Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Red-hot rage tunnels my vision. "But never here?"
She shakes her head, her eyes glassy. "This is the first."
The fact that some sick motherfucker dared to come to her house, to invade the safety of her home, to threaten her...I want to put my fist through the fucking wall. But I shove the fury down. She needs me calm and in control right now.
No one is going to stop her from opening her bakery. No one is going to hurt her, scare her, threaten her. Not while I'm breathing.
Curling my arms around her, I tuck her into my chest. "I've got you, angel. You're safe with me. I promise."
Her small hands fist in my shirt, her face burrowing into my neck as she shudders. “Okay,” she whispers, clinging to me.
"Get your cat and whatever else you need for the night," I tell her after a moment, no room for argument in my tone. "You're staying with me."
Her head snaps up, her green eyes wide. "What? Alessandro, that's ridiculous."
"It's not up for debate." I cup her face, my thumb brushing over the soft skin of her cheek. "Whoever left that package knows where you live. I'm not leaving you here alone."
She bites her lip, worry clouding her expression, but she doesn't argue further. "Okay," she whispers instead. "Just let me get a few things."
Relief courses through me. I half-expected her to fight me on this, her independent streak rearing its head. But the box on her porch clearly scared her more than she wants to admit.
I press a kiss to her forehead before reluctantly releasing her. She hurries down the hall, and I drag a hand over my face, my protective instincts roaring.
I pace the small living room, my mind whirling. Who the fuck is doing this? And why? From everything I’ve seen and heard—and believe me, I’ve been snooping like a motherfucker all day—the entire town is excited about the bakery. So, what changed?
I'm going to find out. And when I do, there will be hell to pay for putting that look of fear in her eyes. No one threatens what's mine. And Heidi? She's been mine from the moment I first laid eyes on her. She's mine to cherish, mine to protect.
I'll walk through fire before I let anyone hurt her.
Chapter Five
Heidi
Ipace around Alessandro’s living room, trying to wrap my head around the fact that it’s better decorated than my place—warm colors, plush furniture, framed photos. It looks more like a family home than a bachelor firefighter’s place.
Clearly, I need to do away with any and all stereotypes when it comes to him because he’s breaking every single one of them.
"Like it?" he asks with a grin, those devastating dimples appearing as he looms at the head of the hallway.
"It's beautiful," I admit. “Um, are you sure you’re okay with Skeet being here? Cats and leather furniture don’t really mix.”
“If he ever comes out from under the guest bed, he’ll be fine,” he says with a chuckle. My poor cat wasn’t thrilled about being relocated to Rivin’s domain. As soon as I stepped inside with him, he bolted.
Alessandro just set up all of his stuff in the guest room so he wouldn’t have to leave if he didn’t want to leave. He’s really bumming Rivin out, though. Rivin is dying to play with him. I don’t see that happening anytime soon, though. Skeet is not about that life.
Maybe one day.
"Come on," Alessandro says, eyes glinting as he holds out a hand toward me. "You can prowl through my shit tomorrow. Let's get in bed."
My heart pounds against my breastbone at his words. "I am not sleeping in your bed, Alessandro."
He smirks, yanking his shirt over his head as he stalks toward me like a big freaking cat on the prowl. "Yeah, you are, Sunshine.” His growl sends a shiver through me. “Don't give a fuck how hard you try to pretend you aren't into this, I know better. You're dying to give me another taste."
I whimper, equal parts terrified and turned on, as I try to dodge him. But his strong arms snatch me up with ease. And despite my best intentions, I find myself climbing his muscular body, all but clinging to his broad shoulders.
Damn him for being irresistible.
Rivin hops up from the massive dog bed beside the couch, padding after us.
"Rivin, zostań," Alessandro commands the dog, who huffs indignantly. “Sorry, man. You’re sleeping out here tonight.”Rivin narrows his eyes on Alessandro, huffs again, and then tosses his head before hopping up on the couch.
“Jesus Christ,” Alessandro mutters in response.
"He's very dramatic, you know," I giggle as he carries me down the hall.
"Yeah?" He palms my ass, pushing open the bedroom door. More masculine furniture and plush rugs greet me, but his intoxicating scent flooding my senses makes me moan. God, he smells delicious, like woodsmoke and spice.