s for sure.

I grab the throw off the back of the couch, wrapping it around myself as I sit down. Cake Boss is on TV. This is one of my favorite shows, as you might expect.

The moment I got home I snagged one of Wilder’s shirts from the dryer, along with a pair of sweatpants. Wilder looked me up and down, his eyes gleaming as he took in my attire. But then he went back to regular Wilder a second later.

Confusing should be his middle name.

I would be lying to myself if I didn’t admit I want him. God, do I want him. Wilder is just so sweet, caring, and hot. Those tattoos?

Keep on dreaming, Joslyn, he would never want a woman like you.

Stop! I tell myself. Do not do this to yourself, Joslyn.

Around thirty minutes later, Wilder finally walks into the living room, making me almost fall off the couch. He is wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants, leaving his abs and tattoos in plain view.

My mouth pops open. I know I am staring, but I can’t bring myself to look away. This is the pure beaut--no man should look this good.

“Like what you see, Sweetheart?” he asks and I sit back on the couch, finally averting my gaze.

“What?” I whisper, my cheeks burning. I am not sure I can ever face him again.

Stop acting like such an innocent little girl, Joslyn! To be honest, though, I am pretty innocent in this respect. I am still a virgin—no guy has even touched me.

Two of my old friends talked about sex, and they hated it. Their horror stories kind of made me write off men altogether. Besides, I wasn’t sure how long I would be sticking around.

“Fucking adorable.”

I peek up to get a full view of Wilder’s chest as he sits down beside me. An arm goes around my shoulders, and he tugs me to him until my head is lying on his warm and amazing chest. My eyes close, and my heart is pounding so hard that I can feel it in my throat.

“Relax, Sweetheart,” he whispers into my ear, his breath tickling the side of my neck. My whole body shivers.

“Okay,” I whisper back, snuggling even closer. Do it, Joslyn. I lift my hand and settle it on his chest. God, the feel of him. The muscles and the beautiful tattoos.

His hand strokes my back, all the way up to the top of my neck. His fingers stroke my hair. That feels amazing.

He does this over and over. He moves his fingers through my hair, then down to my arm. Over and over again.

Today has been one of the best days of my life. I fall asleep just thinking about that.