“I’ll go pick some up. Thanks again, Seth.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Nodding, Jax headed back to the kitchen where Piper was washing dishes. “I’m gonna run to the hardware store and pick up the stain for the planters. Any particular color you’d like?”
“Maybe something medium dark, like the pots were. Let me dry my hands and I’ll get some cash for you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I got it.”
Turning her head, a glare in her violet eyes, she said, “I don’t need a man to take care of me, Jax. Even for something like this. I can pay.”
“Okay,” he conceded, walking forward and kissing her lips, ignoring the growl Snickers let out. “But don’t stop what you’re doing. I’ll bring you the receipt and you can pay me from that.”
“Fine,” she replied, exhaling as she turned to finish the dishes.
“We can head to the bakery when I get back,” he said, turning to leave the kitchen.
“What about Seth?” she called.
“He’ll be fine,” he said, waving it off. “He can take care of himself, and this way, someone will be with Snickers while we’re gone. I know you’ve been worrying about him.”
“Yeah, that would relieve my mind a bit, as long as Seth doesn’t mind.”
“He won’t,” Jax replied, backtracking to kiss her again. “Keep yourself safe while I’m gone.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said with a laugh, leaning in to nip at his bottom lip.
Frowning at Snickers when he barked again, he said, “And then me and you are gonna have a chat, Devil Dog.”
“Hey,” Piper said, voice indignant. “Don’t call him that. He’s a sweetheart.”
“Sure,” Jax replied, shaking his head as he left.
That dog was definitely going to have to come to terms with Jax being around. He wasn’t going anywhere, and he sure as shit wasn’t going to stop touching and kissing Piper. He couldn’t resist her and he wasn’t even going to try.
Piper took a deep breath as she unlocked the door to Mansfield’s. She felt sad, but she didn’t feel like she was going to cry, or about to turn around and bolt. And that was all because of the big man standing quietly behind her, lending her his strength without saying a word.
Walking in, she gazed around her grandparent’s store, vaguely aware of Jax shutting the door behind them, the snick of the lock engaging filling the air. A sense of homecoming enveloped her, wrapping around her like a hug. Yes, she always wanted to be an artist, but she never wanted it as a career. It was always supposed to be a hobby. This place, the bakery that had been in her family for generations, had always been her destiny.
And it still was, she realized as she gazed around her. Seattle wasn’t her home. It never had been, though she tried hard to make home. Eagle Creek was her home. This bakery was where she was meant to spend her days. And Jax… he was who she was meant to spend her nights with. Every night for the rest of their lives.
Their destiny was each other.
They’d taken a little detour because of Jax’s misguided attempt to protect her, but she didn’t blame him any longer. He did it because he wanted to keep her safe. And if she’d been in the same position, she probably would have done the same.
So she was going to put it all behind her, and start over with him. Glancing over at him, she watched as he looked around the shop. His ballcap was firmly in place, bill pulled low, and his sideburns transitioned seamlessly into dark designer stubble. His cheekbones were high, hinting at American Indian heritage, and those full lips… she wanted to bite that lower lip, suck on it until he moaned.
He was tall, thickly muscled, and intimidating, but with her, he was nothing more than a teddy bear. Something about that combination made her heart melt, and she finally yanked her gaze away as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
She swore that she would never again give her heart over to a man, and here she was, about to hand it over on a silver platter to the man who’d almost broken her beyond repair. She didn’t have to show her hand with him so easily, but she couldn’t lie to herself.
This man owned her, heart and soul, forever.
Exhaling, she walked around the lobby, going behind the counter and looking things over. “Did you help Grandma here, too?”
“I did,” he replied, deep smoky voice bringing goosebumps on her skin. “It wasn’t easy. Neither was working at the house.”
“Why? The work was that hard?” she asked, pushing open the door to the kitchen and walking inside.