Chapter 4
995 Words
“Thanks Mrs. Blake, I hope you enjoy!” Daphne called as she jogged out the front door and onto the porch. She was so distracted that she didn’t see the crow fly overhead, or the man at the end of the street.
Daphne got in the car and looked at Caleb, “See all done, no harm. Now can we go back to Sugar and Sage? I have work to do so Lizzie can get some things done.”
“You didn’t see it did you?”
“No what?”
Caleb pointed, “Someone’s familiar is tracking you, and I think they followed it.”
Daphne looked out the window as a crow landed in a tree across the street. “How can you tell?”
“It has been following us since we left the bakery. We can go back, but I am sticking around.” Caleb started the car.
When they got back Lizzy rushed into the back to set up her laptop and begin working. The morning crowd had cleared out before they had gotten back, and Daphne was working on getting set up for the lunch time crowd. People loved to come in after lunch for a cupcake or slice of pie, and she was sure that she would have to get to work on more cookies before the day was done.
Caleb leaned against the counter, "Where is your house?”
“Excuse me? I think that is a bit personal, don’t you?”
“No, because I am going to go and see what I am working with so I know how to make sure you are secure tonight.”
“Is that necessary?”
“If one of their familiars has already been tailing you, they know how to find you.”
“Oh, well I live here.”
“No seriously, I need to know where your house is, I get it, you are a business owner and you feel like you live here, but I need to know where you sleep.”
Daphne rolled her eyes, “No, really, I have an apartment upstairs I live in.”
Caleb’s lips turned up a bit, “Your office doesn’t count either, babe.”
Daphne’s stomach did a little flutter, “No, my apartment is up the stars at the top, above my office. It makes more sense to live there, no rent because I own the building, I can work as early or as late as I want because it is so convenient, and if I get a spark of inspiration, I can go right down the stairs and start working.”
Caleb nodded his head, “Alright, I will be right back.” He pushed off the counter and stalked through the doorway into the kitchen, Daphne could hear the thump of his boots as he got to the stairs.
She looked out the front windows and saw the same crow sitting on a powerline across the street looking at her. Daphne felt the hairs on her arms and neck prickle.
“Hey who’s the big, hot, and grouchy guy?”
Daphne jumped, Lizzie had walked out of the back and Daphne was so engrossed in her own thoughts she didn’t realize she had been standing there.
“s**t, Lizzie, sorry. That is Caleb, he is a friend of the family who is in town to hang out.”
“Oh? And when did you plan on letting me meet this ‘friend of the family’?”
Daphne blushed, “Whenever you want I guess.”
She didn’t want to acknowledge that she suddenly didn’t want to introduce Lizzie to Caleb. He is just a guy who she is now stuck with till the end of whenever, he wasn’t cute, he didn’t have arms that could throw her over his shoulder or pin her against the wall, he didn’t have a huge chest that Daphne saw perfectly outlined under his tight shirt.
She felt the flutter from earlier come back.
More thudding came from the back, and Caleb soon emerged from the kitchen, “Ok so I have a plan, but you are going to hate it, unless you want to come to the inn that I have a room at.”
Ignoring the confused look Lizzie shot her, Daphne cut him off,”Caleb, this is Lizzie my right hand lady. Lizzie, this is Caleb, the old family friend I was telling you about.”
This was Caleb;s cue to shoot Daphne a confused look before plastering on a charming smile, and reaching forward to take Lizzie’s outstretched hand “Nice to meet you. I have heard so much about you.”
“Well I have heard nothing of you, and I want to know this plan.”
Before Caleb could speak again, Daphne jumped in, “Oh god, I almost forgot, I need to take you to see Matt, LIzzie, can you hold it down for a bit again?”
“Sure no problem, but we do need to go over next month’s calender when you get a chance.”
“I’m on it as soon as we get back, I will be back before the lunch rush, and thank you again.”
Daphne grabbed Caleb’s arm and they headed back out the door to the car.
That was a mistake, the flutters in Daphne's stomach turned into full on tumbles as she felt her energy melt into his. His smile got even wider as he said, "Can't keep your hands off me huh babe?"
Daphne froze, she could feel Lizzie starring, thinking on her feet, she said, "I would really like to put my hands around your throat, but clearly I am not gonna get that lucky."
"I got something else you could put your hands around if you want. I wouldn't complain one bit."
Lizzie snorted at his response as Daphne dragged him down the street and into the car.
- Writer
