King(62)

“Yes, I brought the cupcakes with the sparklers.” King started to go to the table to get one but saw the table surrounded by children.

“Sorry.” When Willa laughed at his show of disappointment, King’s mouth almost dropped open, staring at the woman in surprise. When she forgot to be shy, her face lit up, her smile showing twin dimples. A sharp pinch on his arm had him looking at Evie.

“Be polite,” she hissed. King could see his staring was giving Willa the wrong impression, but he hadn’t worked with women most of his life without knowing how to handle them.

“I’m sorry I was staring, Willa, but it’s just so refreshing to see a stunning woman with such natural beauty.”

As Willa turned bright red, King thought she would high-tail it away, but instead, she began asking him questions about Queen City.

“What did you do there?”

“I ran several businesses,” he responded gently.

“That sounds interesting. I get tempted every so often to open a bakery, but I really don’t want to be tied down to working in one every day. I already have enough to keep me busy.”

“I may have a solution. Now that I’m living here, I’m thinking of opening a restaurant with a bar, and I would certainly be willing to buy your desserts for our menu on a regular basis.”

“I would like that. I could create a few things just for your menu.”

They continued to talk until King noticed Willa turned pale when a large man came into the picnic yard with a group of five children. He noticed her hands shake as she tucked her hair behind her ear. Even Evie noticed her behavior, giving King a concerned glance.

As the group grew closer, King saw the man look over at them. He had a pleasant face, but the look in his eyes told King he was presenting a façade. He was proved correct when he saw Willa and moved toward their group.

“Hello, Evie, Willa.” He nodded his head genially in King’s direction, yet he didn’t take his eyes off Willa. “I thought you said you weren’t coming to the picnic. You had a big order due; that was why you couldn’t come with me.”

“I did—I do.” Willa’s voice shook. “I was just delivering one of the orders here. I stopped to say hello to Evie and King before I left to make the other deliveries.”

“Oh.” The man’s accusing eyes didn’t soften.

“Lewis is an employee at the factory.” At Evie’s introduction, King extended his hand to him, which Lewis shook before turning his attention immediately back to Willa who was trying to unobtrusively leave.

“You’re a lucky man to have so many children. You and your wife must be very proud.”

Lewis’s mouth tightened. “They aren’t all mine; two are my sister’s.”

Evie looked up at King, explaining, “His sister used to be an employee of ours before she died.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” King offered his condolences.

Lewis shrugged, turning once again back to Willa, stepping closer to her. ”You going to come back after you make the deliveries?”

“No, I need to get started on the orders for tomorrow,” Willa said, taking a step backward.

“Willa, be careful,” King tried to warn her, but the jumpy woman was trying to get away from Lewis and wasn’t paying attention to where she was backing up. She collided with Lucky who was carrying a large plate of the cupcakes, mashing them into his chest. When he tried to catch himself, he took a half step backward, bumping into Rider, who dropped his plate onto the ground.

“What the fuck, Lucky? Watch what you’re doing!” Rider said. King put out his hand to steady Willa, helping her to regain her balance.

“I’m so sorry.” Willa took the plate of cupcakes away from Lucky.

“You always were clumsy,” Lewis said, taking the plate of cupcakes away from Willa and thrusting them toward King, who automatically reached out to take the plate.

“Here, let me.” Evie took the plate instead, stepping to the side and setting it down on the table before grabbing a handful of napkins.

One of the children with Lewis bent down to pick up one of the cupcakes Rider had dropped and began eating it.

“No, Chrissy. That’s dirty.” Willa tried to take the cupcake away, but the little girl shoved her hand, making her hit Rider in the balls. Willa jerked her hand away as if it had been scalded.

“Chrissy, put that cupcake down right now!” Lewis yelled.

The little girl started wailing, throwing the cupcake at her father who dodged it, so it hit Willa instead.

When Willa’s bottom lip began to tremble, King grabbed her, pulling her to his side, laughing. “I told you everyone would be fighting for your desserts.”