Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Gabby

B arrett is still sleeping when I get up the next morning, getting ready for work. He makes a noise in the back of his throat that makes me want to crawl back into bed with him. Unfortunately, I can't sit up here all day. Neither can he. Glancing at his phone, I see that he's got his alarm set, so I don't worry about it.

I'm dragging ass again today, and at some point I'm going to have to stop these late nights, but hopefully with the addition of the culinary students, we'll be able to get to a point where I can take a few days off here and there. As quietly as I can, I slip out of my apartment and head down the stairs. I'm surprised when I get to the shop and Val's already there. "Hey, you didn't have to work today, remember?"

"I know." She sighs as she reaches up to take the first batch of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. "But I don't really have anything else to do, and I didn't want to sit around. I don't know enough people to go do anything. So I figured I'd come down here and get a head start on what we have to do for the day."

"Are you okay?" I ask, putting my hair up in a ponytail on top of my head. "Last night was a lot. Did you even get to have your first drink before the fists started flying?"

"I did. Vaughn bought me one..." She twirls a piece of hair around her finger. "Before he started a fight."

I blow out a big breath. "Vaughn is that way. I'm sorry he ruined your birthday."

"He didn't." She hurries to interrupt me. "It just reminded me of my dad. He's hot-headed too, but at least Vaughn had my best interest at heart. He came to see me last night," she whispers.

You could knock me over with a damn feather. "He what?"

"Came to see me last night. I didn't expect it, but he knocked on my door about an hour after we got home. I wasn't going to let him in." She worries her fingers together. "But I just felt like I could trust him. He did try and protect me, even when he didn't have to."

I want to tell her she should probably be careful with Vaughn. He's so much more than she's ever dealt with before, but I also know that he has one of the best hearts I've ever seen. He seems to have taken a liking to her, and maybe that will be good for both of them. "He didn't make you uncomfortable, did he?"

She shakes her head. "No, he was a perfect gentleman. Surprised me, really."

Me too. "Well, I'm proud of him. Now why don't we have some breakfast while we wait for the first round of sweets to cook? I have some breakfast burritos in the freezer, we can stick 'em in the oven."

"Sounds great. I'll get us something to drink."

As she walks away from me, I can't help but wonder what her life was like before she came into Get Baked. One day I hope she trusts me enough to confide in me, but I know I have to practice patience. It's the only thing she's been silently asking for.

Going to my office, I boot up my laptop and reach for my steaming cup of coffee. I have to make an order, but before I can log in to the software, there's a pop up for one of the news sites. The headline catches my attention like nothing else could.

Smithfield Industries Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

I gasp, quickly skimming over the article. Turns out it's not what Jeff does for a living, and Smithfield Industries is the brainchild of his brother. It appears Jeff doesn't have his hands in it, nor will this filing affect him and the businesses he runs, but it makes me nervous, given the email that I received.

I make a note to speak to an attorney, but I'm just not sure how I'm going to afford it.

Blowing out a breath, I tap a few keys, and get my order done, because no matter what I am successful. And being successful means I have to make sure I have product for others to buy, even if someday I might be forced to give some of that success to a man who never wanted me to have it.

"Don't you dare cut in front of all those people." I point at Nolan, scolding him as I watch him come in and act like he doesn't see all the people in front of him.

He looks to the left and right, holding his arms up as if he's done nothing wrong. "You know me," he argues. "And I only have a few minutes. I just want a damn cinnamon roll, c'mon."

"Get your butt back behind the line." I shake my head at him, throwing my finger back toward where he needs to stand.

He scowls at me before turning to the woman he's cut in front of and gives her a smile. It's one that's guaranteed to get him whatever he wants. Rolling my eyes, I put my hands on my hips as I watch the two of them. "Honey..." He winks. "Do you mind if I grab a cinnamon roll real fast? I have to head out and give a quote on some concrete work, and I can't be late. I'm a single daddy to a little girl." He pulls his phone up, showing a picture of Ashlynn.

"Jesus Christ, Nolan. Come on. You are fucking incorrigible. I can't believe you'd use the picture of Ashlynn." I reach in and get a cinnamon roll. "Do you want it heated up?"

"Is there any other way to eat one?" he says it like I'm an idiot. I'd like to drop it on the floor just to spite him, but it won't get him out of here any quicker. "Ashlynn is cute, if I have to use her picture to get me a cinnamon roll when I'm running late, who am I to question it?"

"You're lucky I like you. Go sit over there." I point to the tables. "I'll let you know when it's ready."

This asshole turns to the woman and tips his beat-up baseball hat like he's a cowboy from another century. Does she give him shit? Nope, she basically swoons. "Thank you so much," he says nicely to her, before throwing me a glare.

"What can I get for you?" I shake my head at him as I talk to her.

"Do you have any more of him?" She lifts her eyes in appreciation, ogling his ass.

I laugh. "I don't think I could handle another one of him He's a big old pain in the butt.", I say, only half-kidding.

She gives me a saucy grin. "Oh darlin', I could."

Lord help whoever ends up taming Nolan King, she's gonna need patience, and I'll definitely be praying for her. I have a feeling that whoever she is, we're gonna watch them fight the attraction, and we're all gonna need it.