Blake

I’m on my way to the shop before the sun’s up because I don’t want her to be there alone and fuck if I don’t miss her. I made a call last night and I’m sure if she found out she’d be pissed, but her dad had the right to know. He wasn’t pleased, but I did earn a sliver of brownie points.

“Good morning, Amelia,” I say as I enter from the back entrance.

She turns her head to me with a smile on her face. “Good morning, Blake. I didn’t expect to see you here this early.” God, she’s so damn pretty. I want to greet her with a kiss.

“Why?” I told her that I wouldn’t be letting her open by herself.

“I thought you said you had a meeting this morning to attend?” she reminds me.

“It’s a conference call I can take from Carly’s office.” I take off my coat and head into the office. Just knowing she’s safe is all I need for the time being. After my long talk with her father, I decided to take a step back; it’s what’s needed. I don’t want to push her into anything and with that crazy fuck lurking, I didn’t want to give him a reason to come harder after her. The sheriff had plans to catch him and since he could make the call on her case he would.

I help set up for opening, limiting our conversation to bakery business. After the conference call, I had to handle inventory and only asked her some basic questions. She had to go to school before I knew it. I walk her to her car and demand she calls me like she did yesterday. “Goodness, you sound like my dad.” I’ll let her make me a dad, but she has no idea that I’m doing all I can to hold back.

“Don’t start. Have a good day at school. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I wait until she drives away before heading back into the bakery. My heart hurts a little bit each day. It sucks that I’m waiting it out, but the fact that the changes for us will be permanent, I have to know she’s sure of herself and us.

An hour later, Tracy comes into the shop. “Hi,” I greet her like any other customer, keeping up the friendly service even though I’m missing Amelia.

“Wow, where’s Carly and Amelia?” she asks, looking around the place.

“Amelia’s at school and my sister is out sick,” I inform her. I assumed everyone knew about Carly already.

“Oh, so you know Amelia’s dad’s the sheriff, right?” she teasingly asks.

“Yes, I’ve met him already,” I say, nodding and laughing.

“Good, because he usually pushes all the guys away from her. She deserves a good man, but the only one is her dad.” I get the strange inkling she has a thing for the sheriff and speak of the devil, he’s entering the shop.

“Hello, Ms. Hope,” he greets her, smiling and tipping his hat.

“Sheriff, when are you going to call me Tracy?” He ignores the question and turns to me. I don’t miss the look of sadness she hid just as fast as she showed it.

“Blake, if you mistreat my daughter, I’ll bury you. That includes flirting with Tracy.” I bite back a laugh because he so wants her.

“Sir, I’m not the type to flirt with a woman when I have one. Now, is there something I can get you?” I ask, smirking at him.

“No, I came to check on things.” He gives me a knowing look and I get the message. He saw Tracy come in. And it’s got nothing to do with Amelia. He wants her, but I can see it’s probably the massive age gap stopping him. Maybe if she’s with him, it would make the loss of Amelia to me in Houston a little easier.

“Good deal, sir.” I look at Tracy and smile at her because it’s clear as hell that he needs a push. “You know, Tracy if you’re looking for another job, I could use some help here. Amelia’s at school in the afternoon.”

“No, she can’t do it. She’s busy,” the sheriff spits out.

Both of us look at him. She scowls, then turns to me and adds, “I’m not busy, Blake. The diner isn’t open after four anyway so I can certainly work here too.”

“Great. Can you start now?” I add fuel to the fire.

“You bet,” she cheers. I’m not sure if she’s doing it to get at him, or because she needs the job.

The sheriff’s radio goes off, but he doesn’t answer it. It starts again, and he answers. “I’m watching you, Blake.” He leaves, waving us off. I’m sure he’s ready to lose his mind.

“Tracy, let’s get you trained so that tomorrow you can come in and handle a lot by yourself.”

“Thanks for giving me the job. I’m lucky places around here are cheap or I’d be homeless.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Well, I only work part-time at the moment. I’m ready to leave and go somewhere else. I have a side career, but it’s more like a hobby.”

