AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, but he makes me look extroverted. Anti-social tendencies aside, Shep’s a damn good man. I’ve seen him risk his life, again and again, to do what’s right. To save his fellow soldiers, or rescue women and children. He doesn’t mind disobeying an order if he has to. Used to drive Vander crazy.”
“I can’t imagine Vander losing his cool.”
“No. He hides it pretty well. We’d only know when he’d chew Shep out after a mission was done.” Boone found a parking spot near the bakery. “But Vander always protected him from the brass.”
All these heroes. Willing to put themselves on the line for others.
Gemma looked out the window, then saw the Voodoo Doughnut sign, and grinned. The store was painted signature hot pink and well-lit. Beside her, Atlas stirred.
“This place started in Oregon, and they have a bunch of stores across the country. They make artisan doughnuts, like the Vicious Hibiscus, Mango Tango, and the Bacon Maple Bar, to name a few.”
“I’m starting to feel nervous.”
She laughed, and felt some of the tension in her shoulders ease. “I’ll get a mixed dozen and we can try a bunch of flavors.”
Boone parked and gave Atlas a brisk rub. “You stay here.” He opened the window for the dog. “We’ll be back soon.”
She looked up and down the street, anxiety tickling her chest. She couldn’t easily shake the knowledge she was being hunted.
Boone took her hand and squeezed it. She felt some of that tension melt away.
Despite the late hour, Voodoo Doughnut had a decent crowd. Gemma smiled, taking in the pink walls and the display cases filled with brightly decorated doughnuts.
“I’ll get the takeout and come back to you,” Boone said. “Do not leave the store.”
She saluted.
He shook his head. “That’s a terrible salute. I’ll have to show you how to do it properly.”
She watched him leave. The man sure was built and knew how to make a pair of jeans look amazing. She saw a few other women in the bakery watching him, too.
She nibbled her lip. There was something she was starting to like almost as much as she liked sugar—Boone Hendrix.
After all this was over, maybe she could convince him to spend some time together.
Without the bad guys hunting them.
Gemma ordered her doughnuts. There were so many fun combinations. She vowed to try making a few unexpected things of her own when she got back to her baking. Mix things up a bit.
And she was going to open her own bakery. A jittery shiver ran through her and she grinned. She’d survived an abduction and several gun fights. Starting a bakery should be a breeze. She was also going to ask her dad to help with her business plan.
Like Boone had said, life was far too short to keep putting things off.
“Here you go.” The man behind the counter handed her a pink box of doughnuts with a wide smile.
“Thanks.”
“Enjoy the sugar overload.”
“Oh, I plan to.”
She stood by the door, and through the glass window, she saw Boone coming back toward her, a takeout bag in one hand. He was scanning the street and looked tense and alert.
She met him at the door. “Everything okay?”
“I thought I spotted someone watching us.”
Gemma stiffened and glanced down the sidewalk.
