Thoughts of Josie pre-occupied Carson’s thoughts the rest of the day and night. Hell, that night, sleep eluded him and became an impossibility. All he could remember was his head between those soft buttery thighs and the taste of her cream on his tongue. Giving up on a goodnight’s rest, Carson went to work early. A quick glance to Josie’s bakery across the street showed him a glimpse of Josie, already hard at work.
“What are you doing with my sister?”
Carson jumped at a woman’s voice, not realizing someone walked up to him. Drawing similar physical resemblances between the young woman with the fire-hydrant hair, ink and piercings, and his Josie, he frowned.
“Pansy, right?” Carson saw twelve-year-old Josie in his mind’s eye and an eight-year-old Pansy tailing after her.
Pansy crossed her arms. “It’s a little different, but I remember your scent, the man my sister had a crush on.”
Carson couldn’t hide his surprise. He leveled his gaze at Pansy, who was probably merely acting overprotective of her older sister. “Did you tell her?”
Pansy lifted her inked shoulders for a shrug. “I think she knows. Her wolf does, anyway. I want to know if you’re going to end up hurting her.”
“Or else? Are you threatening me?” he asked.
Pansy gave him another look and laughed. “Well, I’m no longer worried.”
“Oh, what brought about the change in opinion?”
“I can sense your wolf, Alpha. It’s longing for my sister. I kind of envy her.”
Pansy walked away and Carson stared at her retreating back. Josie and his gaze crossed. She showed him the finger, he laughed as Josie questioned her sister. Not worried, Carson opened up his shop. While passionate about bread, affecting the business of the woman he loved had never been part of the plan.
Despite making that deal with Josie, he intended to move the shop anyway. Carson groaned, seeing the wall clock in the bakery. Damn it. Closing time felt like an eternity, but he would do what he could.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur as Carson busied himself with work, but his thoughts always went back to Josie. Glancing out the windows of the store, he grinned, seeing the sun set. Perfect.
“Kenny,” he told one of his employees. “I’ll be heading out early.”
He already had the entire evening planned. Whistling under his breath, Carson grabbed his coat and strolled leisurely into Josie’s store.
“Pricks aren’t welcome here,” Josie said, seeing him.
He grinned. “Aw, darling. Another arrow to the heart.”
“Closing time is still thirty minutes for us,” Josie said grumpily, clearly disappointed her insult didn’t do a thing to him.
“Go ahead, sis. I’ll watch the store and close up,” Pansy said by the cashier.
Josie bit her lip, looking between Pansy and him. Trapped.
“Do you two know each other?” She demanded.
Pansy sighed. “Josie, take a good sniff at him. He might have grown up handsome and bulked up significantly, but we both know him. He worked under dad before.”
To make her point, Pansy tapped one of the old framed photographs behind the cashier. Curious, Carson came closer, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Josie to see a picture of the old staff. Pansy and Josie stood next to their father and his teenage self stood to the right of their old man. Josie’s hand flew to her mouth.
“No,” she whispered, staring at the black-and-white photo and back to him. “It can’t be.”
“Carson Fox at your service. When I arrived in town, I didn’t know the bakery was still alive, but I’ve already signed the franchise agreement. Putting your sister and you out of business had never been my intention.”
Judging by her stubborn look, Carson knew she didn’t believe him for a second.
“Nothing changes,” she said.
“No. It’s chilly outside. Why don’t you get your coat?”
She fumed at him. Carson didn’t budge. Turning on her heel, she disappeared into the employee’s room and came out minutes later, without her apron. Josie was dressed to kill in a faded leather jacket that didn’t fail to hide all her flawless curves and matching tight skinny jeans, boots and tight shirt that emphasized the generous curves of her breasts. When she unbound her hair, Carson licked his lips.
“Let’s get this over with.” She strutted her hips on the way out, and Carson took time to admire the perfect rounded globes of her ass. Oh, very nice indeed. Pansy snorted.
“Remember my threat, Carson,” Pansy reminded him.
“You don’t have to worry about a thing,” Carson told her, following Josie out.
She blinked when he led her to his Harley.
Planting her hands on her hips, she sighed. “Why am I not surprised you ride a bike?”
“Why darling? Daunted?” Carson couldn’t help but tease. God, he shouldn’t be enjoying teasing her so much, yet he did.
“You wish. I’ve never ridden one though,” she admitted.
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to do a thing, except hold onto me tight.”
Carson took out a spare pink helmet from the back of the bike. Instead of handing it over, he placed it on her head and buckled it while she frowned at him. Tempting lovely lips. He kissed her again, just because she was so open, vulnerable, and because he could do it.
