All my and Luca’s belongings had been moved out and put into storage on Cope’s property. Just another thing I owed him and the Colsons for. But from what I could tell, Rick was having trouble renting the space that had been my home for so long. Maybe it was the fact that there was a noisy restaurant below it. Or it could have been the astronomical rent Rick wanted. Regardless, he was striking out so far.
Rick glared at me, seething so hard he was practically spitting. A lead weight settled in my stomach. I had a feeling I might be out of a bakery space when the year was up.
The bell over the door jingled before Rick could reach it, and Lolli stepped in. She was a vision in a billowy skirt with too many colors to count. She jingled as much as the bell with her countless bracelets and necklaces. And she wore a T-shirt knotted at the waist that readPhotosynthesis is FUNwith a big pot leaf.
“Careful, Ricky Boy, you keep scowling like that, and your face will freeze that way. Then how will you convince innocent people you’re a kind landlord instead of a snake in the grass?” Lolli said, keeping her tone light.
The couple’s eyes went wide as they looked between Rick and Lolli. Rick’s beady eyes flashed. “Clearly, the drugs have gotten to your head.”
Lolli flipped her silver hair over her shoulder. “I think you could use a little Mary Jane in your life. Might chill you out enough to get your priorities in order instead of trying to take advantage of everyone in your orbit. Honestly, maybe we should go for a pot enema. Might clear out your bullshit.”
“Lolli,” I whisper-hissed.
“What?” she asked with mock innocence. “I speak the truth.”
“Listen to your little friend over there,” Rick growled. “I’d hate if things gotmoreuncomfortable for her here.”
My stomach bottomed out as if the floor had simply disappeared from under me, and I was in free fall. I wouldn’t put it past Rick to sabotage the entire building just to stick it to me.
He stormed out of the bakery as all the customers looked on.Great, just great.
Lolli hurried over to me. “That pompous, prick-nosed piece of garbage. Next time I see him, I’m not using my words. I’m going to hit him with some of those jiu-jitsu moves Arden’s been showing me.”
“Oh, Jesus,” Fallon muttered, dropping her head into her hands. “Please, don’t make Trace arrest you on assault charges.”
“It’d be worth it,” Lolli muttered, then moved closer, giving my arm a rub. “You okay, honey pie?”
I nodded, still not able to speak. Because while I’d guessed it before, IknewRick had it out for me now. I was so caught in the web of my panicked thoughts that I didn’t hear the bell ring this time. I wasn’t aware of any newcomers until a tiny whirling dervish hit me in the side, his arms going around me in a tight hug.
“Mom! You won’t believe it. TeddyLightningJackson came to help coach today. And he taught me all sorts of speed tricks. He wants to try your cupcakes, too. I told him I’d pick out the best ones.”
My gaze moved from the nothingness I’d been staring at to Luca’s entourage. There was a leanly muscled, boyishly handsome man standing next to Cope. He sent me a grin. “Heard you’re the best of the best. I think I need to take at least a dozen back to Seattle with me this afternoon.”
Heat hit my cheeks. “I do my best. Why don’t I pull together a sampler for you? On the house.”
Teddy’s grin pulled wider. “Are you trying to get my ass, er, butt kicked? Reaper will flatten me the next time we’re on the ice if I let his girl cover my cupcakes.”
His girl?
The words sliced through me with a mix of craving and pain. Because somewhere along the line, I’d started to want that. It didn’t matter how reckless or dangerous it was. I wanted to know what it felt like to belong to Cope, not as a possession but as the person he wanted with every fiber of his being.
“Warrior,” Cope said, his voice low and throaty, making my gaze jump to his. “Something happened. Your face when we came in…”
That jolted me out of those stupid, stupid thoughts. I gave Luca’s shoulder a squeeze. “Want to go help Walter pick out a dozen cupcakes for Teddy?”
Luca’s light-blue eyes flared even brighter. “Yeah! I’m gonna get the Cookie Monster ones, and the bumblebees, and thetriple-chocolate mudslides. I’m gonna put some cookies in the bag, too.”
“Thanks, little dude,” Teddy called, but there was concern on his face now, too.
Crap.
The moment Luca was gone, Cope moved even closer. He slid his hand under my hair and squeezed the back of my neck. “What happened?”
His voice was gentle, but a demand radiated through the words—one that sent a shiver coursing through me. Not one of dread but one of promise.
“That prick stick Rick was in here glaring at her, that’s what,” Lolli said with a huff. “I told him to watch it, and he threatened Sutton.”
Cope’s fingers flexed on my neck. “He. Did. What?”
