Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 77663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
My hands and knees were shaking so hard by the time I pulled up outside that I had to wait a few seconds to get out of the car. My boys, who were standing outside the bakery door like sentinels, saw me just sitting there and started walking towards the car.
Yes, the bakery has security, and I don’t care what Evelyn Garston thinks about it, nor do I care that her husband calls me whipped on the golf course every chance he gets. Last I heard, my boys look very conspicuous standing out there like that from sunup ‘til sundown, but since none of these nosy fucks are paying them, I don’t see how it is any of their concern.
I waved my boys off and got out of the Chiron. “You okay, boss?”
“I’m good; how is everything here?”
“Same as always; you just missed the morning rush. There should be another stampede in about half an hour.”
“I’m surprised she’s got anything left to sell.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve got frou-frou cream all over your face, Drew.” That was an exaggeration, but still. He cleaned the corners of his lips with a grin. I don’t know why she has to feed them.
She bitched about them being there, but then again, she bitches about everything that has to do with her. I get the idea that she’d never been taken care of, and that’s why she freaks at the mere mention of something being done for her. She’s always been the one doing things for others.
That shit pisses me off no end, so I’ve gone out of my way in the months since I forced her to move in with me to spoil the shit out of her. It’s not like I have a choice. My fucking sister is always in my ear about how to woo my woman.
I keep reminding her that I’ve had women before, but she just rolls her eyes and calls them out their names under her breath before assuring me that Amanda is different. Like, I don’t know that shit on my own.
Anyway, she bitched about her security detail that follows us here every morning and stays until closing time. There’s usually a shift change around noon, but now I have grown men fighting to work sixteen-hour days because she keeps feeding them shit, and they all act like they’ve never tasted cupcakes before.
“Sorry about that, boss. Today’s special is lemon meringue. They taste a little like the key lime, but not really.” I just stared at him, and he at least had the decency to look sheepish.
“Uh, sorry, boss. I got carried away.”
She saw me coming and rushed to meet me. “What’s wrong? What did the doctor say?”
“Forget that. How come I didn’t get to taste the new flavor cupcake?” She’s gotten into the habit of letting Joy, and I taste her shit first since she’s always experimenting with different flavors, but this was the first I was hearing about the new one.
“It’s not new; it’s just today’s special.” She did some shit with her lips, and I knew she was mocking me.
“Is that what I look like?”
“Kind of, you’re pouting.” Oh, she likes that shit. I’m pretty sure she or someone is trying to turn me into her bitch because I’ve been doing a lot of things different since I found her.
In that vein, the Doc just might be right. But I won’t live this shit down if that shit is true. “What’s in the bag?” She looked down at the forgotten bag in my hand.
“Let’s go back there in your office.”
I was nervous as hell all over again. I don’t want anything to take that light from her eyes. It’s been there since she came home to me, and I make sure every night before she goes to sleep that it’s still there. That’s how I know that things are going well. I can’t be the one to remove that light, it would fucking gut me.
“So listen, I want you to listen very carefully.”
“Oh no, something’s wrong. Tell me, just tell me, we can get through whatever it is.” Her eyes started to tear up already, and that was enough for me. She was worried about me, and there wasn’t shit wrong with me.
“It’s not that, here.” I handed her the bag. I had a whole speech ready to give her, but her worry was too much for me. Better to get this shit over with.
“What’s all this?” She opened the bag, and I heard her draw in her breath and rushed to explain.
“The Doc thinks I got you pregnant, and I’m suffering sympathy pains or something. Trust me, it’s not my idea.” Fuck, if I was going to tell her, it could be anyone else but her. She looked a bit crestfallen after the explanation.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to do this. I promise you that it doesn’t matter to me whether you are or not; I only want you.” I was rambling for sure, but anything to get that look off her face.