Joon Gi saw Sky falling in slow motion. He charged toward her, fists pumping at his sides and feet pounding against the orange tiles. Sky’s hair flopped behind her shoulders, knees wobbling from the pressure.
“Sky!” he yelled.
She didn’t hear him.
She just kept falling, falling, falling.
He skidded the rest of the way and caught her in his arms seconds before she stumbled. The jolt she made when she hit his chest shocked the breath out of him. Her eyelashes fluttered up a storm. Brown eyes darkened. With confusion. With pain.
“Are you okay?”
She shook him off and stood on her own feet. “I’m fine. I just got woozy for a second.”
“You didn’t eat this morning or last night.” He lingered close, ready to swoop in again if she was just putting on a front and still hadn’t found her footing.
“We had too much to do.” She waved away his concern, her gaze fanning out around the bakery. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Joon did a cursory sweep of his surroundings. A few customers stared at the television crew in the middle of the room. Others peeked at the kitchen where the inspector and his team of Men-In-Black wannabes had disappeared. A couple inched toward the exits but kept looking back in indecision. They were probably torn between the possible health hazards in Sky’s kitchen and the addictive taste of her food.
But most… most were streaming through the exits, lost in a haze of fury and disgust.
Joon Gi gritted his teeth. Nice timing Grayson had. Storming in at the peak of Sky’s business.
Why would an inspector barge into a shop so early in the morning? Most government offices hadn’t even opened yet. This show of strength had to mean more than Grayson flexing his arm to prove a point.
Someone was behind this.
The same someone who’d left the anonymous tip?
I’m getting real tired of these damn cowards hiding behind tips.
Instead of giving in to the anger, he focused on damage control. Sky was spiraling and he needed her to get it together so they could tackle this problem.
“Sky, look at me.”
Her gaze remained on the people who were—one by one—giving up on purchasing from Sweet Treats and turning toward the door.
“Sky!”
She spun and glanced up at him. Vulnerability screamed from those deep brown eyes and something in his heart clenched painfully. Spread heat all through his body. Not lust. Something different. Something deeper.
“I need you to focus on me.”
“I-I did something wrong. I must have done something wrong.”
“You’re fine.” He cupped her cheek. His big hand dwarfed her face. Fingers tangled in her curly hair. “Listen, Sky. There are still some customers left. Can you calm them down? Assure them that we’re figuring everything out?”
“Y-yes.” She nodded absently. “I should offer a one-plus-one special or something. To thank them for their loyalty.”
“That’s my girl.” He grinned and ran his hand down her hair. Joon found a competent businesswoman incredibly sexy and the fact that Sky was thinking of wrangling what was left of her customers in this situation made him proud.
“I’ll deal with the cameraman and then we can talk to the inspector together. See what we can find out.”
Sky let out a deep breath. Her fingers twined into the front of his shirt. “Who would have done this?”
“We’ll figure everything out, okay?” He dropped a kiss to the top of her head because it felt right to do so.
Sky didn’t seem to notice. She just kept bobbing her head and taking deep, controlled breaths. Joon studied her upturned face and waited for her to calm before he stepped back.
She dropped her hands.
“You need help with the counter?”
“Jo and I will handle it.” She nodded swiftly.
Joon squeezed her shoulder once and then turned toward the reporter who had the gall to record his disparaging exposé right in the middle of Sky’s store.
It had been a while since he’d punched someone.
This guy definitely deserved a pounding.
The cameraman noticed Joon’s firm stride and pointed to his co-worker. The journalist glanced over his shoulder. At the sight of him, his mike began to tremble.
“Let’s pack this up,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Not so fast.” Joon clamped the cameraman’s shoulder and frowned. “I have a few questions.”
The reporter squirmed. “Article 23 of the Belize Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. We have every right to film here as long as it’s not for commercial purposes.”
“Of course. Of course.” He pasted a smile on his face and drew closer to the camera. “It just seems a little concerning to me that you knew exactly what was going down this morning and came prepared to film.”
“Are you accusing us of something?”
“No of course not.”
The cameraman shirked back when Joon advanced.
Holding a hand up in mock surrender, he assured. “Come on, man. I’m not going to hit you.”
“W-what do you want?” the guy stuttered. His eyes were hidden behind thick, circular glasses.
“I’m here to escort you to the door.”
“We’re not finished yet,” the reporter hissed.
Stubborn, aren’t you?
“I think you’ve recorded enough footage. It’s time to leave.” Joon Gi tipped his chin toward the exits.
“Come on, Tim.” The younger guy tugged on his sunbae’s arm. He obviously respected his superior, but—in this moment—he feared Joon more.
Smart guy.
“Alright, alright.” Tim grumbled.
Joon gestured to the door. “I’ll walk you there.”
“We’re fine.”
“I insist…” As he took his first step toward the exits, Joon Gi stumbled, intentionally bumping shoulders with the kid.
The camera tottered.
The kid lost his grip.
Gravity took the reins.
“No!” Tim yelled.
The kid roared too, their voices colliding in a chorus of panic that drew the eyes of everyone in the café. Both men dove to catch it.
Joon snatched it out of the air first. “Got it.”
“Oh, thank God.”
Tim smacked his partner on the shoulder. “Do you know how expensive that thing is?”
