“You get to do more than that, kiddo. I hear she’s got a cinnamon roll with your name on it.”
“Yay! Miss Heather!”
She bounced with joy in my arms as I locked my cabin behind me. I buckled her into her booster seat and then slid behind the wheel of my truck. Her feet kicked the back of my chair in excitement, and at any other point in time, I would’ve told her to stop. But watching her face light up as we drew closer to Heather’s bakery lit a fire in my chest. I loved that she had grown attached to Heather because I had as well.
That attachment would be important once we broke the news to her that Heather was pregnant.
“Miss Heather!”
“There she is. You ready for a cinnamon roll?”
Audrey went running into her arms as Heather picked my daughter up and held her close. I stood there for a microsecond, taking in the scene before I set her bag of stuff down on the counter.
“I really owe you for this,” I said.
“And you’re really repaying me tonight,” she said with a smile.
“I’ve got her favorite stuffed animal, a puzzle, and a coloring book with some crayons for her. I shouldn't be gone more than a couple of hours.”
“Take your time. We’re going to have lots of fun, aren’t we?”
“Can I have sprin
kles again?” Audrey asked.
“Yes, you can. And if you want two cinnamon rolls, you can have two.”
“Can I, Daddy? Can I have two?”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my smile from closing my eyes. Watching the two of them together swelled my heart with such pride. I bent over and kissed the top of my daughter’s head and then looked deeply into Heather’s eyes. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to scoop into my arms and feel her tongue against mine.
“Later,” she mouthed.
And I figured that was the best choice. Especially since Audrey didn’t know about the change in our status.
“I’ll be back soon, munchkin,” I said.
“Can I have some milk with my breakfast?” Audrey asked.
“Of course, you can. I’ve got plenty of milk,” Heather said as she winked at me. “Why don’t we get you set up in the kitchen.”
“Yes please!” Rebecca exclaimed.
I watched them disappear into the kitchen before I headed back out to my truck, my mind swirling in a frenzied state, but it was no longer swirling with thoughts of the Mafia or of what would happen if they found us.
It was swirling with thoughts of dinner and what I would do to Heather’s body after Audrey went to bed that night.
CHAPTER 14
HEATHER
“Heather? You here?”
My head fell back with a groan as his voice filled the small cavern of my bakery. What the fuck did Charlie want now?
“Yes,” I said. “I’m here. I thought I told you not to come back.”
“Just wanted to come by and see how you were doing,” he said as he leaned against the counter.