Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
And she couldn’t think of any reasonable explanation for him having jobs to do at ten on a Sunday night.
But she wanted to ignore whatever it was he was hiding for a while longer. To just have him to herself for a bit without any drama or worries.
Leaving the note, she headed out of the apartment. She climbed into her car with a sigh. It was early and cold. Her coat wasn’t much protection against the chill in the air. She started her car, knowing it never started easily on cooler mornings.
To her shock, it started up right away.
Where was that horrible whining noise? That was strange. It couldn’t have just disappeared, could it? She didn’t have that sort of luck.
Well, maybe it had. Which would be amazing.
She headed toward the bakery, yawning, and sipping on her coffee to keep herself warm and awake. She glanced down at her gas gauge.
Huh. That couldn’t be right, could it?
She could have sworn that her tank had less than a quarter left when she’d driven it home yesterday. How could it be full?
“All right, I’m obviously losing my mind.” Or there was something wrong with her gas gauge. Shit. That was probably it. Now what was she going to do? The last thing she wanted was to get stranded with no gas because her gauge was showing it was full.
She’d get some gas after work today or tomorrow.
Pulling into her parking space, she hauled her tired body out and walked to her shop. Yesterday had been amazing. Victor had simultaneously treated her like a princess while doing filthy things to her body and mind.
With a sigh, she drifted through all her opening jobs. Even Anita arriving twenty minutes late couldn’t mess with her good mood.
“What’s up with you?” Anita asked, frowning.
“Nothing. Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know. You’re singing and shit. You seem happier or something. And I don’t get why since that sexy hunk hasn’t been back. I think you scared him away.”
Gracen knew that Anita was trying to hurt her. It hurt that Anita felt the need to try and bring her down. Their relationship was growing more and more strained the more time Anita spent with Ice.
“Actually, I saw him yesterday.”
“What? Seriously.”
“Yes, seriously. We went on a date together.” Maybe she was being stupid. She should probably keep Victor to herself.
“Aunty G, do you know—”
“There’s a customer,” she interrupted.
“But—”
“Customer, Anita!”
Anita let out an irritated huff before stomping off to the front counter.
Nothing was bringing her down today.
Gracen sighed as she walked into the back of the bakery after turning the closed sign around. She’d sent Anita home earlier, unable to take her icy stares and the silent treatment.
“What’s wrong?”
She screamed. Jumping into the air, she dropped the bowl she’d been holding. It shattered on the floor as she turned to see Victor emerging from the shadows.
“Holy shit. You scared the crap out of me.”
He grimaced. “Sorry, baby. I thought you knew I was back here.”
“What? How would I know that?”
“I made plenty of noise.”
“We might have different ideas of what plenty of noise means.” She sighed, glancing down at the bowl which lay in pieces on the floor. Crouching, she started picking up the bigger pieces, yelping as a shard cut into her finger.
“What are you doing? Leave that.” He stomped over and picked her up, setting her on the counter. “Where are you hurt?”
“It’s fine.” She stuck her finger into her mouth to suck on it.
“Show me.”
She shook her head.
“Gracen,” he said in a warning voice. “Show. Me.”
She pulled her finger out, showing him the minuscule cut.
“Fuck.”
“It’s all right. Look, it’s barely even bleeding.”
He shook his head. “Have you got a first aid kit?”
“Uh, yeah, in the cabinet under the sink. But it’s fine, Victor.” She sighed as he ignored her.
Stubborn man.
He returned with the kit, opening it and drawing out a Band-Aid. He carefully wrapped it around her finger, his big hands gentle.
Then to her shock, he brought her finger to his lips and kissed it. “Good?”
“Uh, yes. Thank you.”
He placed his finger under her chin, raising her face. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Gracen,” he said warningly.
“It’s just my niece. She’s been giving me the silent treatment all day. Nothing important.”
“Hmm. Not very mature, is she?”
“Most nineteen-year-olds are the same, I’m sure. I better tidy this up. I thought you’d meet me at the apartment.”
“I’ll clean it up. You stay there. You have a broom and dustpan?”
“Uh, yeah. Over in the cupboard.” She gestured to where the cleaning supplies were. “But I can do it.”
“Stay. You’re tired. And it’s my fault you dropped the bowl. I’ll replace it.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I do. I got you a gift.”
He moved to where he’d been standing and picked up two bags. One was pink and white striped with Victoria’s Secret written along the front. The other was plain brown.