While the two argued, Joon deftly flicked the SD card from the slit in the camera and smoothly offered it back to the cameraman. Expletives burst from the youth’s lips as if the curses had been bottled up inside and had just exploded.
The journalist narrowed his eyes at Joon. “You bumped into him on purpose!”
“Sorry, man. I didn’t see you there.” Joon slid the microchip into his pocket and bowed. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” The kid brushed his shirt down.
“Let’s go.” Tim glared at Joon Gi once before striding out of Sweet Treats.
When Joon turned around, he found Sky behind the counter, looking right at him.
He winked and mouthed, “I got you.”
She didn’t smile, but at least the look of hopelessness was gone. That was mostly due to Jo. The girl rallied around her, serving the customers who’d stuck around and consoling Sky every minute with a shoulder squeeze and a whispered encouragement.
Satisfied that Sky was being taken care of, Joon moved his attention to the kitchen.
It was time to deal with the inspector-sized problem.
Joon strode behind the counter where Jo and Sky were finishing up with the last customer.
“Thank you so much for believing in us.” Sky handed over a fragrant package of stuffed jacks. “Here’s an extra fried jack just for you.”
“Thanks, ma’am.” The guy shook his dreads so they danced like spider legs around his scruffy face. “I don’t care if your kitchen is nasty. As long as the food tastes good.”
Sky’s face tightened. “My kitchen is very clean—”
“What she means to say,” Jo grabbed Sky around the shoulders and hauled her back, “is thank you and have a nice day.”
The customer shot Sky an inquiring look but didn’t ask any more questions. After he left, the bakery was completely empty.
Save for the inspectors squirrelling in the kitchen.
One stood outside, guarding the door. He had light brown skin, a baldhead, and thick lips flattened into a full line. With shoulders like a line backer and a deadpan expression, Joon Gi figured the inspector had missed his calling as a bouncer.
“What happened between you and the reporters?” Jo asked.
Joon leaned closer so he could speak without being overheard. “I made sure they wouldn’t be able to report on Sweet Treats tonight. At least, not with any footage.”
“How’d you do that?” Sky asked.
“I stole this.” He whipped out the SD card he’d pocketed after bumping into the cameraman.
Sky covered her mouth and laughed.
Jo’s gaze softened. “That was cool, Kim. Even if it was illegal and thus proves my point that you’re a sketchy guy.”
“You’re welcome, Jo.”
She grunted in reply.
“What do we do about them?” Sky subtly jutted her chin toward the kitchen.
“I don’t know. Joon’s the one with all the experience when it comes to the feds.” Jo brushed her curly hair behind her ear and looked at him expectantly.
He narrowed his eyes. “I’ve never dealt with health inspectors before.”
“Are they allowed to lock themselves in like that?” Sky whispered. “What if they’re ruining my kitchen?”
“Maybe Joon can steal Mr. Muscles’ keys.” Jo nodded to the guard.
“We need helpful suggestions, Jo. Helpful.” Sky hissed.
“Sorry.”
“I could talk to him. It’s worth a try.” Joon shrugged.
“We’ll stay back here and call an ambulance if you need one,” Jo said.
“Ha, ha.” Joon shook his head and approached the guard.
He’d never admit it to Jo, but he was a little nervous. The guy was massive. Joon was pretty tall himself so looking up at someone was a strange experience.
“Can I help you?” Muscles growled.
“We’d like to enter the kitchen?”
“You can’t.”
“Why?”
“Protocol.”
“Do we at least get to know what they’re doing in there?”
“Testing to ensure the kitchen upholds the standards of the Health and Food Regulations.” He looked at Joon. “If you have any other questions, you need to wait until Director Grayson is finished.”
Muscles clamped his mouth shut.
That was fine. Joon didn’t need him to confirm what he already suspected.
Someone definitely called this in.
Only one person would want to attack Sweet Treats.
Hanna.
Joon’s nose flared, but he regained his composure. This was expected. In fact, it was a wonder she’d waited this long. Sky rejected Hanna last Sunday. Seven days of stewing and Hanna had drawn out the big guns.
I seriously underestimated that woman.
“What did he say?” Sky asked, her voice quivering. She settled her hand on the counter and peered into his eyes. “Did they tell you who called it in?”
“No.”
Jo soothed Sky’s back. “You have nothing to worry about. Your kitchen is spotless. I bet they won’t be able to find a thing.”
“I’ll call the Public Health Headquarters and check if this sort of search is common. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“There’s no need for that.” The kitchen door swung open and Grayson stepped through. He snapped his gloves off his tiny hands, the scratch of the rubber reverberating in the empty room.
Sky scrambled toward him.
Joon approached more slowly, eyeing the man up and down. “Do we finally get an explanation for your unexpected visit?”
“Everything checks out.” Grayson gestured to his men. “Pack it up, boys.”
The inspectors marched out of the shop as smoothly as they’d arrived.
Sky’s jaw dropped and she turned her head left and right. “What? That’s it? You barge in here and scare half my customers away over nothing?”
“We had to check out the threat.”
“Just you being here ruined my reputation!”
Grayson dismissed Sky with a bored look. “Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Johnson. We’ll be in touch.”
Tears glistened in Sky’s eyes.
His chest pinched.
Someone made the wrong decision when they came after Sky, and for that, they would pay.