After today’s scene, I was thinking the same thing. Today’s behavior was beyond just being bitchy and manipulative; it was way out of line to the point of being scary.

I didn’t share this.

Instead, quietly, I told him, “Baby, you should have seen Joey. He stood up for me, for himself and he took care of his brother. It took a lot of courage but you would have been proud.”

There was a moment of silence then, “Yeah, Laura told me.”

“He was great.”

“I’m glad he was great, darlin’, just wish he wasn’t in the position to have to be great.”

This was, unfortunately, true.

“That sucks but silver lining, Brock, he was in that position and he was great. He didn’t back down and he looked after his brother. You should hold onto that because that means, like his Dad and his Dad’s family, you’ve got a strong, smart, loyal son.”

This was met with another moment of silence.

Then a soft, “Yeah.”

Then I assured him, “She put her hand on him, baby, and it wasn’t nice but she didn’t hurt him.”

“Your mother ever put her hand on you when she’s pissed or throwin’ a tantrum?” he asked.


“No,” I whispered.

“Mine either so I don’t know but I ‘spect that doesn’t feel too good.”

This was also unfortunately true.

“Right.” I was still whispering.

“Right.” Now Brock was whispering.

We both held those unhappy thoughts for awhile then Brock broke into them.

“No matter how drunk you get or how late you call, I want you in my bed tonight.”

“Brock, I –”

He cut me off. “I want you in my bed because I want you in my bed but I also want you in my kitchen makin’ my boys breakfast tomorrow. They need a good breakfast and they need to be around a woman who makes ‘em laugh and feel safe. Tomorrow is their last day with me, it’s a short one and then they gotta go back to her. I wanna make it as good as it can get.

Can you help me do that?”

“Yes,” I answered instantly.

Another moment of silence then, “Yeah, I know you can,” he replied quietly then I heard him sigh and say, “I gotta go.”

“Okay, I’ll tell the boys that Levi and Lenore are going to be here soon.”

“Great, babe. See you later.”

“Later, honey.”

Then I had dead air.

* * * * *

Twenty minutes later, Joel pushed the swinging doors open, held them open, caught my eyes and announced, “Uncle Levi’s here.”

“Right, honey, be right out,” I said, he disappeared and I stopped piping mountainous swirls of frosting on cupcakes, wiped my hands on a damp towel and headed out.

And sure enough, standing in front of my display case looking like beautiful, glamorous movie stars was my man’s gorgeous brother and his equally gorgeous girlfriend (or, I hoped she was his girlfriend).

“Hey guys,” I called.

“Wow, Tess, I’ve never been in here,” Lenore stated, smiling at me. “Everything looks awesome and I love the hibiscus and hummingbirds. They’re so pretty. ”

I totally knew I liked her.

“Thanks, babe,” I replied, giving her a quick hug and touch of the cheek then I did the same with an amused-looking Levi. I stepped back and turned to the hovering Rex and Joel,

“Guys, go get your coats, time for a movie and dinner,” and they dashed off, clearly very, very done with KP duty.

After the boys took off, Levi’s smile faded and his eyes got serious.

“Scale of one to ten, how bad was it with the bitch this time?” he asked in a low voice and I knew he’d been briefed by Laura, Brock, both or perhaps the entirety of the Lucas family considering time enough had gone by for news to spread.

“Um… I’ve only been around her once before and that was unpleasant but considering what I heard about her I’m guessing that was around a five so this was a fifteen.”

His mouth got tight.

Seeing that, to get his mind off it, I said quickly, “They’re looking forward to spending time with you and, um… of course, their Aunt Lenore.”

Lenore’s lips tipped up in surprised happiness at receiving the Aunt title and I saw this happen before she tilted her head demurely to the side and therefore she missed Levi giving me a look and shaking his head.

“They love their Aunt Lenore,” I added and Levi’s eyes moved to the ceiling. “Like, loads, ” I continued, Lenore’s gaze came to me and Levi’s eyes tipped back. I looked to Lenore and informed her, “I’m only ahead of you because I own a bakery. But I think I lost ground today because they’ve been clearing tables and doing dishes for four hours. You like football and your little brother plays for Notre Dame. After today, you might have taken the lead.”

She grinned but stated, “Not sure I can ever compete with your cupcakes and what I’ve heard are your totally awesome breakfasts.”

“I don’t know,” I replied. “They like their football and they’re their father’s sons so I haven’t hidden the catatonia I lapse into when I’m forced to watch it.”

Her grin got bigger and I looked to Levi.

“Sooooo,” I drew it out, “off to the movies and dinner with your girl and your nephews.

How domestic.”

He shook his head again but his eyes crinkled and his arm slid around Lenore’s waist at about the same time the boys raced back.

Then he confirmed, “Yeah,” as Lenore melted into his side and her grin became dreamy.

And when she melted into his side, Levi not only took her weight but also his arm got visibly tighter.

Yes. Oh yes.

I knew where this was going. Someone had finally woken up and focused on the sweet, beautiful, stylish young woman who was in his life who also adored him and had his back.

“Yeah,” I whispered, smiling at him because I was happy for him (and Lenore) then I released him from his brief (but deserved) torture and bent to Brock’s sons, kissing the tops of their heads in turn which they endured with shuffling feet and I ordered, “Have fun.”

“Right Tess,” Rex said.

“We will,” Joel said.

“Good,” I whispered then I couldn’t stop it but also didn’t try, I lifted my hand and cupped Joel’s cheek lightly and repeated a whispered, “Good.”

I watched a shadow pass through his eyes that broke my heart before warmth that was close to the kind that I often saw in his father’s suffused them and my heart instantly mended.

