Chapter Eighteen
Shattering glass.
Amazing how one could go from a deep slumber to wide-awake in an instant.
Maggie leapt out of bed. Her heart pounded a furious beat in her chest as her entire body vibrated with the awareness something was wrong.
From outside, a car door slammed and tires peeled.
Racing to the window, she pulled back the curtains to see a pair of red taillights racing off into the night. Someone was running off in a hurry.
She snagged her cell phone off the bedside table. Throwing on her robe, she rushed down the inner staircase that connected her apartment to the bakery below, entered the back of the shop, and flipped on the lights. Nothing appeared to be disturbed. Everything was as she left it a few hours ago.
Making her way to the front, she sucked in a sharp breath as the cool night breeze slapped her in the face. Shards of broken glass littered the entryway floor like a macabre crystal carpet. The once clear pane with the pretty Cupcakes Above the Clouds writing was now just a huge, gaping hole.
And there, sitting on the floor in front of her, among the ruins of her formerly beautiful front window was a large rock with blood red words scribbled onto it.
LEAVE BITCH
****
The sheriff arrived two minutes after she called. Two nights, two visits from the police. Her luck had taken another nosedive.
Two crime scene techs, the only two Peak Town had, were collecting the pieces of glass, the rock, and anything else they thought was important.
She had given her statement to Ryder. He moved her case up from suspected sabotage to known assault and suggested she close up shop until they discovered who was behind all this. But she wouldn’t do that. Couldn’t do that. If someone was after her, and it looked more and more likely that was the case, then closing up her shop would be exactly what they wanted. They would win.
She refused to let them win, whoever they were.
Ryder called her stubborn under his breath and promised to have extra patrols swing by her place for the next few days. He also gave her the number of his contractor buddy who could properly fix up her window in a day or two. She thanked him, placing the card on the counter. She’d call first thing in the morning. The blogger was coming next week, and she would not let this asshole, whoever he was, mess up her plans.
The sheriff and his crew finished up by eleven. They helped tape a large piece of cardboard over her window before leaving. Not the safest of fixes, but it would keep most of the natural elements out. No one thought the vandal would come back tonight anyhow. They had done their damage and left their message.
Not that she was going to listen to it. No one told her what to do, not anymore.
She thought about calling Colton, but there was really nothing for him to do. Best just to try to get some sleep and tell him tomorrow at dinner.
Sleep, however, was fitful, but she managed to get a few solid hours before she woke in the morning to open.
Once Maggie had her cupcakes made, she picked up the phone and called Ryder’s contractor friend. He seemed nice and competent, and promised to come in before five to check out the window. Without seeing it, he couldn’t give her an accurate quote, but did give her an estimated price and timetable that she found agreeable and fair.
She knew she should be scared that someone was targeting her, but all it did was make her angry. Maggie fueled that anger into her work, whipping up a few more cupcakes from the recipes in Gran’s box. They were delicious. After her third one, she realized she was anger eating.
Better stop if I want to enjoy my dinner with Colton tonight. Or fit into any of her pants.
“Wow, what the heck happened here?”
The bell over the door chimed as Jamie walked in, eyes wide, surveying the cardboard covered window.
“We had an incident last night. Someone threw a rock through the window.”
The young girl’s mouth dropped. “No way! I bet it was Tommy Zimmerman. He’s such a jerk. Always pulling stupid stunts because he thinks it makes him cool. News flash idiot, prison orange doesn’t look cool on anyone.”
“I don’t think it was teenagers.”
“Why?”
She didn’t want to scare her only employee away, but since the attack happened to the shop, the teenager had a right to know if her workplace was becoming a danger.
Maggie sighed, pulling out a Chocolate Lava cupcake, Jamie’s favorite, and placing it in front of the girl.
“That bad huh?” Berry Cherry pink lips grimaced before biting into the gooey, chocolate treat.
She nodded. “Yeah. Someone left a message on the rock thrown through the window. ‘Leave Bitch.’”
“Whoa, harsh.”
“Sheriff Ryder thinks the attack last night and the sabotage to the oven are connected. It’s also possible the problems I had with our old distributor were part of the attack.” She felt terrible for blaming Pansy’s for a problem that might have been caused by someone who was out to get her.
“Someone’s attacking the shop?”
“Looks that way.”
Jamie licked a drop of frosting off her finger. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. To shut me down I assume, but it’s not going to work.”
“Dam—I mean darn right it won’t work. We aren’t scared of a jerk who throws rocks through windows.”
A smile curved her lips. She really liked Jamie. She was happy for her young employee’s success, but sad to see her go.
“You don’t have to come to work if you don’t feel safe. You can take some time off until we catch this person. I can give you vacation pay if you need—”
“Forget that! If you’re working, I’m working. That blogger lady is coming next week, and we’re gonna blow her taste buds off! Right?”
