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“Okay.”
He listened and tiptoed through the back hallway to the kitchen. No one lurked inside the kitchen, and they crept to the utility room. Using his toe, he pushed the door open and looked inside. The bathroom was next to that and was equally small and empty.
The next room was her little office, which took little time to clear. He led them into the front of the bakery. Nothing seemed out of place. Lara took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders.
He nodded, then kissed her lips. “All clear.”
“Thank you.” She made her way to the coffeemaker and turned it on. “I’ll have coffee ready in a minute.”
“I can’t stay, baby. I’m headed back to work. At four, I’ll be here to bring you home. If you need anything in the meantime, call me. Spencer and Henry will be here in an hour to install the generator.”
She rounded the counter to turn on the register and gasped.
He was there in an instant. He gently took the note from her trembling fingers.
The note was short and to the point. “Fuck you.”
He walked to the front door and pulled it open. It was unlocked.
“We locked that last night when we left here.”
“I know.”
Tate looked at the lock and saw some scratches on the front where they’d used something other than a key to open it.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he called the sheriff.
“Good morning, Mr. Vickers. What can I do for you today?”
“Lara Bennit’s bakery was broken into again yesterday.”
“Are you shitting me? Is it busted up again?”
“No. They picked the lock and left a note on her register.”
He heard the sheriff’s chair squeak as he leaned back into it. “I’ll be right out there. Have you called Keaton?”
“And what would that do, exactly?”
The sheriff muttered something under his breath and the line went dead. Tate turned to her and saw how pale she was. He went to her and pulled her in close for a hug.
“I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
Her shaking arms wrapped around his waist. “I know.”
Still holding his phone, he stepped back and smiled at her. “Let’s sit down a minute.”
He led her to the little table in front of the window and sat across from her. He held her hand on top of the table and dialed his dad.
Tapping the speaker icon, he laid his phone on the table and pointed to his dad’s name. Her eyes rounded and he smiled.
“Hey, Tate. How are things going?”
“Hey, Dad. First, you’re on speaker. I’m here with Lara Bennit. Lara is the best cookie baker in the world and owns Lara’s Delights.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lara. My name is Gaige Vickers.”
“Hi, Mr. Vickers. It’s nice to meet you too.”
