"Well?" She stared at him expectantly.
He gritted his teeth. "I don't know about this."
"What other choice do you have?" It wasn't like he could be much help over the phone. "I'm not in danger right now. Your brother is. Go to him."
Groaning, Sebastian nodded. "Promise me that you'll be careful, sweetheart. Eat lunch in the bakery and make sure that you watch your back at all times."
"I will." She placed a protective hand on her stomach.
"And if I'm not back by tonight, have somebody walk you straight to your car. Don't dawdle. Drive straight back to your apartment. Understand?"
"It's crystal clear." She gave him a thumbs-up, trying to pretend that his intense instructions weren't giving her the heebie-jeebies.
"You are going to do what I say, right?" He gave her a hard stare. "I know I sound like an ass, but I'm just trying to protect you."
"My baby's well-being is at stake here." She nodded. "Of course I'm going to listen to what you say."
"Good." His eyes darkened. "Then I guess I'll go to my brother."
"It's where you need to be," she said, even as her nerves grew.
"You're an understanding woman." He gazed at her with adoration.
Before she knew what was happening, he seized her arm and pulled her against him. He tangled his hands in his hair, then forced his lips against hers. As he kissed her fiercely, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. While she gasped in shock, he ran his fingers along her lower back. She held onto him, digging her fingers into his shoulders and not wanting to let him go. A moment later, he broke free from the kiss. She swayed as she tried to recover from his intoxicating embrace.
"Be careful." He laid a kiss on her forehead.
She nodded. "Uh-huh."
Sebastian kissed the top of her stomach. "You be careful too, baby."
His concern for her and his unborn child warmed her heart. He's a good man, she thought, as he shot her once last concerned look before striding out the door with his phone pressed to his ear. She stared out the window long after he was gone.
****
Night came, but Sebastian hadn't returned. She kept looking out the window for him, but the man was nowhere to be seen. Still, she supposed that Jake hadn't shown up either, so she should have been counting her lucky stars. As she paced around the kitchen, she heard the door open. Donavon came inside in jeans and a T-shirt. She'd called him to ask if he would escort her to her car, and he'd come over despite the fact he wasn't scheduled for work.
"I'm at your service, milady." Donavon bowed at the hip.
She raised an eyebrow. "You're over the Batman act, I see."
"I was feeling more like a knight in shining armor today," he said.
"Well, then, I'm a lucky woman." She just couldn't bring herself to say the word damsel. "Do you want twenty bucks? You did drive all the way over here just to walk me to my car. I should give you something."
"Don't worry about it." Donavon waved away her offer. "This is the least I can do for my awesome boss."
"Awesome boss, huh?" She raised an eyebrow. "The others don't seem to think so."
"Who, Annabelle?" Donavon grinned. "Don't take her too seriously. I'm pretty sure she's been a bloodsucker since the moment she was born."
Okay, she was definitely giving Donavon a raise. "You're my favorite employee, do you know that?"
"Ah, shucks." He turned red.
Emmy smiled due to his bashful reaction and grabbed her purse. "Well, let's go. It's getting late, and I have to be up early tomorrow to start baking."
"I'm ready for duty." He saluted.
She studied him. "Are you a soldier or a knight in shining armor?"
He winced. "I'm not really sure."
"Well, loyal soldier or dazzling knight, let's go." She pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder.
Nodding, Donovan opened the backdoor for her. After she walked outside, she looked up. Thunder cackled and lightning whipped across the sky. She shivered in apprehension, but she quickly pushed away her bad feelings. A little rain wasn't a bad omen. It was Seattle, after all. Rain was constant. She headed over to her car and unlocked the door.
"Thanks again for helping me, Don." She climbed behind the wheel.
"No problem." Donovan nodded. "Let me know if you need anything else."
Boy, he was helpful.
"Don't you ever quit on me, you hear." She pointed at him. "Valuable employees like you are few and far between."
Even if he had a bad habit of mixing up salt and sugar.
"I'll stay at your bakery until I'm old and gray." He took a step back.