Chapter 12

I picked up the creased card and dumped it in the trash can as I glared at the offending oven. Tess was still out there with the customers, but I needed one fucking moment to compose myself before going out front. If I could have punched Mr. Brown in his smug face and gotten away with it, he’d be sporting a shiner worthy of the WWE.

I’d built this bakery after Matthew had left me in the lurch. Not to mention my own damn family. I’d been without any prospects, no job, engaged to a man who thought a Stepford Wife was more palatable than an ambitious woman. One with goals. With dreams. He’d laughed at my idea when I told him the first time.

Ambition wasn’t Matthew’s ‘style’. He was a plodder in every way. Even in the bedroom. He’d just gone at it until he came, then rolled over and fallen asleep. My pleasure, my feelings weren’t important. I wasn’t important.

Matthew hadn’t been verbally abusive, he’d never hurt me physically either, but our relationship had been empty. I'd felt a deep hole inside and that crater had grown wider with each day we were together. He’d shown me what I didn’t want from my life, especially when we’d both discovered the truth.

“Allegra,” a deep voice rumbled behind me.

I shrieked and spun on the spot, hand fluttering to my mouth then landing on my heart.

Gabe stood just inside the doorway to the kitchen. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Uh,” I said, then coughed a nervous laugh. “Ah, that’s okay. It’s okay.”

He chuckled and stepped further into the room, smiling and tilting his head to one side. My insides instantly turned to the chocolate pudding that filled today’s feature, Dark Decadence.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, grasping the counter behind me for support. My head reeled and my heart raced. Why was he here? After so long?

He was feet away, but already his heat had reached me and our connection was back. Electric. As strong as ever.

“I had to see you.”

“You didn’t call,” I shot out. Accusing. Like a toddler whining for a candy bar, on the verge of flinging themselves to the floor. It actually made me shake my head. I didn’t want to rely on him for emotional gratification, but I’d just done it.

“I’m sorry; things have been a bit crazy lately.” Gabe walked up to me, then came even closer. So close our bodies were about an inch from touching. He reached up and cupped my cheek in his palm. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“I don’t believe you,” I murmured, licking my lips and staring at his. “If that were true, you would have called.” I tried to slip out from his grasp.

He held me there, ran his hands down my neck and shoulders onto my arms and landed on my hips. “I’ve missed you, Allegra. I know you’re probably mad at me for running out on our date. It was an emergency. I can’t promise it won’t happen again. People sometimes have things come up.”

“I’m not mad. I don’t feel anything,” I replied, injecting a little defiance into my words. I needed to not lose my mind around him. But damn it, that was a struggle and I was leaning towards losing the fight.

The way he moved, the velvet tone of his voice, the way his eyes traveled over every inch of me made me want to lose everything. Inhibitions. Clothing. Especially my tenuous control.

He rested his nose on my hairline and inhaled my scent. Man, I probably smelled like cupcake batter or the batch Tess had fried from this morning.

“Gabe,” I groaned, drawing his name out. “This is too much. It’s not okay to feel this way.”

“Why?” he demanded, finally stepping back. Confusion knit his features together.

I half collapsed, holding myself up by sheer will and the stainless countertop. If that hadn’t been there, I really would’ve slid to the floor in a boneless heap.

“Because it’s not normal.”

“What’s not normal?”

I rolled my eyes. Ah, the age old debate. “God, you’re missing my point, Gabe. This isn’t okay. The way you make me feel, it’s —”

“How do I make you feel?” His voice deepened and he moved closer again. This time the fabric of his jeans touched mine. The barest whisper of contact.

Drawing full breaths became a struggle. “Like I can’t think or get enough oxygen. I feel like you’ve wriggled your way into my head when we’ve probably had the equivalent of one broken conversation. I know nothing about you.”

He nodded. “I get it. So go out with me again. Let me prove it’s not just chemistry. But, damn … the chemistry. It’s spellbinding. I can’t seem to extricate from its pull.”

“No, this isn’t fair. You can’t tell me you’re going to call, then promptly act like I don’t exist. I’m not someone you can just push around.” I turned my back on him before he managed to slip his arms around me again and pin me in place. He had to understand I wasn’t just some toy to be played with and tossed aside, like he’d normally do to someone like me.

But in spite of my outward appearance of strength, I wanted those arms. I wanted him to touch me and make me moan his name. I wanted his fingers to trail down my stomach, undo the button of my jeans and then touch me where I wanted it. Where I craved it.

“I’m Gabe Moreno. I love real deep-dish pizza and cupcakes, especially ones with naughty names that taste as good as they look. Just like the woman who creates them. And I want to take that woman out again. I might even want to taste her again.”

Okay, I had to admit it, the admission tugged at my heart strings. Unless it was another line of bullshit.

I spun on the spot and rammed my fists on my hips.

He stood there, unmoving, watching me for a reaction. His body was angled towards mine, every part of him connected with me in some way. That didn’t even make sense.

He hadn’t touched me with anything but fabric, but we were connected.

I was officially crazy.

“I’m Allegra Wilson, my mother’s a convict, serving life without parole in the Shakopee women’s prison, and I like to bake. Scratch that. I love to bake. I’m not going out with you again,” I said, firmly. Then, slapped a hand over my loose lips. I’d never intended to tell him about my mother. Something about him inspired me to act like an impulsive, emotional idiot.

Gabe’s shoulders sagged as he stared at me, mouth agape. I waited for him to turn around and walk out the door. Walk out on me. He let out a low breath, nodded and didn’t disappoint. “All right. I get it.” He walked toward the kitchen door. But before his hand could touch the metal panel, he spun around and put his hands on his hips.

“No, I’m not leaving.”

“Why?” I stammered.

“Because the status of your family means nothing. I don’t care if your mother, your father, and your second cousin twice removed are all in the super-max. They’re not you.” His defiant pose dared me to argue. I didn’t. I couldn’t.

“Okay,” I said, holding up a hand in surrender. “How about I bake for you, tonight, here. If you promise to tell me more about yourself.”

I prayed to God I wouldn’t have to do any further familial explaining. Not tonight. And here, I could better control the situation. But … I wouldn’t let him kiss me again.

I wouldn’t.

He intrigued me with his unusual and unpredictable behavior, that was all. It had nothing to do with the way his eyes scanned by body as if he liked my curves. Every nuance, every peak and valley, devoured by his hungry gaze.

Gabe grinned. Maybe because he looked forward to spending time with me. More likely because he’d won. Again. “What time?”

“Let’s make it for eight since the bakery closes at seven and I need to clean up and prep for opening tomorrow.” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. “And, it takes Tess about a half hour to growl her way outta here.”

“She’s the Barracuda out front?” Gabe asked, faking a scared face.

I laughed. “Yeah, that’s her.” Concern for my fledgling business and my new customers stabbed through me. “Why? Did she do something? Was she rude?”

“Not to me,” he replied. “But I’m pretty sure she made a little girl cry.”

“Shit!” I brushed past him, but a strong arm snaked out to stop me.

“I was kidding, Allegra,” he teased. “I’ll see you tonight.”