Watcher: A raven paranormal romance (Crookshollow ravens Book 1) Read Free Page A

wad of cash. “I was acting like a dick. I’ll tell you what, I’ll take a box of the most expensive, most impressive treat you have. If you have to endure my sense of humour, than you should at least be fairly compensated for it.”
    “Really sir, that’s OK—”
    “Sir?” He gave me that killer grin again. “I like that. I don’t usually get called Sir. You could definitely keep calling me that.”
    “So um ... anyway,” I directed my gaze down at the display counter so he couldn’t see the fresh glow on my cheeks. I pointed to a cake on the bottom shelf. “If you want the most impressive thing, that would definitely be the Heaven and Hell cake.”
    “That sounds like my kind of cake. Tell me about it.”
    “Well um, it’s layers of Angel food cake and Devil’s food cake, sandwiched with peanut butter mousse and covered with chocolate whisky ganache.”
    I’d made that cake last night to replace another that hadn’t sold for three days – the full cakes didn’t sell as well as individual slices, but I needed them on display to get the catering and birthday orders. I’d decorated it perfectly, with curls of dark chocolate and a sprinkling of gold dust. And I knew it was delicious, because I’d eaten a quarter of the other Heaven and Hell cake for dinner, since I couldn’t afford groceries.
    “Looks great.” He wet his lower lip in a way that made my stomach flutter.
    “I can cut you off a slice—” I reached for the cake knife.
    “No, just box the whole thing up. I’ll take it all.”
    “But …” I spluttered. “That cake is 75 quid …”
    “That was more than I was planning on spending on our first date, but sure.” He shrugged. “Wrap it up.”
    Barely able to hide my grin, I fitted together one of our larger cake boxes. I slid the cake out from the counter and had to turn around to fit it inside the box. As I did, I imagined Hot Biker staring at my arse, and my whole body coursed with nervous energy at the thought. When I turned around to give him the cake, I half expected to drop it. Thankfully, I maintained my composure.
    He paid by credit card, and as I handed him the pen to sign his name, I found myself hoping he’d leave his number. If this were a movie, and I were the plucky, down-on-her-luck heroine, that’s exactly what would happen.
    Hot Biker grinned at me as he pushed the slip of paper back across the counter. This time, I grinned back. “That’s a lot of cake,” I managed to say. “I hope you have someone to share it with.”
    “Why? Are you free tonight?”
    “Er … um …” My heart pounded. Was he asking me out? This guy was going to give me a serious heart condition.
    He leaned forward, his nose just inches from mine. I could smell him, the scent of motor oil and leather and something else, something woody and earthy and familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. His eyes burned into mine.
    “On second thought, you’d better not,” he whispered, his voice suddenly cold. Disappointment surged through me. Where had that dark stare come from? Emotion flared in his eyes, and for a moment his face crumpled into an expression of impossible sadness. I blinked, but in an instant his smug, dangerous expression was back.
    “You’ve been hurt badly.” His husky voice reverberated in my skull. “You need something sweet, and I’m not just talking about cake. I am not sweet, not even close. You wouldn’t want to get messed up with a guy like me.”
    He grabbed his cake off the counter, and stormed outside, the bakery door slamming shut behind him.
    “Woah,” Elinor slapped down her magazine. “Who the hell was that? ”
    “I don’t know. He’s never been in here before.” I stared down at the slip where he had scrawled his unreadable signature. No name. No phone number.
    Elinor marched over to the counter and waved her hand in front of my face. “Hello? Are you in there?”
    “I’m sorry,” I blinked. “I just … I was hoping he’d ask me