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“Tell me why you took off the way you did.” Taking her hand, he started the trek back to the lodge, intending to take that time to get a few things straight with her.
Glad for the narrow trail that forced them to walk single file for now, she found it easier to answer him without those probing green eyes on her. “I heard you tell Jack you were just doing a favor for a friend and that you would be through with me once you resolved the problem.” She shrugged even though he didn’t look back. When he didn’t respond, she gave his back an exasperated look and tugged on their hands.
Glancing around, he didn’t smile at her scowl, but he wanted to. Raising a brow, he asked, “And?”
“And I thought, I had hoped we were moving toward a relationship that meant more than sex. There, are you happy now?” she snapped.
Marc stopped walking, turned and pulled her to him. “We are much more than fuck buddies, something you would know if you had listened to our whole conversation or come to me instead of running away, again.”
“I…”
“Quiet. I was speaking of a favor I intend to do for a friend next week, a friend I’ve helped in the past and have realized he’s using me as a crutch. Therefore, it will be the last time I help him out of this particular kind of bind.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Cassie narrowed her eyes at him, needing, wanting more than that now. “And how was I supposed to know that?”
Resuming walking, he tossed over his shoulder, “You assumed I had no interest in you other than seeing you safe from your stalker and sex. I admit it pissed me off the way you blindsided me with your sudden appearance and I didn’t handle our reunion too well, and I apologize for that.” Exiting the woods into the lodge’s back yard, he turned to her with a scowl. “But make no mistake, darlin’, no one can coerce me into something I don’t want to do. If I didn’t care about you, how do I know you applied to substitute teach or you befriended Ed the first day you opened the bakery?”
The surprise on her face reinforced his guilt. All the signs were there, staring him in the face he still wanted more from her, just like he had when they first met, only he’d be
en too annoyed to see them. She went to extremes to return to him, hoping for the best; he should’ve been more open to meeting her halfway.
Stifling the urge to grin at her shocked, bemused look, he said, “We’ll finish discussing our relationship later. Today, I have to see to our guests since we had to cancel their plans in order to look for you.”
“I said I was sorry,” she grumbled, still grappling with his confession. “Thank you for finding me.”
“Can’t lose my favorite girl, now can I? I gotta go. I’ll expect a pie or something after dinner.”
“I can do that.” Smiling, Cassie trotted upstairs to catch up on her baking.
Chapter Eleven
Saturday morning, Marc dropped Cassie off at the bakery an hour earlier than usual so she could meet Jimmy and get her oven going again. After setting out the items she baked at the lodge yesterday afternoon and evening, she got to work preparing concoctions for the weekend regulars and the personal orders she’d received. Opening the now toasty warm oven, she removed a large pan of brownies and slid another inside when the front door chimes pealed, signaling a customer.
“Be right with you,” she called out.
“It’s just me, dear,” Ed answered. “I’ll set your mail on the counter.”
Hurrying out front, she caught him before he left. “Wait, Ed, I’ve got a cherry tart for you.” As she handed him a small bag containing his treat, Ed beamed at her.
“You spoil me, but I’m not complaining. Have a nice weekend. I’ll see you Monday.”
“You too.” Picking up the mail, she flipped through it, her pleasant mood taking a nose dive when she saw the plain white envelope with no return address. With shaking hands, she slit it open and shook it, not wanting to touch anything. A picture slid out face up. Nausea churned inside her, threatening to come up as she stared down at a photo of herself bent over Marc’s arm, her bare ass on display for Scott standing to her side, the belt hanging from his hand, a picture perfect explanation for the redness covering her buttocks and thighs. Just the thought of this person out there with her, close enough to take this picture, close enough to harm either one of the men, was enough to make her want to run and hide. But she refused to do that. With the slow tightening of her muscles, anger overrode her fear and had her reaching for the phone.
Scott arrived under ten minutes later, his gray eyes snapping with ire as he looked down at the photo. “No note?” he asked, looking up at her pale but composed face, admiring the way she held herself together.
“No, just the picture.” The picture would have embarrassed her if having her privacy invaded hadn’t angered her so much. She clenched her hands as the sense of violation constricted her throat. She had loved playing with Marc in the woods and now that pleasure had been tarnished for her.
Using his pen, the sheriff flipped the picture over, revealing the message:
You Should Have Listened Now You’ll Pay
“Shit. You don’t make a move without someone with you, got it?”
Cassie could see why he made a good dom. She wasn’t about to argue with him. “I won’t, I promise.”
Slipping the photo into a plastic bag, he told her, “I’m calling Marc and have him get out here to stay until you close. Don’t worry, sweetie, we’ll catch this guy.”
She knew he meant to reassure her with his smile, but her tense shoulders didn’t relax. Nodding, she returned to the kitchen. Things were going so well between her and Marc and now this. She wished whoever he was would make a play for her. At least then this waiting on pins and needles would be over.
