Merciless Sinner (What Alex Wants #1) - E.M. Gayle Page 0,1

give me a gift. That bastard hated me and the feeling was mutual. If he ever found out where I’d run to—I shuddered just thinking about the consequences of that. His mean streak had no limits no matter how well he hid it behind a façade for the public. I knew the truth and it was far uglier than I could have ever imagined.

My only hope was that with me far away from his world he would eventually forget about me. At least that’s what I hoped. Besides, I’d moved on. I’d survived culinary school and made one hell of a friend. The past was behind me and I had to keep looking forward no matter what.

I walked back into the kitchen and caught Zia red-handed in my frosting bowl again. “Hey!”

“I can’t help it this stuff is addicting. It’s no wonder our business is booming, I bet you’ve addicted half the city on your baking.”

“Ha ha, very funny.”

“I’m serious. What’s that?” Zia pointed to the box still clutched in my hands.

“No idea. Delivery guy just dropped it off for me and wished me a Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh my God, someone sent you flowers? Today? Who is he? You’ve been holding out on me.” Zia jumped from her stool.

I set the box down on the counter and stared at it. “No, I haven’t. I’m still thinking this must be some sort of mistake. Or…” I glared at my friend. “Did you have something to do with this? Is that why you’re in my kitchen practically in the middle of your night?”

“Jeez, Harper, paranoid much?” When I didn’t rise to the bait, Zia continued, “To answer your question, no, I have no idea what this is about. I did come here to see about a potential date for tonight, but the flowers were not part of my plan. I was just going to go with the old standby of setting you up with someone I know.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh no. Don’t even think you can go there. I am not going on a blind date with you and your latest guy.”

She pouted. “You are seriously no fun.”

I fingered the envelope tucked into the ribbon. “The last thing I need is a setup from my best friend. Don’t pity me just because I don’t have a date on a trumped up

holiday.”

Zia shook her head. “I’m worried about you, not pitying you. For a woman who works in an industry that relies on these so called holidays, your cynicism is spreading like wildfire.”

I glanced at my friend, saw the pure look of concern marring her beautiful face and softened. “I’m not that bad. I’m just not in a hurry to jump onto the dating circuit again. The thought of going somewhere in the hopes of picking up a man curls my stomach.”

“Well, you aren’t going to catch one hiding out back here. Unless that envelope happens to contain the ticket you’re waiting for.”

I snorted. “It’s way too early in the morning for this. We need some more caffeine. Why don’t we go grab some coffee before I finish those roses? I could use the break.”

Zia walked in front of me and placed her hands on my shoulders. “Stop stalling and open the goddamn envelope, shorty.”

Holding back a smile at my friend’s sassy words proved impossible. I should be annoyed by her continued insistence on calling me shorty. I may only stand five feet four but next to her near six feet anyone would look short. Besides, my stomach had begun flipping with a wicked combination of excitement and nerves ever since the delivery guy spoke my name. I grasped the edges of the envelope and tore through the seal. “We’re probably both getting worked up over nothing. It’s probably a grateful customer who feels sorry for the chick stuck in a hot kitchen today.”

I pulled out the simple red card with a single rose embossed on the front and studied it. A very elegant start. Impressed, I flipped it open and read the handwritten note to myself. I literally felt the blood drain from my face as I read through what I now knew was an invitation. And not just any invitation. This one came with a side of crazy.

Thank goodness I’d delayed getting more coffee. If I’d had a drink in my mouth I’d have spewed it across the counter.

“C’mon, tell me. What does it say?” My friend was practically vibrating where she stood.

Trapped between disbelief and shock, I cleared my