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Another shrill chirp. Obviously whomever or whatever it was wasn’t going away.
“Lanie,” I whispered in her ear.
No response.
“Lanie,” I said, a little louder this time, shaking her shoulder.
“Mmm,” she sighed, cuddling against me.
“Something’s ringing.” I jiggled her a little more, trying to rouse her enough to figure out what the noise was.
She rolled over and sat up as the noise sounded again.
“Is that the doorbell? What time is it?” She checked her phone on the nightstand. “It’s two A.M. What the hell?”
“Don’t you have cameras?” I asked, wide awake now and out of bed, pulling on my jeans. “I know it’s Peachtree Grove, but still. You should have some kind of security system when you’re here alone.”
“Aww, you’re so cute.” She climbed out of bed, nuzzling my shoulder.
“What are you doing? Stay here.” I glanced over at her, watched as she slid her legs into leggings, threw on her T-shirt, no bra.
“No way. This is my bakery and I’m going to see who’s coming ‘round at this ungodly hour.”
“Can I at least answer the door, with you behind me? Just in case?”
She nodded. “I suppose.”
We both hurried down the stairs, the bell ringing again as we crossed through the kitchen. Delaney trailed me, so close she could be my shadow. Down here, we could hear knocking to accompany the bell.
“Coming!” Delaney called out, her voice echoing off the marble.
“Really?” I asked, shooting her a look over my shoulder. “Maybe we should see who it is before we announce we’re here.”
She shrugged. “Sorry. But I have taken self-defense, you know.”
Glancing across the dark café of the bakery, I could make out a tall figure on the other side of the door. Definitely a man.
“Delaney!” A deep voice sounded through the door, his fist raised to rap on the glass again. “It’s me!”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Do you know a ‘me’?”
Even in the dim light, I could see her blush. She nodded.
“I do.”
I opened the door a crack, Delaney peeking over my shoulder.
“Delaney, I...” His voice trailed off when he caught sight of me. I hadn’t bothered putting on a shirt and his eyes flicked over my bare chest. I flexed for effect.
“Who are you?” The man’s eyes narrowed and I caught a definite whiff of scotch on his breath.
“I’m Quinn. Who the fuck are you?” I cocked a brow at this metro dude, waking me up in the dead of the night.
“Holden. I take it she didn’t mention me.”
I swallowed hard, my throat now dry. Delaney cut in.
“Holden! What are you doing here?” Delaney narrowed her eyes, a hand on her hip. “And why couldn’t this wait until morning?”