Then I let him go, turned back to Levi and Lenore and announced, “Okay, I’m officially releasing them from duty.”

“Good, then we gotta go. Movie starts it thirty minutes. It’s at the mall but we gotta get popcorn and shit,” Levi declared, moving Lenore toward the door with his arm still around her waist and the boys and I followed.

“Maybe we can do dinner, you guys and Brock and me, sometime soon,” I said to their backs, Lenore threw a dazzling smile over her shoulder and Levi sent me a beleaguered look over his.

“That would be awesome, ” Lenore breathed.

“We’ll set it up,” I told her.

Levi turned back forward but I heard him sigh.

I giggled silently to myself and followed them out into the cold. The boys raced to their uncle’s SUV, Lenore gave me a brief hug and followed them then Levi moved in and did the same but stayed close to murmur in my ear, “You smell like cake but you’re still a pain in the ass, you know that?”

“I’ve never had a brother,” I murmured back. “I’ve got forty-three years of older sister pent up in me so watch out.”

“Fuckin’ great,” he muttered, pulled away, I caught his eyes and grinned.

He shook his head but his lips twitched.

Then he turned and bleeped the locks on the SUV. Lenore opened her door. So did Rex.

So did Joel. Levi headed to the driver’s side. Lenore, Levi and Rex got in but Joey hesitated.


Then he turned, dashed back to me, gave my waist a quick, tight hug then he dashed back, jumped in, closed the door and instantly became absorbed in the complicated procedure of buckling his seatbelt.

I looked to the front of the SUV to see Lenore grinning wildly and mouthing, “I told you so.” Then I saw Levi and the look on his face made the tears already stinging my nose start to sting my eyes.

Suffice it to say, Uncle Levi loved his nephews and Uncle Levi was glad his brother had a decent woman in his life who would also be a woman his twelve year old nephew would take a hit to his reputation in order to hug.

Then I waved and rushed back into my bakery.

And luckily I succeeded in making it to my office before the first of the tears fell. Then I let the others fall.

Then I wiped my face and got back to work.

* * * * *

“You got sugar cookies with daisy sprinkles on the menu tomorrow?” Shirleen asked in my ear.

It was seven thirty. I was locking up the shop. Everyone was gone. I was exhausted from working a twelve and a half hour day and I wanted to go to girls’ night in like I wanted someone to drill a hole in my head. I would have begged off if I didn’t think Martha would send the National Guard to collect me and bring me in restraints to her place.

“Uh…” I muttered into the phone, turning out lights in the front, “they can be.”

“Good, ‘cause I’m bringin’ you three nighties tonight. All of them do not say ‘good time with a bad boy’, they scream it.”

I didn’t know Shirleen. Although she’d been given my cell number by someone and I’d received and returned a variety of texts from her, mostly about sugar cookies, nightie requirements and the upcoming girls’ night in, I didn’t know her very well mainly because we’d conversed solely about sugar cookies, nightie requirements and girls’ night in. This could be cool. It could also be scary. But with Shirleen, I was guessing I was in no position to argue.

Therefore, I told her, “Okay, then they are.”

“Okay, then you take your pick or take all three and I’m in your bakery tomorrow to collect the debt.”

“You got it.”

“See you soon.”

“Right, later.”

“Later.”

Then she ended the call.

I slid my phone in my purse then started to pay attention. No one had been shot at for over a week which was good and I hoped this luck continued but that didn’t mean I was going to fall down on Brock’s order to be vigilant.

I scanned the darkness outside, saw my car under its streetlamp, the coast appeared clear then I pulled out my keys, got them ready in my fingers, set the alarm, exited, locked the doors and quickly moved to my car, arm out bleeping the locks.

I had my hand on the door handle when vigilance was foiled.

I knew this when I heard Damian say from behind me, “Tess.”

I closed my eyes as my stomach clenched.

Then I opened them and said to the roof of my car, “You have got to be kidding.”

Then I decided to use the Olivia tactic and ignore him so I opened the door and started to move to enter but I was foiled with that too when he put his hand to my forearm, gently pulled me back and my door was shut in front of me.


But as he did this, I whirled. Twisting my arm to jerk it out of his hold, I took a step back and lifted a hand, palm out.

“Don’t touch me.”

He lifted his hand too, palm up and placating. “Listen to me, Tess. Please.”

“Why would I do that when you being here means you don’t listen to me? ” I asked, dropping my hand.

Before he could answer a voice came out of the shadows.

And it said, “You need to get gone, Heller.”

My eyes went in its direction and Vance Crowe, Brock’s friend from the Hot Guy Club, formed out of the darkness.

Hallelujah.

“Who are you?” Damian asked Vance.

“A friend of Tess’s,” Vance answered. “Now you need to move away from her vehicle and get gone.”

Damian stared at him. Then he looked to me.

Then he announced, “He’s dangerous.”

“Who? Vance?” I asked disbelievingly, not that I didn’t think Vance could be dangerous just that I knew instinctively Vance would never be dangerous to me.

“No,” Damian bit off, “Lucas.”

My body got tight and it got tight not because I believed him just that I didn’t believe he showed up at my bakery after a very bad, very long day to trash talk my boyfriend.

“Man, not gonna tell you again,” Vance warned getting close. “Step away from her vehicle.”

Damian had looked to Vance while he was speaking but he looked back at me and pleaded, “Please, Tess, you have to listen to me. I’m not here to start something, I’m not here to hurt you, I’m not here to get you back. I’m only here to help you. I’m here to stop you from making a grave mistake.”