by Hart, Cary
“Sure.”
“Was this an old drug store?” I question moving my way to the back, but Shapiro stays put and not saying a word.
In the back there is a huge workspace with a commercial oven and walk in cooler. “Not a drug store,” I mumble while I continue my search.
“What do you think?” Shapiro startles me.
“I’m not sure.” I purse my lips trying to come up with a logical guess when I notice something covered up in the corner.
“You don’t know if you like it?” he presses.
Taking a couple steps to whatever is in the corner—noticing the plastic is covered in dust—I opt to peak under, avoiding the sneezefest I would have had if I yanked it off.
“Meat slicer,” I say to no one, but Shapiro answers.
“Yeah. But do you like it.”
“Oh my God!” Realization sets in. “It’s a deli!” I bounce up and down, clapping. Proud of myself for figuring it out.
“You are killing me,” he says, standing next to me. “Look around. Do you like the space?”
“Yeah it’s nice. Why?” I peer up at him.
“I thought maybe it would be the perfect spot for your bakery.”
My bakery.
My.
Bakery.
My bakery.
No matter how many times I repeat the words in my head. I can’t wrap my mind around it.
My bakery.
“Wh-what do you mean?” I fumble out the words. My ability to speak gone. If he is saying what I think he is saying, then I could possibly.
No. Don’t go there. Don’t get your hopes up.
“You’re very own bakery.” Shapiro places his hands on my shoulders and turns me to face him. “Yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yours.”
This place has so much potential, but I can’t let myself think of the possibilities when there is no way I can afford them. My dreams. They aren’t obtainable, at least not any time soon.
“Owning my own bakery isn’t in the budget.” I place a hand between us on his chest. “I didn’t have a job for months until now and that is just contract work,” I remind him.
“I have a small confession.” The corner of Shapiro’s mouth turns up. “Okay, maybe it’s a huge confession.
“You’re freaking me out here.” I push off his rock-hard pecs waiting for this confession.
“Mama Ang had a huge insurance policy and left me as executor. She requested it to be divided up between me and my sisters since we were basically the only family she had.”
“I can’t let you do that. Give up the money Mama Ang left you to start a life, to buy me a bakery. No. Just no!”
I love everything Shapiro has done for me, but him investing in me would be like a financial obligation. I don’t want to be anyone’s obligation.
“I think you may want to hear me out.”
Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back and inhale. Bringing my head back on an exhale I continue, “Please don’t.” My eyes begin to water. “I don’t want that burden between us.”
“Come here.” Shapiro smiles holding out his arms. “You would never be a burden.”
A few steps and I’m secure in his arms.
“What I was trying to say is …” He reaches down to cup my cheek. “We were the only family she had until you came along.”
“What?” My eyes begin to fill with tears.
“Mama Ang left you a percentage. You’re named as a beneficiary.” Shapiro gently leans in for a sweet and tender kiss. One filled with so many promises.
“Why would she do that?” I’m trying to understand all of this.
Mama Ang was my only family, but I wasn’t hers, but we did spend day in and day out in the kitchen, telling stories, singing, dancing. She taught me to see that sometimes we just need a reason and I just had to find mine, each and every day.
I loved her as family. I just wasn’t sure if she felt the same.
“You were her family, too.”
Crumbling in his arms, I let myself cry realizing I didn’t have to search anymore. This is my reason.
Her.
Shapiro.
The bakery.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. This was her way of showing you how much she cared.” He draws circles on my back with the palm of his hands. Comforting me.
“I would give it all back.” I lean my head on his chest, feeling every beat of his heart. Life. “If it meant I could have her back.”
“We all would, Penny, but that isn’t possible.”
Taking deep breaths, I try to calm myself and soak up the reality of the moment.
This place, it could be mine. All my dreams could come true because of this man standing in front of me. Without him, I would have never known the meaning of family.
“Is this really happening?” My eyes dart around the room, imagining this place as mine.
“It is. She didn’t give you a lot, but it’s enough to make the down payment and carry you for a year until the bakery gets on its feet.”
“I can’t believe it.” I’m still shocked. “This has to be the sweetest confession ever. Pun intended.”
My eyes go wide, practically popping out of my head.
“Did you hear what I just said?” I’m practically giddy from the idea.
Bouncing from foot to foot, my fists are clenched, bursting from the seams with excitement.
“I did.”
“Sweetest Confession! That’s what I’m going to call it.”
I wait for his reaction. Maybe I’m just sentimental, but this is what it’s supposed to be. A sweet confession from the man who has given me everything. Made me believe I can be anything.
“I think it’s perfect.”
Shapiro
This went better than planned. Bringing her here, showing the possibilities, I’m sure is what sealed the deal. Telling her any other way could have backfired. Especially since I’ve been keeping it a secret for the past couple of weeks.
It’s not like I wanted to keep it from her, but I had to make sure my sisters weren’t going to contest it. At first, they were confused as to how Penny was able to develop a bond so quickly with Mama Ang when they had been struggling for years to compete with me for her affection.
