For Passion

by Jeannette Winters

  As he was about to open his car door, he noticed a vehicle approaching at high speed from down the road. Ellie had parked that atrocious thing across the street. With the boxes, she might not see it coming.

  Nearly ripping the door off its hinges, Josh dashed across the street heading toward Ellie. There was no doubt the vehicle had seen him but wasn’t slowing. Fuck!

  Josh had no choice but to grab hold of Ellie, knocking the boxes into the air, and tumbling with her to the ground. He made sure his body took the brunt of contact with the cement. Her screams still echoed through the cool night air as the tires squealed away.

  Gabe chimed in on the earpiece Josh had tucked away so no one could see it. “Got the plate. Running it now. You guys okay?”

  Josh knew Gabe had been watching everything via satellite. Although the car missed them, Josh could feel the scrapes on his back and shoulder. Minor injuries. He needed to make sure Ellie was okay. Holding her still on him, he asked, “Ma’am, are you hurt?”

  He could see the dazed look in her eyes as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. “That . . . that . . . car . . . it . . . almost hit—”

  “But it didn’t. I hope I didn’t hurt you when I—”

  “Saved my life. No. I think I’m . . . okay. Maybe a few scratches and bruises, but I’m alive.” Her eyes glistened with tears as she choked out, “Thank you.”

  He loosened his grip around her but didn’t want to let go. Not just because he enjoyed the feel of her body against his, but he wasn’t sure if the car was coming back for another try. There was no way that was accidental.

  “The car was reported stolen a few hours ago. I’ve notified the police of its whereabouts. They are en route now. Does she need medical attention?” Gabe asked.

  Josh didn’t want Ellie to know Gabe was listening. “I’m glad you’re not hurt. But I’m sure you’re shook up. That was a close call.” Too fucking close.

  “I am, but I’ve been through worst lately.”

  He knew she was referring to Frank. While still holding her, he adjusted himself so they could sit up, her still sitting on his lap. “Take a minute and relax. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  Josh meant it. He only wished Gabe wasn’t listening when he said it. One thing about his brother: he enjoyed taking a simple statement like that and running with it as though it was something more. When that time came, he’d deal with it. Right now, Josh was planning what to say to Ellie so she didn’t run off and he’d not see her again. Other than from standing in the shadows.

  “You seem shaken, which by the way, is understandable. Hell, that jerk needs to take some driving lessons.” He tried to make it not so obvious that they had tried to kill her. From her nod, she seemed to be buying it. Good. Let’s see how my charm works on you. “Why don’t I help you collect your things and then buy you coffee?”

  He felt Ellie stiffen in his arms. “I believe you’ve done enough.” She pulled away from him, and he let her go.

  It was going to take a bit of encouragement on his part, so he said softly, “Is there really such a thing?” Ellie turned to him, looking puzzled. “I mean doing enough to earn the right to buy a lady a cup of coffee.” Josh smirked. “Sorry, I have a sister who would slap me right now for being a jerk.”

  “No, you’re not at all. Actually it was really kind of you to ask. It’s just been a . . . long day.”

  “That it has. Thankfully it’s ending on a positive note.”

  Ellie shrugged. “If this is what you call positive.” She stood there as though not sure where to start. The boxes had been smashed from the passing car, and even from where Josh remained, it was evident most of the items were ruined.

  He didn’t wait for her permission and started picking up things he believed she’d want no matter what condition, like photos. Ellie did the same in silence, but he could see her expression with each item she put back into the box. Josh, on the other hand, made haste as he wanted to get her out of the open.

  Josh picked up the last few things and said, “Let’s get this to your car.”

  Ellie nodded but stopped when Josh got near her car. “How did you know this was mine?”

  “Pretty easy to narrow down since there are only two parked on the street at the moment, and I know mine doesn’t have huge cupcakes on it.”

  Ellie chuckled, which he found to be the most wonderful sound after all she’d been through. “You don’t know what you’re missing. Everyone loves cupcakes.”

