Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,72

alley where the dumpster is. Having everything done before I go to bed will feel good, and hopefully, it’ll help me sleep better and feel rested, because I haven’t since the call from the realtor that the house sold.

I’ve laid awake every night thinking about the move and everything being final.

Actually, if I’m being honest with myself, that kiss has cost me more hours of sleep than anything else. That damn kiss and the man who gave it to me have consumed every waking moment.

I wish he was home.

No, no I don’t.

Because if he was and I went over there… or he came over here…

My thoughts immediately turn to the heated scenes I’ve been conjuring up every time I think about him, and now that I know what it’s like to feel his touch, I can’t stop myself.

I know I need to, but I can’t. I’ve tried, but it’s futile.

Part of me wonders if my attraction to him is a way for my heart to rebound from the rejection and hurt, but something tells me it’s not that at all. The way my skin tingles every time I’m around him and my heart skips a beat when he looks at me with heat in his eyes, I know it’s something more. And it’s not just the physical attraction, I like him. I like hanging out with him and talking to him. He’s funny and smart and interesting. And he’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met.

He doesn’t judge me or try to change me.

He just accepts me for who I am and he makes me better.

The truth is: I might be falling for Cage Erickson.

And I want him, more than I ever wanted Asher.

And that scares me. And excites me. And worries me. And makes me hopeful. He makes me feel everything.

With Asher, it was a relationship that developed slowly. I didn’t immediately love him. He eventually won me over. Like eventually turned into love. He was the only boy I’d ever dated. Hindsight being twenty-twenty, maybe I should’ve dated more and figured out if marrying him was really what I wanted, but I thought I knew. I thought I knew him and thought I could trust him.

Apparently, I was wrong.

With Cage, the attraction was immediate and it’s gotten stronger as time goes on. I don’t know what I’m going to do about it. But I do know I don’t want to ruin the friendship we’ve developed. Besides, I don’t know if I’m ready for another relationship or if he’d even be interested in having one, but the feelings are definitely there.

Chapter 20

Cage

“I can’t believe you got Julio to agree to fight,” Val says incredulously, like I might be lying to him. “I just talked to his agent a few weeks ago and it was a hard no. The purse wasn’t big enough.”

Pacing the length of the room that’s looking more and more like a legit studio every day, I huff. “Well, believe it. I called him… called in a favor and he’s in.” I want to add “don’t say I’ve never done anything for you”, but I’m trying to smooth the waters not stir the shit, so I keep my mouth shut.

“Thanks,” he finally says and I can tell it’s a struggle. He still wants to be pissed that I won’t give in and fight a losing fight. Because regardless what he and Viggo think, I would lose that fight. Wilson is in the best shape of his life and he has a vendetta against me for taking his belt a few years ago. “But it would still be nice for you to be there. We could use the extra publicity. Maybe you could do an exhibition bout—”

“No,” I say, cutting him off. “I’m not stepping foot in that ring.”

He sighs and I can picture him running a hand over his short buzz cut. “Viggo said you were done… I guess I just didn’t believe him.”

“Well, I am,” I confirm. Admitting it doesn’t leave me with the gutted feeling it did eight months ago. Back then, I couldn’t imagine a life outside of the sport, but now that I’m living it, I can. Sure, I’m disappointed and there’s still a hole that hasn’t been filled, but I’m getting there.

“Gunnar wants to fight,” Val says and I stop pacing and turn toward the mirrors. “He wants you to train him.”

Crossing the mats, I throw a punch at one of the bags, making the chains rattle. “What do Mom and Dad think about