Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

Owen came in behind him, his hands stuffed in the pocket of his hoodie. He flicked his head to get his hair out of his eyes and smiled.

“Hi, you two.”

Garrett took off his aviators and gave me a subtle grin. “Hi.”

Just that little word, delivered in his deliciously deep voice, sent a tingle down my spine.

Owen’s brow furrowed and his eyes moved to Matt, then back to me.

“Sorry,” I said, turning back to Matt. I’d basically forgotten he was standing there. “Did you decide?”

He wasn’t looking in the case, and he wasn’t looking at me—my face or my boobs. His gaze was on Garrett. And he did not look happy. His round cheeks were splotchy red and his glare was unmistakable.

Garrett’s expression didn’t change. I could practically see him sizing up the situation—noting the variables, calculating the risks. He looked calm and completely in control.

Matt, not so much. He clenched his fists and his upper lip curled in a sneer.

“Go ahead and go to the kitchen.” Garrett nudged Owen but his eyes didn’t leave Matt.

Owen widened his eyes at me, as if to say, this should be interesting, as he headed around the counter.

Garrett followed Owen to my side of the counter, but didn’t go into the kitchen. He locked his gaze on me, his expression intense. I could feel Matt watching, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the man moving toward me.

One corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he placed a knuckle beneath my chin to tilt my face up. He brushed a soft kiss against my lips, then shifted to stand right behind me, one hand on the small of my back.

Garrett’s move wasn’t lost on Matt. He’d just declared, in no uncertain terms, that I was his.

If Owen and Aunt Doris hadn’t been in the kitchen, I would have dragged him back there and let him defile me in a hundred different ways.

Garrett leaned in and spoke low into my ear. “Sorry. I’ll let you finish with your customer.”

Matt looked like his head might pop. His face had gone from splotchy red to purple, and his eyes were bloodshot. He was way too angry for a regular bakery customer who’d just witnessed the baker get a tiny kiss.

And he was way too angry for a guy who was just a bit awkward and didn’t seem to remember to wash his clothes.

Did he have a cage in his basement? And was he thinking about putting me in it?

I swallowed hard. “Did you want something?”

He tore his eyes from Garrett and turned his glare on me. Although his expression softened, the intense eye contact was unnerving.

“Butterscotch chip.”

I did my best to smile as I got the butterscotch chip cookie out of the case and put it in a bag. His anger seemed to be starting to cool, his face returning to its normal color. He took the bag and paid with cash.

“Have a nice day.” I handed him his change.

“Thanks, Harper.” His voice still had a note of strain, and when he lifted his eyes, they narrowed at Garrett. But there was more annoyance than malice in his gaze as he turned and walked out the door.

I let out a long breath while Garrett gently rubbed my back. “Well that was awkward.”

“Has he been in before?” he asked.

“A couple of times, yeah. He’s always struck me as a little off.”

“He did not like seeing me here.” He slipped a hand around my waist and turned me toward him. “Are you okay?”

“Oh yeah, fine. It wouldn’t be the first time I had a customer I wasn’t thrilled to see return.”