  Maybe not the guy who just tried running you over. “Maybe on my next vehicle. I shouldn’t criticize. Look at what I’m driving.” He pointed at the run-down Jeep.

  “Nothing a bit of paint can’t fix.” Ellie unlocked and opened the hatchback, and Josh placed the boxes inside. Then she turned back to Josh, and she seemed to be debating what to do next.

  “How about that coffee now? I know I’m not going to be able to sleep after this ordeal.”

  “I’m not in the habit of going places with strangers. It’s a good way to get yourself . . .”

  Josh extended his hand. “I’m Josh Turchetta. And you are?”

  After a brief pause, she gave in. Shaking his hand, she said, “Ellie Laroux.”

  “It’s a good practice to be cautious. It’s what I tell my sister all the time. Maybe we can have coffee another time when you’re more . . . comfortable?” Part of him hoped she’d tell him to take a flying leap, but instead, he could see her will breaking down slowly.

  “I don’t need more coffee. But I do know this place that has amazing hot chocolate. I’ll go but under one condition.”

  “What is that?” Josh asked and was shocked she agreed at all. He was sure Frank would’ve warned her about creeps who were out there. Thankfully he wasn’t one of them. At least not the kind she needed to fear.

  “I buy. It’s the least I can do after all.”

  Josh gave her one of his dashing smiles, which normally melted a woman’s heart. Ellie didn’t seem all that impressed. Under different circumstances, he’d try harder. But this wasn’t a conquest or a date. He had one objective: protect her at all costs.

  “Why don’t I follow you?” Ellie agreed, and they got in the vehicles. It also provided Josh a chance to touch base with Gabe. “Gabe, update Rafe and the others.”

  “Already done. This isn’t the first time we’ve done this shit.”

  No, unfortunately, it wasn’t. They seemed to be saving more lives than any of them had envisioned when they joined forces and started Turchetta’s Promise. At first, it was clients coming to them. Now he was protecting someone who had no idea her life was in danger. Hopefully, it stays that way.

  “And the car?”

  “Found abandoned a few blocks away. I doubt they’ll find any fingerprints.”

  Whoever hired these guys wanted it to look like an accident. A hit and run. That meant they were trying to keep distance so the connection couldn’t be made. The local law enforcement wouldn’t have any reason to believe otherwise. Thankfully the Turchetta’s had resources they didn’t.

  “You need more backup?” Gabe asked.

  Josh wasn’t sure that would help. If anything it might spook Ellie by having a bunch of strangers lingering around. Although having a team on the outskirts wasn’t a bad idea. If shit started to go down, it’d be nice to have some serious kick-ass forces ready and available.

  “Is David’s team available?”

  “He’s got the one from the Vegas area on standby.”

  “Send them, but tell them to keep their distance. I also want you to monitor any chatter you might hear around her name.”

  “Got it. Anything else since you’re playing boss man?” Gabe asked sarcastically.

  “Yeah, find that asshole who was driving the car.”

  They pulled up in front of her shop, Toot Sweets. What the hell are we doing here? Josh was about to blow a gasket. There was no way Ellie was bringing him home with her. But sure enough, she shut off her c
ar and got out. He did the same and had a few choice words for her.

  “You don’t know me, and you bring me to your shop? Do you know how dangerous that is?”

  Ellie became very defensive. “It’s not like you don’t know where it is anyway.”

  Had she seen him watching her the past few weeks? That wasn’t good. He never let things like that slip. “And you assume this why?”

  She pointed to her car again. “You can’t miss the address and phone number on the car.” Then she giggled, “Or maybe you can. Guess it was pure luck that you could even see that car racing out of control on the street.”

  He wasn’t sure if she was foolish or fearless. Either way, damn she needed him close by. If those assholes had tried a different, friendlier tactic, they might have her now. Making light of the situation, he said, “He probably had a sweet tooth like me.”

