LITMIR.BIZ

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didn’t waste the opportunity, squirming around and climbing up Dillon’s back where she clung to him like a monkey. Uh-oh. This was getting out of hand. Why wasn’t Kelsey stepping in?

      “Kelsey,” he said, a threat and—if Nina wasn’t mistaken—panic clear in his low voice.

      Which she didn’t understand. If someone had messed with her ex-husband, Trey, this way, he would’ve lost his patience—and his temper.

      “You know,” Kelsey said, tapping a finger to her chin, “my wedding’s in less than two weeks and I don’t recall receiving your RSVP. You are coming, aren’t you?”

      While Nina couldn’t understand how Kelsey stood her ground, she did admire the other woman for it.

      “The kid,” he muttered. Nina noticed he had one arm bent at an awkward angle behind him so Emma wouldn’t fall.

      “Yeah, Emma’s a great kid.” Kelsey clapped her hands. “Oh, I know. Emma, how would you like to hang out with Uncle Dillon for a while? We’re not quite done here, are we, Nina?”

      Brother and sister both stared at her. She was trapped, solidly stuck to the spot by Kelsey’s shrewd green eyes and Dillon’s hooded, flat gaze.

      She hated being put in the middle almost as much as she hated confrontations. Whichever side she took would probably be the wrong side. Besides, she’d end up disappointing someone.

      “Uh…no? I mean…we still have a few things to go over.”

      Kelsey’s face lit up. “See? Much to do. Many, many cakes to sample and decisions to make. It could take as long as a few hours—”

      “Okay,” he said. “I’ll be there.”

      But Kelsey didn’t budge. Just raised an eyebrow. “Promise?”

      Dillon pressed his lips together. “Promise.”

      Kelsey grinned and motioned for him to turn around. When he did, she pulled Emma off his back.

      “It worked, Kelsey,” Emma said wiggling with excitement in Kelsey’s arms.

      “It sure did. You were great.” She hugged Emma and set her down.

      Nina’s jaw dropped. They’d set Dillon up. Not only that, but they’d just admitted it. In front of him. Her stomach cramped as she waited for the explosion of temper. When a man had been so neatly played, so easily boxed into a corner, he was going to lash out.

      Except nothing happened. Dillon didn’t curse or threaten or call his sister names. Didn’t pick up the nearest object and throw it at the wall. He just shook his head in disgust.

      He must not be as angry as she thought. Or else he had a better hold on his control than she’d realized. Which was good, seeing as how he probably wasn’t going to be too happy with her once she told him her news.

      Kelsey stuffed Emma into her coat, tugged a hat over the little girl’s head and grabbed the box of cake samples for Jack. “The wedding’s at two,” she told Dillon. “Reception’s at the ski resort.”

      “I got an invitation.”

      She winked at him. “So you did. See you there. Thanks for these,” she said to Nina. “I’ll let you know in the morning which one we choose.”

      Hand in hand, she and Emma walked out the back door. It took a full minute, staring at the closed door, for Nina to realize she was alone.

      With Dillon Ward.

      She had to talk to him about her decision regarding the apartment. But for the love of all that was sweet and holy, she just wasn’t certain she could deal with his potentially violent reaction to what she had to say. No matter how surprisingly calm he’d been so far.

      As usual, his expression gave none of his thoughts away. She licked her lips, and didn’t miss the way his gaze dropped to her mouth. The way his jaw tightened.

      Her heart fluttered and she placed her hand on her chest. She hoped she wasn’t having a heart attack or something. Wouldn’t that be perfectly embarrassing? She could see the headlines of the Serenity Springs Gazette now: Local Business Owner Scared of Her Own Shadow. Has Heart Attack Because She Was Alone With A Sexy Man. Complete story on page 12.

      “Aren’t you mad?” she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

      “About what?”

      She picked up a dish towel and carefully folded it. “Kelsey,” she said, unable to look at him. “The way she tricked you into going to her wedding.”

      “She’s sneaky. You have to watch out for her.”

      Nina raised her head but she couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “Uh, well, it’s not like you have to go…”

      The look in his eyes seared her. “I promised.”

      “I know, but she did trick you—”

      “I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”

      She swallowed but her throat remained dry. The way he said it made her believe him.

      Someone like Dillon Ward couldn’t be trusted. She knew that. And if she didn’t, her family warning her—repeatedly—how dangerous and unpredictable he was should be enough to convince her.

      Except, every once and a while, she had her doubts. But then she’d remember how Trey always said her naivety would be her downfall.

      Dillon stepped toward her and she couldn’t stop herself from backing up. He motioned to the towel twisted tightly in her hands. “That do something to you?”

      Warmth climbed up her neck into her cheeks. She tossed the towel on the counter. “No. It’s just been a long day.”

      He nodded as if that explanation was good enough reason for her to be acting like a complete moron. But at least he wasn’t looking at her like most people did—with pity.

      “I’m sure you’re in a hurry to close up and get home, then,” he said.

      “Not particularly. I mean, I can’t go home. Trey, my ex, is dropping our kids—”

      “Still, I’m sure you have things to do. I know I do,” he said pointedly. “So why don’t you tell me what it is you wanted to tell me and I’ll get out of your way.”

      “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you from anything. I just wanted…that is…things have changed. In regards to your apartment. Since buying the bakery, I’ve had some time to think about what’s best for my business and with costs rising the way they are—”

      “So you do want to raise the rent.”

      “No, that’s not it. It’s not just about the money. Not really. I mean, it’s partly the money, but more than that, what I need—”

      “Would you just spit it out?” he snapped.

      “I need you to move out.”

      

      DILLON SHOOK his head. “What?”

      She stepped back, her eyes darting around the empty room. He shoved his hands into his front pockets to keep from fisting them. Yeah, he towered over her and he’d just snapped at her, but he was really getting tired of everyone in town treating him like the spawn of Satan.

      “I need you to move out,” she squeaked, “by the end of the month.”

      “Let me get this straight.” For some reason, he simply could not wrap his mind around the fact that this pretty little piece of fluff was giving him the boot. “You’re evicting me?”

      She swallowed and nodded. “It’s just that if I want to increase my business—which I do—I have to think about expansion.”

      “You’re

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