Hard to Get (Killer of Kings 4)

Shadow turned back toward her. “Maybe one day I’ll show you exactly what I am.”

She didn’t like that he made her crave to know more about him. He was just some guy, not important to her in the slightest, and yet, here she was, panting after him like a damn schoolgirl.

She had to be strong and focus on the day’s baking, and ignore the sexy man and the last few hours.

Once she finished the toast and had her hair wrapped her up, she was ready to begin the day’s baking. Riley was good at blocking out reality and carrying on in spite of it. Instead of worrying about bodies, police, money, and Shadow, she started baking some cupcakes. She was in a brownie cupcake mood. Every now and again she’d peek a look around the kitchen and find Shadow playing with his phone.

“Stop looking at him. Stop caring what he’s doing. You don’t care that he’s this super-hot guy that stuck up for you.”

She made sure to whisper her little beratement so that he didn’t hear her. He was the first guy in all of her life to actually give a shit and stick up for her. As much as she didn’t want to care, it made her heart flutter, made her feel special.

Once the cupcakes were cooling, she made up the chocolate fudge frosting. Time went nowhere, and before long, she’d gotten everything baked, and her mind was still all over the place. The moment the counter was filled, and she felt like herself again, she nodded at Shadow to open the door. He did so without a second glance at her.

What did he think when he looked at her?

Why did she even care what he thought? It wasn’t like they were ever going to get together. He could get anyone he wanted. And she couldn’t stand him.

Total lie.

She didn’t like how she couldn’t get him off her mind. He managed to calm her temper, make her smile.

The window company came as promised, leaving her store better than when it started.

“I’ll pay you back for that,” she said. “It might take me a while.”

Shadow shook his head. “I didn’t ask for your money.”

When some of her early clients came in, she was waiting for comments on the crime scene outside. She’d refused to look, wishing it had all been a bad dream. They said nothing.

Riled dared to peek out across the parking lot when she looked at the new window.

“How is that possible?” she whispered.

“What?”

“It’s like nothing happened. Two men died over there. This isn’t possible…”

“I took care of it.”

Again with the riddles. Who the hell was Shadow?

There was a lull, so she decided to people watch. One woman read a list of instructions, and Riley smirked.

“What do you see?” Shadow asked. He’d got up and moved closer to her, and even though she wanted to ignore him, she didn’t, and instead told him.

“The woman on the bench is reading a form on how to treat constipation.” The woman’s lips were moving, and she found it funny that no one else knew what the woman was doing.

“That’s a pretty good gift.”

“It’s nothing.” She looked toward another woman who was talking on her phone in the parking lot. “That woman there needs a doctor’s appointment. She has itching down below, and thinks it’s herpes.”

“It must keep you entertained to know other peopl

e’s secrets.”

“It passes the time, and I don’t know everyone’s secrets.”

****