  Ellie turned the key, went inside, and shut off the alarm. Josh was glad he’d grabbed his handgun and strapped it to his ankle. It wasn’t ideal, but tonight it was better than nothing. Somehow he needed to get her to welcome him back so he could be around a lot to keep a close eye on her.

  He closed and locked the door behind him. “So you’re the lady who makes the best hot chocolate?”

  She turned to him and proudly said, “If it’s made with chocolate, I’m the queen. Of course, that’s not all I bake in my shop. You said you have a sweet tooth, but do you like to bake?”

  I like to get cooking in the kitchen, but it never had anything to do with food. “I’ve dabbled.”

  As she took out the milk and heated it, she told him about how she came to be the cupcake master. “None of it would’ve been possible if my brother, Fr . . .” The spark in her eyes left at the mention of his name.

  He knew first-hand burying the feelings of losing someone was a horrible way to deal with them. It had been several years since Phoebe had been killed, and he still threw himself into work to cope. Anytime anyone had tried to get him to talk about her he became filled with anger. But this wasn’t him, and he didn’t want Ellie to take the unhealthy path he had chosen.

  Pushing her to go where he knew she didn’t want to go wasn’t nice, but no one ever accused him of being that. “So your brother encouraged this endeavor?”

  Ellie said softly, “He supported me all through culinary arts school, and for my graduation gift bought me that car. That seems so long ago now.”

  He wanted to keep her talking about Toot Sweets. About school. Anything other than the negativity of her tragic loss. “How long have you owned this shop?”

  Ellie turned and asked, “How do you know I own it?”

  Josh laughed. “No one would run around in that car with the logo plastered all over it just for fun.” He gave her a playful wink. “Well, maybe you.”

  “Most definitely me. Did you take a good look at it?”

  Unfortunately every day for three weeks. “It’s dark outside. Maybe I’ll have to come back tomorrow and get a better look.”

  “Oh, you’re that confident I’ll invite you back?”

  “Actually I was thinking as a paying customer, but I like your way of thinking better.”

  “Mr. Turchetta—”

  “Josh please.”

  “Josh, has anyone ever told you that you’re impossible?”

  “Only when they were being nice.”

  Ellie handed him his hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, shaves of real chocolate, and a cherry. He took a sip, and she snickered. Then she pointed to his upper lip. Raising his fingers, he felt what was so funny.

  “Why do I have the impression that was intentional?”

  Ellie shrugged. “I don’t want the reputation of being too nice.”

  Josh didn’t want there to be any reason for Ellie to decline his offer to see him again, so he drank down the drink quickly and said, “You’re right, it was the best I’ve had. It’s late, and I’m sure you have things to do tomorrow.”

  “I do. What are you doing around ten?”

  Watching you. “Nothing. Why?”

  “The girl who was supposed to help me has been out sick.”

  “You want me to bake?” Josh cocked a brow.

  She laughed as she walked him to the door. “No. I was thinking more along the line of washing the dishes.”

  Josh said, “If I didn’t know the lack of skill I have, I might be insulted.”

  “Is that a yes?” Ellie asked.

  Josh nodded. “Lock up, and I’ll see you at ten.”

  He didn’t pull the Jeep away until he saw the lights turn off in the bakery. He knew that meant she’d gone into the back room where her apartment was. Although he moved the Jeep, Josh never let Toot Sweets out of his sight.

  He put the earpiece back in and updated Gabe. Normally, he’d grab some shut-eye once he saw her lights turn off. Not now, not after she’d almost been run over. That was a game changer, and he needed to be ready for anything.

  Chapter Two

  Ellie hadn’t planned on inviting Josh back to the shop last night, but something made him seem . . . non-threatening. She’d stayed up late thinking about it, about him, and all she could deduct was when he spoke about his sister as she was missing her brother, she felt a sense of calmness. She knew she wasn’t herself lately, but last night even more so. Maybe it was that a car almost ran her down, or maybe it was just leaving Frank’s. More likely it was the combination. Although Josh seemed full of himself, there was something about him that struck her as family orientated. The fact he may have saved her life also played a part in it.

