Page 26 of My Favorite Kidnapper

He sat down on the ottoman and looked around. “This is a god-awful place, isn’t it?”

“Hey,” I snapped. “Show some respect. It’s my home.”

He flashed his teeth. “Oh, you’ve made it charming, Little Bee, but you deserve so much better than a basement apartment. Is this even legal? Can you get out that window if there were a fire?”

“I have no idea.”

He tutted.

“Why are you here?”

“We weren’t finished our discussion,” he replied, as if all of this was normal. Then he frowned. “You’re shivering.”

He stood and went to the tiny kitchen, opening my cupboards. He pulled out the can of Ovaltine and plugged in the kettle. He looked at ease, waiting patiently for the water to boil. He carried over the cup and handed it to me.

“Drink. The sugar will help.”

“You’re not having one?” I asked stupidly, as if he were a guest.

“I’m not the one in shock. I should have been a little more circumspect with my words.” He tucked the blanket tighter around me. “Drink it,” he repeated.

I did as he said, the hot drink warming me.

“That isn’t a beverage I would associate with you,” he remarked.

I shrugged, not wanting to explain. “I have one every night.”

He ran a finger over his lips. “Interesting.”

When I was calm again, I drew in a long breath and spoke.

“You paid off my debt, and now you want me to bake you some cakes,” I said slowly. “To repay you.”

“Yes.”

I began to laugh. “Gold-filled ones?”

“No. Your usual kind. I will pay you for each cake. Five hundred dollars. You’ll come out ahead.”

I gaped at him. “Are you insane? Are you under medical supervision? No one pays that much for a cake!”

“Your customers do. Your fancy wedding cakes fetch a much higher price.”

“So, you want me to make you—” I did some fast calculations in my head “—sixty wedding cakes? Planning a marriage-divorce spree, are you?”

“No, just regular cakes.”

I shook my head. “Certifiable. You are completely certifiable. Do Carolina and her family know you’re off your rocker?”

He ignored me. “There are stipulations.”

“Which might be?”

“I will provide everything you need to make the cakes. However, they must be made in my kitchen.”

“Your kitchen?”

“Yes. I want a cake every day.”