But what can I say, I have a way with the ladies.
“Okay. I think I got pictures of everything.” Penny comes rushing from the back. A welcomed interruption.
“Great news.” I take her by the hand and lead her out. “I’ll have my guy come over and inspect the place.”
“What if it doesn’t pass?” Penny worries her bottom lip.
Digging out the keys, I begin to lock up.
“Then we find a new place.” I stuff the keys back in my pocket.
Reaching for her hand, I give it a quick squeeze before I wrap an arm around her shoulders.
“I guess …” Penny trails off as she leans into me and reaches up to hold my hand that is wrapped around her.
Together we walk back to Spotlight, talking about her dreams that are soon to be her reality when my phone pings.
Not willing to give up her connection, I reach in my pocket and pull out my phone with my free hand and swipe it to life.
“What the fuck?”
I come to a complete stop, freeing up my hands to make sure I’m seeing exactly what I’m seeing.
Fuck!
A snapshot of Penny and me in the kitchen. My head between her thighs, tasting her beautiful pussy, while Penny arches her back for me to take more. She’s throwing her head back in the pleasure I was giving her.
A message attached:
CAN I HAVE A TASTE?
“Shapiro, what’s wrong?” Penny is beside me, hand on my arm, gently caressing me to calm me down.
Did she see?
Does she know?
Turning my back, I hit the information button looking for some kind of clue as to who might have done this.
“Hey. You okay?” She wraps he
r arms around my waist. Letting me know she is there. Trying to comfort me the same way I have comforted her when she needed it.
Can I have a taste?
Every word stings.
Can.
I.
Have.
A.
Taste.
Rereading them adds fuel to the fire that is burning inside of me. Every violating word was like pouring gasoline on it. My fists begin to clench, my jaw tightens.
“Breathe with me …” Penny’s voice breaks through the darkness that is threatening to consume me. “Shapiro, breathe with me.” She lifts up my fist and slowly peels away my fingers removing the phone.
The phone.
The picture.
“No!” I grab the phone away from her, slamming it to the ground. The screen spider webs, cracking beyond visualization.
“Shapiro! What in the world?” She jumps back.
My eyes dart between Penny and the phone. I shouldn’t have done that, but those words didn’t leave me a choice. If she saw the two of us on that screen … everything we have worked for would have been destroyed.
Running my hands through my hair, I turn in a slow circle.
Are they watching us?
Are they here now?
“Let’s go.” I pick up the phone, ignoring the pain from the glass that is prickling my skin. I grab Penny’s arm and high-tail it out of there.
“What’s going on?” Penny digs in her heels.
“Dammit, Penny. We have to go.” I reach for her again, but she jerks away.
“You’re scaring me.” Her lips begin to tremble. “I’m not going with you like this.”
Good.
Looking up at the heavens, I blow out a frustrating breath. I’m irritated that she won’t go, but also proud.
Someone who has been through what she has shouldn’t go with a man who is acting like I am. Penny, since being with me, has become stronger. More independent. She’s thriving as the person she was determined to be.
Shaking my head left and right. I try to come up with a reason. One that isn’t a lie yet doesn’t scare her more.
I opt for the partial lie and little freak-out.
“Someone messaged me. Apparently, we are being followed.”
“What?” Her body trembles.
“It’s okay. You’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.” I place my hands on either side of her face and bring her closer to where our foreheads are touching. “We will be okay.”
Shapiro
After yesterday, I promised Penny I wouldn’t leave. I scared the hell out of her and I need to take the time to show her it’s going to be okay. That we’re okay.
I made last night as normal as possible by ordering dinner from the club and opting to veg out and finish up the last couple episodes of Grey’s.
Penny had questions, but I didn’t have the answers. At least not yet.
Looking down at my new phone. The one I promised her I would get as soon as I walked out of the door this morning, I notice the time.
Shit!
I’m running behind.
After Penny fell asleep last night, I dug out the card Jake gave me and used Penny’s phone to call Jordan, Jake’s brother, and filled him in on everything that is happening. Given the situation, he put a few guys on it trying to get some answers sooner than later.
I thought maybe in a couple days we would have some sort of lead on the case, but I never expected a message bright and early this morning, asking me to meet him downstairs, at two o’clock sharp. He said he would have all the answers that I have been searching weeks for.
But I’m running late because everyone and their brother decided to upgrade their phones this morning. Two fucking hours I spent at the cellular store. Two!
I fire off a quick text to Penny, letting her know I’m back.
Me: I have a meeting downstairs. See you soon.
Penny: See you soon!
Pulling in the back alley, I fling the SUV into park, and jog through the backdoor. Noting it is standing wide open from one of the busboys taking a smoke break. It’s something the bastard has gotten in trouble for time and time again, but I don’t have the time to rat his ass out at this very moment.
Dashing through the dining room, I see Jordan chatting it up with one of the new hostesses.