  But today was a new day, and she had much to do. As she’d told Josh yesterday, this shop was everything to her, and now it was all she had. Ellie intentionally hadn’t mentioned Frank’s recent demise. She knew if she had, Josh would have wanted to console her. She didn’t want or need anyone’s pity. All she needed was to make sure someone paid for killing her brother.

  Don’t let these cupcakes fool you. I’m not the sweet woman everyone thinks I am. I’m a Laroux, and we’re . . . tough.

  She had to be in order to run a business, but compared to Frank, she felt like a wimp. He was the one who gave her confidence. Right now, standing in the kitchen and looking at the list of things to do, she felt . . . overwhelmed.

  Although Frank didn’t lend a hand in the kitchen, he was always willing to lend an ear and listen to whatever new creation she had envisioned. And each week he’d throw a challenge her way, some outrageous she’d never try like sardine cupcakes. She felt as though her creativity was fading. All she could think of was peanut butter and marshmallow cupcakes. That didn’t sound all that unique at all.

  She reached in her pocket and pulled out the list she’d found in Frank’s apartment. Was it possible that was a list of ingredients he’d written for her to try? This wasn’t supposed to be a find a fun way to eat your veggies competition, but with Frank, it was highly possible. Looking it over she decided to give it a try. The first on the list was going to be easy. Maybe too easy, but for Frank, she’d do it.

  Walking to the large board she had on the back wall, she wrote out each of the items, but not in the order Frank provided. She needed to ease into this challenge. Corn was first, and then she decided to go with the beets. That would be a pretty red. Avocado would make a great filling if done right. Immediately she thought of using sweetened condensed milk and lime juice. It would have a key lime flavor once she was done. The asparagus, well that could be smoothed and added because it did have a bit of natural sweetness. There was no rule about using two ingredients in one cupcake.

  Okra and lettuce, well those were going to the end because she didn’t have a clue as to what to do with them, but the radish . . . she could candy it and make a design for a topper. That left three more. Oh Frank, you really wanted to make this impossible. She liked creamed spinach and would think of something. Mushrooms were great on burgers, but the texture didn’t belong in a cupcake. She would need to do some research for that one to
o.

  She laughed as the vision came to her. She’d make a cupcake that looked like a burger but was a dessert, and she’d use the eggplant in that one too.

  Now she had an agenda, all she needed was to execute a plan. This wasn’t what she’d thought she’d be doing today, but right now it was what she needed. First thing was head to the farmers market and gather some fresh veggies. No matter what she made, it was from scratch. Even her peanut butter was from peanuts she ground. Crazy and excessive, yes. But she prided herself on being different, and this was how she trademarked her desserts.

  There was a knock on the front door of the shop. It was closed on Mondays, so they would go away once they read the sign. Instead, the knocking continued, and the person didn’t seem to be giving up. Finally, she left the confines of the back kitchen, and her jaw dropped when she saw who it was.

  Darn. How could she forget that she’d invited Josh back? It may have only been to wash pots and pans, but he still showed up. Ellie wasn’t sure if she was happy or not. She couldn’t afford a distraction. Right now she was a woman on a mission. Grabbing her keys, she decided to cut him off at the door by thanking him for coming, but she was leaving.

  Ellie opened the door and slipped through, shutting it behind her. Smiling she said, “Sorry, I totally forgot you were coming. I’d love to stay and chat again, but I’m off to do some shopping.”

  “I thought you said you were baking,” Josh said.

  Heading to her car, she said, “I am. There are a few last minute things I need to pick up.” She unlocked her car and sat in the driver’s seat. Josh took the seat next to her. “What are you doing?”

  “Joining you. I thought you said you wanted my help today.”

  That’s when I was on my sugar high last night. “I was only joking.”

  Josh didn’t budge. “I never joke when I offer a helping hand. And I cleared my schedule today.”

  “I thought you said you didn’t have anything to do?”

  Josh grinned at her. “And here I thought you forgot all about asking. Okay, so where is your list?”