Page 74 of Sterling Heat

I tilt my head. She knows darn well what my name is. I lived above this bakery for weeks after Adara’s birth.

“Rena, right?” I joke while playfully pointing at her in hopes to soften the edgy vibe she gives off.

She offers a sharp chuckle before asking, “What can I get for you?” After a short pause, she adds. “Sebastian isn’t here.” Her eyes narrow, like she’s telling me the one item on the menu she can’t offer me is him, but I ignore the ridge of hostility around her. I have no doubt she’s infatuated with her boss. Who wouldn’t? Lemon cake and Sebastian Sylver all day? The fantasies I’d have if I worked here . . . Then again, my imagination works overtime without being an employee, especially since I’ve had Sebastian’s touch.

The nip of his teeth along my neck. The suction of his mouth against my skin. The tease of his fingers and then the pleasurable tension of their full length. I shiver again at the memory.

“I’m only here to spoil my appetite before dinner. I’ll take two lemon baby-Bundt cakes, please.” Might as well stock up.

Rena swiftly moves to the glass display case and tugs the tray toward her to remove two mini cakes. If I weren’t watching her, I’d lay money on her dropping drool or spitting on them. However, she can’t seem to move fast enough. The cakes are boxed and rung up with nimble fingers. Then she shoves the container into a bag while I tap my credit card against the payment machine.

“Have a nice day.” The salutation is said through gritted teeth.

Puzzled, I take the bag she offers and spin for the door. As I press the stroller forward, the man near the window hops up again and opens the door for me. I’m almost to the exit when the rumble of feet descending wooden stairs whispers through the bakery and then the door to Sebastian’s apartment opens.

“Enya?”

Rena said he was out, but he was upstairs? With my fingers clenching the stroller and my back to him, I close my eyes a second to level my composure, still my voice is too high when I twist my upper body and say, “Hey.”

Sebastian’s gaze drifts between me and the man standing close to my side, holding open the door. He takes quick steps toward us before stopping and glancing down at Adara who is wide-eyed and fixated on the soft lights overhead.

“Were you going to sneak out before saying hello?” He lifts his gaze to me, brows pinched, side-eyeing the man beside me again.

“Rena said you were out.” She was clearly covering for him because seconds after Sebastian entered the bakery, a woman exits the privacy door of his apartment. She’s dressed in sleek business attire, with a dark pink pencil skirt and a black blouse that accentuates her breasts, crossing low between them. Her arms are on full display as the shirt cuts off at the shoulders.

Sebastian glances back at her and tips up his chin in a non-verbal sign for her to give him a second. Then he turns back to me. “So, you ladies out for a walk?” His voice holds not a drop of strain or shame that I’m witnessing a woman leaving his apartment.

After last night with him.

The reminder is further confirmation that he did what he did because he feels sorry for me. I’m a single mother concerned I’ll never have sex again, or at the very least an orgasm. He proved I could. With him. But apparently, his skills are being used on others, and suddenly, I can’t get out of the bakery fast enough.

“Just stopping in for lemon cake.” False lightness continues to fill my voice as my gaze catches on the woman waiting near Sebastian’s apartment door, obviously needing his attention. “And you’re busy.”

Pushing the stroller forward, I realize the poor customer has been standing here, holding the door, as well as being a witness to this awkward interaction. Too embarrassed to meet his eyes, I mutter, “Thank you.”

Sebastian catches my forearm. “Wait,” he grumbles while his eyes search my face.

“You’re . . . busy,” I repeat. And I don’t have time for games.

Lance led me through a guessing game most of our relationship. When will I be first for him? When will we marry? When will we have kids? He made it clear none of those things were ever going to happen. At least, not between us.

Sebastian owed me nothing.

I was the foolish one. Again.

Moving forward, I nod at the gentleman still holding the door and tip the stroller to aid it over the threshold. Once on the sidewalk, I take a deep breath. Another shiver ripples down my back as I sense I’m being watched, but I’m uncertain if it’s the kind customer or the curmudgeon baker. Either way, I don’t look back.

Almost to the corner, the door to the bakery opens with a tinkle of its distinctive bell and heavy footfalls thud along the sidewalk behind me. Sebastian rounds the stroller, firmly planting himself in my path.

“Sugar.” He pauses and nods toward the bakery. “What was that about?”

“You tell me? Rena said you were out when you were obviously in . . . and clearly occupied upstairs.” It’s not my business if he’s with someone else. I’d be with someone else, too, if I were him.

Still, I’m hurt. And confused. His actions today prove how much of an idiot I am to think I am anyone special to him.

Sebastian leans forward, stretching his arms over Adara’s seat and placing his hands on the stroller handle over mine. “That woman is Judd’s assistant. My books aren’t adding up. You’ve seen my office. I keep everything but I have a messy filing system. Sometimes Judd and I argue about my bookkeeping skills, and we clash. He sent Sarah in his place today. I’d taken a file box upstairs. She wanted to look through the receipts in it.”

“Oh.” Suddenly, I feel foolish for overreacting but still . . . “She’s very pretty.”