“What is it?” I ask, making conversation.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” she murmurs, blushing and ducking her head.

I shrug and add, “Well if you need any help, let me know.” I don’t press because it’s not a big deal to me.

We make it through the day and I go to Carly’s place. I need sleep. Having met Amelia, I haven’t slept a lot. I don’t wake up until four in the morning, missing Amelia’s calls. I feel like a dick and rush to the bakery before she gets there.

I beat her there and try to get things started. The doorbell rings and it’s the delivery truck. I take the ingredients inside and then Amelia arrives.

“Good morning, Blake,” she mutters in obligation rather than with joy. I see she’s mad and I’m feeling shitty about it. Something could have happened to her last night and I wouldn’t have known.

“Morning, princess,” I grunt as I pick up the three twenty-five-pound bags of flour and carry them into the kitchen.

“So, my dad says Tracy’s working here now.” I hear the accusation in her voice, but I carry on because I know she’s not done.

“Yes, we could use some help around here. And she came in at the right time,” I reply, brushing off her attitude.

“Explains why you didn’t answer my calls last night.”

I drop down the bags onto the back counter and rush to her. Grasping her around the waist, I set her ass on the other counter, standing between her legs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t answer and that’s why I’m here early. I haven’t slept since we met, and my body called the shots. I didn’t wake up until four, then I rushed to get to you. I’m sorry. You’re jealous and I get it, but you’ve got nothing to feel that way about.”

“Then why did you eagerly hire her?”

“I told you we need help. I have another job and this bakery is added stress. Besides, she’s perfect for the place. She’s nice, polite, and has great customer service skills. And…” I stop myself because I don’t know how she feels about her father falling in love again. It wouldn’t be my place to tell her about the connection I saw between them.

“And what?” she asks, arms folded, trying to create some distance between us.

“Nothing. It’s time to get to work. I have another meeting today and will have to leave for a few hours.”

“Oh, no conference call?” I run the back of my hand down the side of her neck to the pulse at the edge of her V-neck top.

“No, princess. I have to be there for it but don’t worry, you’re safe.”

“Safe?” she asks like she doesn’t have a fucking stalker.

“I have someone looking over the place. He won’t let him anywhere near you.”

“You’ve hired someone to follow me?” I’m not going to fight about having security.

“No, just to look after you when I’m not around. You won’t see him because I don’t want his ass anywhere near you, but he’s here to protect you. Don’t argue with me. Just nod your pretty head, or I’m not going to let you down.”

“You’re infuriating,” she mutters, annoyed but with little to no conviction.

I slam my hand to my chest dramatically. “You wound me, my princess. I’m supposed to be your knight. Let me be.” She nods in agreement, and I can’t stop myself. I close the distance and thrust my hands into her hair and crush her mouth to mine. She throws her arms around my neck and the kiss grows. I’m grinding against her core as she moans. I pick her up and hold her by her ass, rocking as we kiss.

“Wow, this is not what I expected to walk into,” Tracy says. I slide Amelia down my body quickly. I’m hard as a rock, so I move to stand behind her.

“Sorry, it’s not what you think,” Amelia explains, brushing her hair and clothes back into place, looking everywhere but at me.

“Yes, it is,” I tell her, giving Tracy a look of incredulity while wrapping my arm around Amelia’s waist and slamming her against my body.

“Well, I just wanted to see if you needed any help baking before I head across the street,” Tracy says, clapping her hands on her hips.

"I'm sure she could use some. I'm going to handle setup. Ladies, holler if you need me." I kiss Amelia on the cheek and head to the door.

"Blake, can you please put the flour in the large cupboard first?" Amelia calls out before I have the door halfway open.

"Of course, princess. Anything for you." I whip a smile at her and move the bags. The morning goes by fast and I’m off to my meeting. I hope I’ll be back before Amelia goes to class, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last. The guy I’m going to see is a talker.