When he pulled back, she bit her lip.
“Speechless, babe? No matter. I’m told my kisses are lethal.” That earned him a punch on the shoulder, but she was smiling now, even let out a sexy little laugh. Score for the Alpha.
Mounting his bike, Carson waited until she was behind him. Hesitantly at first, she wrapped her arms around his waist. His cock stirred in his jeans when she gained confidence, tightening her hold on him.
“Good girl.”
Even riding up front, Carson could imagine her scowling. He wanted to kiss her again. Turn that frown upside down. God damn it. When she leaned into him, he could feel her amazing tits, pressing up against his shirt. He groaned.
“Two can play at this game, Alpha,” she whispered against his ear.
What a woman.
“Don’t, Josie. Anymore and I’ll fuck you against this bike and you’ll only beg me for more.”
“You—” Josie began.
Carson didn’t let her continue. Starting his engine, the bike gave a purr and they were off. She let out a ‘whoop’ behind him. He’d always known there was a certain wildness in her and he liked it as much as he loved the rest of her.
“So confident you’re going to make me beg for more, Alpha?” her breath tickled against his ear.
“Absolutely.”
“We’ll see.”
When Carson passed the streets with most of the town’s restaurants, he felt her shift behind him.
“Where are we going?”
“To my place, I’m cooking us dinner.”
Josie didn’t say anything else all the way to his house. Carson parked his bike outside the driveway, watching her dismount. Taking the helmet off, Josie curiously looked at the single-storey home.
“Nice house.”
“This used to be my parent’s home. When they died in a car accident, I lived with my aunt and uncle. That was about the same time I worked at your dad’s bakery,” Carson explained as he dismounted. “When I came back to town, I learned this place was on sale. So I bought it. I’ve been renovating, so excuse the mess.”
She paled. “I didn’t know that, about your parents I mean. I’m sorry.”
Carson shrugged. “It was a long time ago. Sentimentality made me buy the house, and it doesn’t hurt property prices are so low these days. Come on in.”
Leading her into the porch, Carson opened the front door and switched the lights on. He helped her take her jacket off and hung it on the rack beside the door.
“Back then,” Josie mused.
Carson groaned. “I was a bull-headed and angsty teen, I know.”
She grinned. “I thought you were cool.”
“You had a massive crush on me.” Carson grinned when she crossed her arms at him again, neither confirming nor denying it. “Would you like something to drink? I just need to shove the bird in the oven.”
“Sure.”
After placing the chicken in the oven along with roasted potatoes, Carson handed her a drink. She ended up following him into the kitchen, watching him make a salad.
“Need an extra pair of hands?” she asked.
“Don’t think a man can cook?” Carson asked.
“You obviously can, seeing you’re a good baker.”
“Oh, I have Josie’s stamp of approval on my bread?”
She huffed. “Forget I said that.”
“I’d like your help,” Carson admitted. “Breads have always been my one true love, but cooking eludes me.”
She grinned. “A true man admits his weakness.”
Carson didn’t point out his true weakness was her. They busied themselves in the kitchen and to Carson’s relief, Josie began relaxing around him. At least for the moment, she seemed to forget the ridiculous notion they were enemies. They retreated to the dining room, chicken, potatoes and salad in hand. Josie eyed the amount of bacon bits he added to his salad.
“Salads are supposed to be healthy.”
“Who made that silly rule?”
She snatched the bacon bits and added some to hers too. Man. Carson missed a woman who loved and enjoyed food. He’d had enough of skinny bitches who didn’t eat a thing and starved themselves to death. Food was meant to be enjoyed with a loved one.
“I love what you’ve done with the place,” Josie said, nodding to the unpacked boxes and half-painted walls.
“It’s a work in progress. I like being busy.”
They finished dinner. Carson couldn’t help but say, “Did you notice we don’t have dessert?”
“I was hoping you’d say you’d have an amazing pie in the fridge.”
“It’s because,” Carson said dramatically. “You’re it.”
“What?” Josie furrowed her brows. So fucking cute.
“You’ll be my dessert.”
Josie’s mouth opened, and then closed. “You’re no gentleman.”
“You hate gentlemen,” Carson pointed out.
“That’s true,” she admitted.
“What more is there to say?” Carson rose to his feet smoothly. He loved it when she shuddered under his gaze. Carson let everything show in his eyes—his intent, his hunger and wondered if she knew all the filthy things he wanted to do to her body. “Come darling, it’s time I enjoyed you in the privacy of my bedroom.”