The Devil In The Flesh.

My heart still aches painfully, as the morning dawned slowly and the hands of the clock ticked past with a taunting rhythm.

 

It's all helped to shape the niggling sensation of a migraine that's slowly creeping up the sides of my temples. 

 

I don't know what hurts the most, the fact that the two people I cared about dearly were having an affair behind my back, or me truly believing that the ring currently gracing Avas' finger was meant for me. 

 

And no, I'm not delusional. You see, about two weeks ago when Chase had invited me over to his place for dinner, we had spoken about moving in together and starting the next chapter of our lives.

 

It was time. We had been together for two years and the flame igniting our hearts was still blazing brilliantly.

 

So I thought.

 

But now, I feel so foolish, blinded by my fantasies of having a perfect happily ever after with the man whom I believed to be my Mr. Right. 

 

That same night I had spilled red wine over my white dress and I had gone into his room to find something to wear. Upon opening his top left drawer, a small white box caught my attention and my curiosity. 

 

 Nibbling on my lower lip, I opened the small box barely containing my excitement when an elegant but sophisticated engagement ring was staring back at me. 

 

Snapping the box shut, I put it back where I found it and rode his cock like my life depended on it beneath the stars that very same night. 

 

In all honesty, I fucked his brains out hoping to show him that by marrying me our sex life would always be thrilling and exciting between us.

 

What a crock of shite that all turned out to be.

I guess the feeling between us wasn't mutual after all.

 

"Oh, and two of your double chocolate brownies with crushed pistachios too, please love." Mrs. Brown sings as she derails my train of thought. 

 

I plaster on a smile and nod my head, "Sure, would you like anything else with that?" 

 

"Oh, no. That will be all for the day. You do know that I will be back again tomorrow don't you?" She gives me a pointed look.

 

I chuckle, nodding my head. "Come on now, Mrs. Brown. How could I forget? You have been my number one customer from the very first day I opened those doors," I motion towards the glass doors behind her. 

 

"Hmmm." She nods her head, placing the brownies inside her shopping bag. "You know, my doctor keeps nagging at me to go for a walk every day and your goodies give me the motivation I need to reach my step count." 

 

I laugh with a genuine smile that touches the corners of my eyes. "Happy to be of help." 

 

As Mrs. Brown places a ten-dollar bill on top of the counter, I slide it back toward her. 

 

"These are on me today." 

 

"Oh, If I had known that, I would have ordered twice as much." She teases with a look of surprise on her face. 

 

I sigh with self-pity encircling me,  "I had a really rough start to my day, and you have cheered me up a lot. So this is my way of saying thank you." 

 

As the bell to the door chimes, Mrs. Brown turns around to see who it is. A soft gasp exits her mouth, and she quickly faces me while she softly pats the top of my hand. 

 

"Oh, honey. I think the one that is going to cheer you up is the dashing young man that's just entered your bakery." She says in a hushed tone with excitement. 

 

My eyes instantly drift past her and my gaze lands on the back of this dashing young man she speaks of. He is dressed in a pinstripe suit that looks very expensive, and his short black hair looks glossy as the sunlight touches it. 

 

"I will see you tomorrow, love." Mrs. Brown giggles as my gaze drifts back to her. I swallow thickly and nod my head. 

 

The mysterious man standing in my bakery not only looks like a million bucks from behind, but he also smells like it too. 

 

Woody with tea leaves that smell like sweet spices. 

 

Closing my eyes, I breathe in through my nose and fill my lungs with the expensive scent.

 

What am I doing?

 

Upon opening my eyes, I scoff shaking my head, I turn away and start wiping down the walls.

 

I just got dumped a few hours ago and my inner goddess is already reacting to the first male to grace me with his presence. 

 

The sound of his footsteps approaching the front counter sweeps through the bakery followed by him clearing his throat. Spinning around, I tuck the loose strands from my top knot behind my ear and wipe my hands down the front of my apron. 

 

"Hi, welcome to Appletons Bakery what can I..."  I deadpan mid-sentence.

 

As I raise my head to observe the dashing young man in front of me remove his dark sunglasses, he unveils the penetrating sky-blue eyes that were formerly the only set of eyes in which I voluntarily desired to lose myself.

 

Clenching my jaw, I curse the heavens for sending me the devil himself in the flesh. 

 

As he too, registers who I am, his eyes turn cold toward me as his lips curl into a cruel smile. 

 

"Well, isn't this a lovely surprise?" He mutters with displeasure. "Who would have thought the business I am trying to purchase belongs to my once-upon-a-time best friend's little sister?"

 

"Wait, you're the Landry arsehole that is sending me letters about threatening to purchase my bakery with or without my cooperation?" I hiss bitterly, "I should have known it was you!" I quickly remove my apron that suddenly feels two sizes too small around my torso. 

 

In the meantime, Tobias has the audacity to explore my bakery as if he is already plotting what he will do with it after I am evicted, and wrath licks my heated skin.

 

"A few interior changes will need to be carried out, but I think this place is perfect for what I have in mind with it." He hums with amusement lining his words. 

 

Rushing out from behind the counter, I storm up to him and stab the ball of my index finger into the hard wall of his chest.

 

Tilting my head back, I look him dead in the eyes. "This is still my bakery, Tobias Landry and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave, now!" One side of my upper lip curls with disdain as I stab my finger into his chest once more. 

 

Without warning, his large fingers wrap around the base of my wrist like fire bands searing into my flesh.

 

Dipping his head, "It's good to see that you haven't changed one bit spitfire. I look forward to dancing with you in court." He mumbles with a lopsided smirk on his annoyingly handsome face as he drops my hand. 

 

"Wouldn't hold your breath."

 

"For you, I would walk across a bed of burning nails barefoot just to get what I want." 

 

I inhale sharply as I watch him reapply his sunglasses before turning on his heel and exiting my bakery with a whistle playing on the tip of his tongue.