“Hey, Shapiro, can I get a hand?” Cindy hollers from behind the bar. “I’m having trouble changing this keg out.”
“Can it wait? I have meeting I’m late for.” My eyes dart over to Jordan who waves me on and continues to talk to the new girl. “Well, looks like I’m now available.”
“Awesome, but first can you open this freakishly large jar of cherries?” Cindy bends down and lifts the gallon jar onto the bar.
Setting my phone down, I take a wet rag and twist it open without a problem.
“Whatever.” Cindy shakes her head. “I totally loosened that up.
“Sure.” I hand the cherries back to her. “Which tap?”
“The new local pale ale. It’s selling like crazy.”
“All right, give me a minute.” I glance back at Jordan, who obviously doesn’t have a problem with me finishing this up.
Running back to the beer cooler, I search for keg that is waiting to be changed. Unhooking the coupler, I pull the handle out and up without a problem. Funny, I don’t seem to have a problem. Twisting and lifting, I replace the keg then line up the coupler, pull the handle out and back down. Bam!
“Did you get it?” Cindy comes in the cooler and begins to change another one out. This time without a problem.
“Yeah, it didn’t give me any problems.” I stand, wiping my hands on a towel hanging from one of the shelves.
“Whatever, first the cherries and now the keg. I swear, I’m not totally helpless.”
“Uh-huh.” I flash her a smile before I head out. I’ve kept Jordan waiting long enough.
Working my way through the back, I weave my way through the dining room and see Jordan back at the table flipping through some papers.
“Hey, Jordan, sorry to keep you.”
Jordan drops the papers and stands, hand out for me to shake. “Seriously, not a problem.” His gaze travels back to the blonde he was chatting up earlier. “Good to see you, man,” he says as he clasps me on the back.
“You too.”
Pulling out a chair I take a seat and Jordan follows.
Leaning over the table I clasp my hands together. “I don’t want to be a dick here, but can we cut to the chase. I need to know what’s going on.”
“We have a couple things.” He reaches into his file and pulls out a few traffic camera stills. “You have a right to be concerned as to where this Tyler Bradford is concerned. He was standing on the other side of the street, watching Penny, just as she thought.”
He then passes me another paper of signature comparisons.
“Even though he was the one on the street that day. The waitress couldn’t remember exactly what he looked like because he passed it to her during the rush.”
“What about Spotlight’s footage? Did we get a clear shot?” I question.
“Oh, the shot was clear.” Jordan smirks. “I made sure when I installed this system, it was state of the art and would hit every hidden angle in this building.”
“Okay, then why can’t we tell if it’s him?” I can’t help but be confused. If he says this place is covered then we should have something to compare to the traffic cam.
“He was wearing a hoodie. Face wasn’t visible.”
“He could have ditched it on his way out,” I suggest.
“Maybe. Can’t really tell.”
“The notes.” I scan the paper. “These samples don’t match up.”
“They don’t,” Jordan agrees. “But that doesn’t mean anything either. He could have had someone else write them to throw us off.”
“What does this mean, Jordan? Did I fucking waste my time with this? Is Tyler Bradford going to silently harass us from a
far?”
If that’s the case, we will have to run. I can’t keep putting Penny through this. We have the money and the bakery she can open anywhere. It doesn’t have to be here. Hell, maybe we’ll go back to New York.
“I know these aren’t the answers you wanted, but I think I may have something else you will find interesting.”
I don’t need interesting. I need answers.
“What do you know about a Marcus Mannard?
When he says his name all the air rushes from my lungs. It’s as if I have been sucker punched and it’s taking me a minute to get back up.
“What did you say?”
“Marcus Manna—”
“I heard what you said,” I interrupt. “What about him.”
“He’s out of prison.”
Penny
I’ve been working on the plans for the bakery since Shapiro left. It’s the only thing keeping my mind off last night. I’ve been busy creating an online board of ideas. Pinning some of my favorite websites so I will have something to reference when we meet with the contractor.
For the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely excited about something. But the excitement is tainted by a heavy truth, reality. Someone is following us, and I have a feeling Shapiro isn’t going to like who that someone is.
Tyler.
I only saw him that one time, but if there has been more that I’m unaware of, then maybe everything I thought to be the truth is wrong.
To think Tyler would really want to hurt me scares the hell out of me. Makes me wonder if I would have stayed …
No.
I can’t think like that. Not after everything that has happened. I found the strength to leave. I left.
“Sweet Confessions. Sweet Confessions. Sweet Confessions,” I chant the name of my soon to be new bakery out loud.
Shapiro said he would take me back sometime today to take a few measurements. He wanted to wait for the contractor, but the few I do need would give us a head start on the design process which can be extremely tedious.
Reaching for my phone, I scan through the pictures hoping to feel inspired, but inspiration doesn’t come. If the bakery can’t get my mind off things, then maybe Shapiro can.
Finding his name, I start to type a message, but the little bubble pops up to let me know he was thinking of me the same time I was thinking of him.