She laughed at the youthful enthusiasm. “Right.”
“Then let’s get to work.”
The afternoon flew by. The contractor, Eric Grimes, came in just after four. He surveyed, took measurements, and gave her a quote she found to be very reasonable. Luckily, he had the glass she needed in stock, so it would only take a day to install. She would have to call a sign shop to get replacement lettering for the window, more money she couldn’t afford to spend. This vandal guy was really starting to piss her off.
Business was busier than usual. It seemed people heard about the incident and were curious. Since loitering was illegal in Peak Town, everyone bought a cupcake so they would have an excuse to linger, ask questions, and speculate.
By five o’clock, she was out of cupcakes and energy.
“One good thing about small town scandals,” she muttered to herself. “It makes for excellent sales days.”
At least something good was coming out of this whole mess. A few more days like this and she could afford all the damage this jerk was doing to her shop.
Suck on that saboteur!
Jamie helped her close up, shouting a “can’t hold us down” solidarity cheer as she left for the night.
Maggie needed a hot shower to rejuvenate. Colton would be by in an hour to pick her up.
She had just stepped out of the steamy hot water, when a knock sounded on her front door. Quickly drying off, she threw on her thick, terry cloth robe and headed to the door. She knew she wouldn’t have time to blow dry her long hair before the date, so she had pinned it up. A few loose strands stuck to her damp neck and face. Brushing one off of her cheek, she peered through the peephole of her front door.
Colton.
He was early…and looking very unhappy. What the heck?
“Open the damn door, Maggie!”
Change that to angry.
Flipping the lock, she opened the door a crack. “You’re early. I’m not ready yet.” He pushed his way in, forcing her to take a step back. “Hey!”
The door slammed behind him. “Why the hell didn’t you call me?”
What was he talking about?
“You promised you’d call if anything happened.”
Oh, that.
“I had to hear from Stacey about how your window got smashed by some asshole with a rock. What the hell, Maggie?”
Stacey? Why would he be talking to the local florist? She glanced down. His hands were clenched into tight fists. Well, one was a fist, the other was clutching a beautiful bouquet of yellow daises.
He’d brought her flowers, again. How sweet. And she’d neglected to call him. Now she felt like dirt.
“I was going to tell you about it tonight. I called the sheriff. Everything was taken care of. There was no need to call you.”
His jaw clenched, nostrils flared. “No need? No need!”
Oops, maybe that was the wrong thing to say.
He crowded her, backing her into the wall. “How about the need to let me know you’re safe? How about the need to tell me someone’s trying to hurt you? How about the need to know the woman I care about is in danger?”
“I’m fine, Colton. I can take care of myself. I’m not a child.”
“Oh, believe me, I’m well aware of that fact.”
His eyes narrowed, tracking down her body with unleashed lust. Suddenly, her robe was very, very hot. Her bare nipples pebbled under the thick cloth. Heat gathered in her core.
He leaned in, his mouth inches from her. She could feel his hot breath on her ear. Her entire body tingled with anticipation. Why wouldn’t he touch her? She wanted his touch more than her next breath.
“You promised, Maggie.” His voice was a soft, broken whisper. “You promised you’d call me if anything happened.”
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t want to upset you.”
He pulled back to stare at her with those deep blue eyes, so blue the sky itself should be envious.
“The only thing that upsets me is you don’t seem to realize how much I care about you.”
Then his lips were on hers, kissing, tasting, bruising. He consumed her. His body pressed against hers, forcing her back. Pressed between the hard wall and Colton’s hard body was hot, wonderful, perfect.
His hands reached up. Flowers gone. Where, she had no idea, and at the moment, didn’t care. His large palms glided up her waist to her breasts. They cupped her, squeezing gently. Her breath caught in the back of her throat.
“Please tell me you’re naked under there.”
She couldn’t tell him. Couldn’t even breathe at the moment. Instead, she nodded.
He growled. Actually growled.
“Bedroom.” The word came out deep, dark, and full of sensual promise.
Maggie pushed gently at his chest, and he backed up. The lust in his eyes dampened. He thought he’d pushed her too far? She corrected his misconception, grabbing his hand and practically dragging him with her down the hallway.
His eyes lit with fire again when she opened the door to her bedroom. “Are you sure?”
Still ever the gentleman.
She answered his question with a scorching kiss.
He made a sound of protest when she stepped back, reaching for her, but stopped when she grabbed for the robe’s belt.
He watched with fascination as the covering drop to the floor. “Sweet Jesus. You are beautiful.”
