Undercover billionaire and the bakery bandit.

nd the counter, hands dusted with flour as her eyes hastily scanned tables sprinkled throughout the small shop. The morning rush was over, but

of slow business had taken a heavy lead weight to her chest every day with the weight of the financial troubles the

s fresh out of the oven on the counter. She looked up with a hopeful smi

ce. She sashayed on toward the counter, saying in nearinaudible to

de her stomach was performing its usual acrobatics. "Just do

ere's no shame in letting go. Sometimes, it's just too much. This place has been in

inent tears. She knew Mrs. Jenkins was just being nice, but it s

ddie said softly, "but I'

a pity smile. "Well, I'll take two loaves of sourdou

was handing her the bag, Mrs. Jenkins turned with a

her gaze stray to the framed photograph on the wall-the matriarch of he

, running her finger along the edge

around this bakery, hands moving swiftly through dough, her voice a song mixed with laughter. She loved this pl

nd gaudy new restaurants siphoning off her customers. Little longer very competitive a

so that it fogged up. How e

have a point," she stutte

ce her in a good position for a new beginning. Yet every time that would come to her head, and she could easily walk away, it was her grandmother who kept her

o much to the family? She did not want some random stranger just wal

from her reverie. A glance at the screen sho

Don't forget, you pro

rs poised over the screen as

. Might close up ea

urning her attention back inside the bakery. The e

ed once more. Addie straightened hopefully thi

preliminary courtesy. Hard eyes glanced about

tily wiping her hands on her apron. "I've been

iven you two extensions already. If I don't see something soon, I'm

ing. Business has been slow, but I have a

raction. "One more month, Addie. Beyond th

hroat tight. "Thank

s into the chill of the morning, silent again, leavi

ter, her chest heavy. Just on

in a voice little more than a whisper, "I don't know that

, was slowly escaping her grasp, slipping away into the ether as had the rest of the members

uge art portfolio. His dark hair had that bedhead thing, plus scruff along his

his voice like s

er hands on her apron

de his way toward the counter. "Gre

s rose in surpr

ing casually on the counter,

the case for a newly baked almond croissan

ers light enough. He smiled.

an odd flutter in her chest as

ed in approval. "This is gre

randmother's bakery. I've been

on her a second longer. "A family legacy, huh? Tha

is man in some kind of way she just didn't know. There was just som

, "I think from now on I shall

, a wee fire was l