Ross looked shocked. “Damn, I knew that human was working with a half a box of crayons.”
Kenway chuckled, but wondered if his bakery was about to become a war zone.
* * * *
Baker locked his door and walked down the steps. His mind had been on nothing but Reno since the incident yesterday outside his apartment. His thoughts were a mess, and his anger had drained away. Baker wasn’t sure if he should take the guy seriously or not.
He just didn’t know what to think.
“Morning.”
Baker looked up from checking his mailbox to see Reno leaning just inside the door. His well-honed muscles rippled under the tight grey shirt he was wearing. Crazy or not, thoughts of licking every available inch on Reno raced through Baker’s mind.
“Hey, Reno.” Baker tucked the junk mail back into his box.
“So, you took the time to find out my name.” The man’s tone sounded pleased.
“Nah, just guessed. I started to call you Rumpelstiltskin, but that would have been too obvious.”
Reno laughed and Baker found he was mesmerized by the sound. Why did he have a feeling Reno didn’t laugh often? He hid his own smile as he turned away from his mailbox. “Now if you don’t mind, I have to get to work.”
Baker’s heart froze and then pounded as he quickly inhaled when Reno was in front of him in the blink of an eye, trapping him against the wall, a hand on either side of his head. Baker tilted his head to the side as he gazed into Reno’s brown eyes. He had a heavy feeling in his stomach and was nearly breathless at the way Reno was staring back at him. “Stealing another kiss?”
Baker glanced down and wished he hadn’t. Reno’s well-defined eight pack left Baker all but drooling. His fingers itched to touch the sculpted muscles. He moistened his dry lips with his tongue as he stared back up at Reno.
“Mmm, I like the way you are staring at me.”
Baker pressed his hands into Reno’s chest to push him away and found himself panting at the tight flesh beneath his fingers. God, he would really love to see the man without a shirt—no he wouldn’t. Damn it. Baker was supposed to be ignoring Reno, not lusting after him.
Baker cast Reno a dark scowl. “I’m contemplating how to get you to leave me alone.”
“Right,” Reno said with a wink, moving his body just a little closer. “Tell me you don’t want me.”
This time Baker managed to push on Reno’s chest. “Get away from me, Reno. I’m going to be late.”
Reno played with a strand of Baker’s hair, his look predatory and challenging. “I can give you a ride on my motorcycle.”
Fat chance. “No thanks.”
Reno pushed away from the wall, giving Baker room to move away. He took the opportunity quickly as he headed for the door.
“See you at lunch,” Reno called out as Baker hurried away. Gah, he really was losing it. Baker’s heart actually skipped a beat thinking about seeing Reno later. There was no way this game was thrilling him. Yes, Reno was gorgeous as sin. But the man didn’t play with a full deck. Baker didn’t need a man who thought stalking was equivalent to courtship.
But he had a feeling getting rid of Reno was going to be impossible.
Ya think? He’s your mate whether you choose to believe it or not. Get used to this.
Baker ground his teeth. Should he be thrilled, scared, angry, or committed? He wasn’t sure how he should feel. But one thing was very clear to him.
Reno wasn’t going away.
Honestly, he wanted to give in just to know what it would feel like to have such a powerful man as a lover. Baker was pretty certain Reno wouldn’t disappoint between the sheets. But Kenway had said Reno didn’t want an easy conquer. So no matter what Baker wanted, he had to let Reno chase him.
Resigning himself to playing Reno’s game, Baker walked past the feedstore, seeing the cop that had talked with Reno yesterday. He was standing there with another cop, presumably his partner, having a heated discussion.
Baker moved down the street quickly. He’d never had a run-in with the law and he didn’t want to start now. They didn’t know it was him who had called in the complaint yesterday. Baker had called anonymously. Still, he hurried toward work.
Being late was never a good thing, even if he had a cool boss. Baker could always tell Kenway that Reno had cornered him and the buffalo wouldn’t be mad he was late, but Baker quickened his steps. No matter the reason, it would still make him look like a slacker—at least in his own eyes.
And then Baker thought about his father. It hurt like a bitch to see the disappointment in the man’s eyes. It seemed nothing he did appeased the guy. Baker had all but given up trying to do things to make his father proud of him. He had thought once he got the job at the bakery that his dad would soften, but he hadn’t. His dad went from harping about a job to constantly telling Baker he better not fuck this up.
Baker had no idea why his father had started looking at him as a loser. He had graduated high school and tried finding work right after that. But jobs had been scarce in Brac Village and he didn’t have reliable transportation to go outside the village to look for work.
His father should have understood this. But instead, he had gotten so sour that Baker had scrounged the money together to get his own place. He barely could afford the apartment let alone the utilities. Internet and a cell phone were luxuries he couldn’t afford, and groceries were barely lining his cupboard and fridge.
Baker rushed into the shop, working his way around the customers, and headed toward the back. Kenway had been busy behind the counter, and Baker
