Baker’s Law Read Free

walked back to the old SUV cruiser he’d inherited with the job. He set the cupcakes
     on the seat beside him, then set his hat atop the box. Back in high school, he wouldn’t
     have been caught dead wearing a cowboy hat. Going off to college had changed so many
     things in his life—all for the better as far as he was concerned.
    Another light went out in the shop, but no further movement. He scanned the lot. There
     were no other cars. He guessed Lulu— no, he’d better think of her as Marissa—had parked
     around back. He drove around to the back of the shop just as she was shoving a trash
     bag into the dumpster. She jumped when he neared her. He rolled down the window. “Didn’t
     mean to startle you. You heading home?”
    She shook her head. The long dark ponytail swished over her shoulder. “I have to be
     back up here in a few hours anyway, so no point in wasting gas.”
    Jax shifted the SUV into park. “I came to take a better look at the door. See how
     the guy might’ve got in.”
    Marissa glanced between him and the door then back again. “Oh, sure.” She let the
     door swing shut. “Knock yourself out.”
    Jax unclipped the flashlight from his belt and examined the door. He’d caught a glance
     of it as it swung shut. It was an ancient push handle exit, one small lock and a plain
     handle. He squatted. “How long has this hole been here?” He ran his finger over a
     small drilled hole just under the handle.
    Marissa squinted and leaned over his shoulder. Her dark brown ponytail brushed the
     edge of his shoulder, she was so close. “No idea.” she said. “Why?”
    Jax scanned the area around the door and found an umbrella skeleton. “Is the door
     locked right now?”
    “Yeah.” Her warm breath feathered over his cheeks. He had to fight to keep his attitude
     professional. Having her lean over him like this was damn distracting. Not to mention
     her smell—all sweet and sugary.
    She reached out and traced her finger over the hole. “It stays locked. Automatic.
     When it closes.” After a moment her eyes rounded and she stood away from him. “The
     hole means something?”
    He nodded, then picked up the umbrella skeleton and shoved it through the hole. He
     gave it a little wiggle, then pulled. The door opened enough for him to get a hold
     of the edge and open it. The broken umbrella was open and pushed down the bar.
    Marissa fisted her hands at her sides and let loose a low growl. “I’ll be damned.”
     She rubbed a hand over her crooked ponytail. Little strands of hair, loose from the
     band, stuck out every which way. “Wonder how much that’s going to cost me to repair
     or replace?”
    Jax held the edge of the door until she came over and set her foot alongside the bottom,
     then he walked the umbrella over to the dumpster and dropped it inside. “On the upshot,
     if the kid had wanted to rob you, you’d be cleaned out by now. Ten times over, probably.”
    “That makes me feel so much better.” She hugged her arms over her chest.
    He tried not to look at the way her breasts mounded over her forearms. She’d already
     caught him all but leering at her once. No matter how hot she was, the woman was a
     citizen who’d called him for help. And at three in the morning, out behind a bakery
     was the last place he should let his mind run wild. His eyes strayed downward again.
     She had magnificent breasts.
    She fidgeted, drawing his attention back up to her face. “Thanks again for coming
     out. ‘Night. Or morning or whatever.”
    “I’d get that fixed as soon as you can. You going to be okay here by yourself?” He
     didn’t want to make it seem like he was making light of the burglary, but it wasn’t
     every day that someone broke into a shop to do their homework.
    “Yeah. Enjoy the cupcakes.” She motioned to his vehicle. “Congratulations on the new
     job, Jax.” She walked back into the bakery and let the door shut behind her.
    Jax tried the handle just to make