His arms wrap me up and he breathes into my hair, his chest heaving against mine. “Dylan.” I moan softly at the sound of my name. “It’s okay; I’ve got you. I didn’t see anyone, but your front window is completely smashed to shit.” He carries me away from the bathroom and into my bedroom area.
I’m shaking against his body and tighten my grip. “Jesus Christ. Why would someone break into my bakery? Do you think they wanted treats?” I hear a small muffled laugh escape his lips, which are pressed into my hair. My tears are streaming down my face as he places me on my feet in front of my dresser. I look him over and take in his appearance. Hair a right mess, no doubt from the rough treatment of his hands as he drove over here, clenched jaw, and prominent crease in his brow. His green eyes are burning into mine, and even though they’re filled with worry, they still carry the same intensity as always.
“Here, you need to put on pants before the police get here. They’re going to want to ask you questions.” He starts rifling through my drawers and I see him taking out several pairs of pants, tops, and panties.
“Umm, do I need to put on layers?” I wipe underneath my eyes and finally stop my tears. Now that Reese is here, I’m no longer scared, and the only emotion running through me right now is elated joy from the sheer sight of him.
“No, but you’re not staying here tonight, so you need to pack some clothes. I’m taking you home with me.” He glances over at me as he closes my drawers.
“Okay,” I reply, picking up a pair of jeans and sliding them up my legs.
“Really? You’re not going to try and tell me you could just stay at Juls’ house, or how you’re not breaking the ‘no sleepover’ rule again? You’re just going to say okay?” He looks utterly shocked and I almost laugh. Jesus, am I that defiant?
“Yes, I’m not always so argumentative.” The sound of police sirens flow up the stairs and I quickly grab a bra and put it on, keeping his T-shirt on in the process.
He notices it and smiles a bit as he places my things in a nearby duffle bag. “Do you need anything else?”
I take a quick look around the room. “Umm, I guess just my bathroom stuff.” I scurry in there and grab my toothbrush, hairbrush, face wash, moisturizer, phone off the shower floor, and conditioner because I’m more than happy to use his shampoo and body wash. Spinning, I see him standing in the doorway. He’s studying me, eyes narrowed in on the collection in my hands. “What? I’m a girl and I can’t take another shower at your place without conditioner. We can’t all have gorgeous, no-product-necessary hair like you.” His lips curl up as I drop the goodies into my duffle and follow him down the stairs.
After talking to the police and giving them my very vague description of the hooded figure standing outside my shop, they ask me if I know of anyone who might possibly want to hurt my business or me personally. My eyes quickly flick to Reese who clenches his jaw before giving them his ex-receptionist name and information. He tells them about the package I received and claims she became unstable after he stopped seeing her. I had assumed the figure I saw standing outside was a man because of the dark hoodie covering their face, but I guess it could have just as easily been a woman. I’m assured my insurance will cover the damage, which luckily is only to one of my windows. No damage was done to the inside of the shop, which I am extremely grateful for. The police found a brick that was used to break the glass, which had slid underneath my consultation table, and are going to dust it for prints. I will only have to remain closed for one day for the window to get repaired, so that isn’t too bad. It could have been a lot worse. Way worse.
As we drive in silence to his building, the night I just endured is the last thing on my mind. Right now, with my duffle bag packed full of clothes sitting behind me in the back seat, the only thing on my mind is how I’ll be having another sleepover with Reese. And I can’t help but tense in my seat at the anticipation of it.