The cool air kissed her heated skin, sending shivers over her body. She’d never been this bold with her previous lovers. They’d always taken the lead, and she had been happy to follow. Sex had been enjoyable, nothing mind blowing like in the romance novels Lizzy tried to get her to read, but pleasant.
Maggie had a feeling sex with Colton would blow her mind and then some. The way he ate her body up with his eyes, the burning fire in his gaze. It made her bold in a way she had never been before. He wanted her—badly—and that made her feel sexy and powerful.
“I think you have too many clothes on, cowboy. Take them off. Now.”
A sexy grin curved his lips. “I love it when you get bossy.”
Those beautiful, large hands started unbuttoning his collared blue shirt. Tanned, toned skin was revealed as he shrugged the open material off his shoulders.
“Now the pants,” she indicated with a nod.
“No. Not yet.” He fell to his knees. “First, I need a taste.”
That was all the warning she got before his mouth closed over her sex.
Oh God!
The air rushed out of her lungs. She slammed her hands down on Colton’s shoulders as her knees buckled. A laugh rumbled out of his lips, causing interesting things to happen down there.
Grabbing her thighs, he spread her wider to make room for himself. His tongue made one long, luscious glide against her. Her body began to pulse. She was so close, and he had barely done anything yet. His teeth closed over that small, sensitive bundle of nerves, nipping slightly.
“Colt,” she exclaimed as pleasure shot through her.
“Easy, sweetheart. We have all night.”
She would never survive.
His tongue circled around her as one hand skated up the inside of her thigh. Her breathing hitched then stopped altogether as he stroked. He teased her, brushing, barely touching. Not entering her, not filling her like she needed.
“Colton,” she demanded now.
He answered by pushing one long, thick finger inside her.
Yes. So good, but not enough.
“More.” The single word rasped out with the little breath she still possessed in her lungs.
She could feel his smile against her. Another finger joined the first, and she bucked against him, the pleasure overwhelming her senses.
“Damn, you feel so good.”
His dark rumble felt as if it came from within her.
“And so sweet. Never tasted anything so sweet.”
Her heart raced; she was pretty sure he was killing her. What a way to go.
That talented tongue curled around her again. A third finger joined the other two. His lips closed over her and he sucked, using just the right amount of pressure.
Her world exploded.
She knew she screamed. She didn’t care. Her entire body was on fire. The aftershocks went pulsing through her as he kept up the rhythm. Wonderful, magical, and still not enough.
“More.” Her voice sounded hoarse from her scream, but he heard it.
Placing one last soft kiss on her, he rose. “Hell yeah more.”
Colton walked her backwards until her legs hit the bed. She went tumbling down, hitting the soft, downy comforter. His hands, those amazing talented hands, went to his jeans. The zipper made a rasping sound as he tugged it down. He shucked them and boxers off at the same time. His shoes had been removed at some point. She didn’t really care when.
Her eyes widened at the glorious sight of Colton Denning naked. The man was a god. It wasn’t fair for him to look so sexy standing there with his rock hard chest, six-pack you could wash laundry on, and…oh my. That was much bigger than his fingers.
Oh yeah, that was what she needed.
Only then did she notice he had something in his hand. A mint? No, a condom. Thank God he had one, because the only protection she had expired over a year ago. She hadn’t bought any recently because she hadn’t needed to. Tomorrow, she was going down to the drug store to buy every single one they had.
Tossing the empty packet on the floor, he quickly donned the rubber and came down on top of her.
Yes.
She needed this, needed him.
“Maggie.”
She glanced up to his face at the hesitancy in his voice.
“Are you sure? There’s no going back after this.”
She knew what he meant. A date, a few kisses, they could go back to friends after that. This? This would change their relationship forever. There was no going back to just friends. Could she handle that if things went south?
The real question was, no matter how things ended up, could she deny herself Colton when she’d wanted him for so long?
“I’m sure. I need you, Colton, now.”
He kissed her and pushed inside, moving slowly, letting her body adjust to his size. He wasn’t a small man, anywhere, but he fit.
They fit.
And groaned in unison as he seated himself fully inside her.
“Damn, you feel amazing.”
Her sentiments exactly.
He started to move then. Long, deep thrusts that she matched, pushing against him until he filled her so deep she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. Her body hummed and vibrated. His thrusts quickened, and she could feel another orgasm building.
“Colton!” She was close, so close.
His hand slipped between them and once again found her. He circled her nub while moving deep inside her.
“Oh God, Colton!”
She arched, pressing into him as her world exploded for a second time. He gave three more hard thrusts before tensing. A loud curse sprang from his lips, and she could feel him pulse inside her with his own release.
“Maggie,” he whispered softly, stroking her hair.
She wrapped her arms around him. “If that was dinner,” she said with a breathless laugh. “I can’t wait for dessert.”