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“What are you doing here?” Cole’s hands press flat over the table as he leans forward.
“Your fucking employee molested my wife. I wanted to warn you before I press charges against you for hiring criminals.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” A line forms between Cole’s eyebrows and his irritation transforms into confusion.
“This son of a bitch works at your bakery, right?”
“Bakery, what bakery?”
“Cakes for All, on the highway toward Cherrywood, isn’t it yours?” Zach hasn’t calmed down a bit. If anything, he’s getting more restless by the minute.
“Ah, technically yes.”
“You—”
“Wait a second.” Cole raises his hand and then turns toward the two men still seated. “Can you all give us a minute.” Once they leave, Cole points to the security guys holding Hank. “Do you still need the security?”
“I don’t trust you or your employees to not attack my wife.”
My heart swoons at his over-the-top concern for me.
“Believe me, I have no intention of attacking your wife, and by the looks of this man, I don’t think he will come near her again in this lifetime.” Cole Durant’s squinting eyes light with a twinkle of amusement.
When Zach doesn’t reply, I whisper, “Zach.” My husband’s wild gaze settles on me and my pulse skyrockets when it softens. “I’m fine. Calm down, please.” I gently rub his hammering chest that I can feel even through his jacket.
He gives me a long look before looking over his shoulder and giving a tiny nod to security. “Just stay out but don’t let this asshole get away.”
Once they leave, Cole turns to me. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Teager, though I wish the circumstances were different.” He extends his hand, but Zach does not release me and I do an awkward handshake. “I am so sorry on behalf of my employee.”
“Um, it’s okay. Technically, I’m also your employee. I’m the head baker at Cakes for All.”
“You work at the bakery?” Cole does a double take.
“Way to go, Durant. I won’t be surprised if your hotel business soon falls apart given how up to date you are about the goings-on of your establishments.”
Cole releases an exasperated sigh, but compared to my husband, he is doing a great job at keeping his cool.
“That bakery was a gift from my grandfather to my grandmother when they moved here from France. But after my grandmother passed away, there was no one to follow her footsteps. My family hired a manager to take care of it, and when that guy left, they hired someone else. It’s more of a liability to us at this point. Recently, my uncle put it up for sale, but we’ve got no buyers for it.”
My chest tightens.The bakery is up for sale! What about my job?
I still haven’t recovered from the shock that I might lose my job when Zach drops another bomb. “I’ll buy it. Send the papers to my office by this evening.”
My husband has already turned away and taken me with him when Cole Durant asks, “You don’t want to negotiate?”
“This is not a deal,” Zach replies with his lips pinched together.
“Isn’t everything a deal in Zach Teager’s world?” A touch of surprise hides behind Cole’s smirk.
“Not everything and definitely not my wife’s safety.” I’m held captive by Zach’s words and his anguish and concern for my well-being. Right in this moment, my heart falls a bit more for my amazing husband. “Get rid of the man, Durant, or Iwillpress charges against you and him both.”
“I’ll take care of him.” Cole nods as we leave his office.
Only when we are finally back inside Zach’s Porsche does he release his grip on me. My forearm feels cold from his lack of contact.
He squeezes his eyes shut and his hands tighten in fists. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“Zach.” I grab his hands, urging him to look at me. “You didn’t hurt me. You protected me from getting hurt.” I swallow deep. “I-I was so scared.” Realization hits me. What would Hank have done if Zach wasn’t there to rescue me?
“I should have killed that fucker,” Zach growls and I feel his tight skin under my fingers.
“No! I cannot afford for you to go to jail. You are too precious.”
My words do something, and for the first time today, anger disappears from his eyes and a ghost of a grin creeps on his lips. “That is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and asks, “But are you alright?”
“I am and I have you to thank.” I hold his hands as they stroke my cheek, sending a thousand butterflies swarming in my tummy.
“I can’t believe you were working so close to that asshole the whole time.” His gray eyes turn stormy once again.
I place my quivering hand on his cheek. “Calm down. I’m no longer working for anyone but you. Are you really buying the bakery?”
