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Setting the timer on the muffins, Raine turned and took her sugar cookies off the cooling rack, then headed to the pantry and the refrigerator to see what other ingredients she had. And honestly, she’d really like to know if she only had enough time before Liam returned to make brownies…or whether she should start something more involved like a lemon meringue pie.
She wrinkled her nose, wishing he’d just walk through the door and put her out of her misery.
“Raine?” Hammer walked into the kitchen and shut the door behind him, taking in all her cooking with a scowl. “You’re baking in fet wear?”
Her heart skipped, and she ignored his question. “Did you hear from him?”
“Not yet.”
“So he didn’t call or text you? I’ve been trying for the past few hours, but I’m not reaching him at all. It’s beginning to freak me out.”
Hammer relaxed a bit and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Neither of us has had a spare second to charge our phones for over twenty-four hours. Mine is just about dead. I’ll bet his is, too.”
That made sense but somehow didn’t comfort her at all. “True.”
“So…you’re baking?”
Raine understood his question and hated to worry Macen, but if she lied about this, especially after their time together earlier today, he’d be beyond disappointed and have every right to punish her but good. Besides, they’d all had enough drama for one day. “Just a little.”
He sniffed. “Apple spice?”
At his almost hopeful question, she managed a smile. “For you.”
“Hmm…” He sidled closer and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”
She gave him a little elbow. “It better be for more than my kitchen skills.”
“You have other stellar qualities.” He slid a hand under her skirt and cupped her pussy. “Are you sore?”
Discerning the point of his question wasn’t hard. She flushed. “Nothing I don’t like and didn’t enjoy.”
Lust lit his eyes, and he looked ready to pursue something more appropriate to the bedroom than the kitchen. “Well, precious…”
But Raine just couldn’t focus when she was this worried. “Macen.” She pulled away and began to pace. “What’s taking him so long?”
He shook his head. “We don’t know yet. He’ll tell us when he comes back.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
Hammer frowned. “He bought you a house for the three of us to live in. What part of that says he’s bailing on you? We really have to work on your trust and confidence—”
“That’s not what I meant.” She huffed, then crossed the kitchen again. “I believe he wants to be here with me, with us. It’s her I don’t trust.”
Understanding lit his eyes. “You shouldn’t. But Gwyneth can’t do anything to Liam. He’s in public and he’s far bigger than her. They have armed security there. He’s fine.”
“I’m having a hard time believing that she would somehow acquire a baby who looks enough like Liam and is the right age, fly halfway around the world to rekindle whatever she thought they had, only to give up the second he said no.”
“You understand he completely humiliated her, right? I doubt she’ll keep pursuing him after what happened this afternoon.”
“I don’t think she’ll just shrug it off and go home. She’s after something.”
Hammer sighed. “Well, it’s not money. I offered her a chunk to go away. She refused.”
Raine shook her head. “I don’t think it’s about money, either. If Gwyneth never loved Liam in the first place, why go to so much trouble to trap him into a relationship? What is she up to? Revenge?” She paced again. “I don’t like any of this. It gives me a bad feeling.”
“Raine…” He cupped her shoulders and tried to give her a soothing caress down her arms.
She refused to be placated and shrugged him away. “It’s all I can think about. I’m worried. If she’s half as terrible as you say, then she’s got some trick up her sleeve. I just know it.”
Before he could waste his breath trying to calm her with another platitude, Raine crossed to the pantry and grabbed the ingredients to start a piecrust. She suspected it was going to be a long night.
Hammer grabbed her arm, exerting just enough pressure to make her pause. She glanced at him over her shoulder.
“Don’t.” She bristled.
“Put the flour down. Now.”
That low and commanding tone grabbed her belly and squeezed. He’d given her an unequivocal order. Raine really wanted to argue that she needed the distraction baking provided, but that voice wouldn’t let her.
With a little sigh, she set the flour back on the shelf and turned to face him, head bowed. “Yes, Sir.”
He crooked a finger under her chin. “Let me take your worries away. Come with me.”
After seeing the state of the kitchen and the anxiety humming off Raine, Hammer knew his assurances were falling on deaf ears. She’d convinced herself that Gwyneth posed Liam some imminent danger and nothing would keep her from worrying.
