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Alonzo was already seated at the table Elance her way, but she knew he saw her She shrugged into the sweater and kept working Alonzo had brought two other ave theh her back door

Evangeline didn't knohat to think of this new developout for criminals It was just a little ironic when she'd left her home in the swamps near New Orleans, traveled to Texas and set up her bakery thinking she'd left all that behind She couldn't help wanting to laugh The old adage "out of the frying pan and into the fire" certainly applied At least business was brisk Apparently ry

The fourth cri had been in her bakery a few times He was older, with silver streaks in his dark hair, a kind face, rather like a grandfather ht have A face others would trust He sreeted him

"Evangeline" The first time he'd come into the bakery, he'd et it He was char and sweet, always polite, as were his men

"Eenuine s him a respectful "Mr Bassini," but he had insisted on Emilio

"How have you been, mia cara?" he asked

She glanced at him over her shoulder as she prepared to make his caffe macchiato "Good, and you?"

His smile arliatelle like you do As good as when I'm in Naples"

"Thank you, Eive me"

She didn't know much about him She knew if she looked him up on the Internet she'd probably find all sorts of horrible things about hiood custoht his ood custoht out all her cannolis Now she was fairly certain Alonzo had ht now she didn't want to credit Alonzo for anything

There was another group co in behind her, fro were clearly bodyguards and they were all business, their gazes sweeping the roo her Behind theht in her throat She knew all the color leeched from her face

Joshua Tregre Her first cousin He was the last person she ever thought would walk through her door, and for a o down Instead, she caught the counter edge and held on, praying he wouldn't notice any resemblance He'd never met her He'd most likely never heard of her He had been taken away from the bayou when he was a toddler His mother had run with him back to the Borneo rain forest His father, her Uncle Renard, had been re She had been a well-kept secret froh

Of course he would be a criminal Her entire family seemed to be criminals What difference did it make if Joshua had been raised in Borneo? She supposed it was in their blood That hy every time she looked at Alonzo that wild part of her reacted

She was careful to keep her eyes on her work, not aze directly as he placed his order She didn't want to see recognition there She was very aware of Ti out of character and that wasn't good Of course he would notice Alonzo had most likely noticed as well It didn't matter, she couldn't control her fear so she dealt with it the way she did best She stayed very calm, kept her voice soft and low, and worked fast and efficiently to get Joshua Tregre and his men to their seats as quickly as possible

Evangeline needed to restock and when she started into the kitchen, it seeuard went on alert Alonzo nodded at Tiuards Both men followed her

She began to put various pastries on a tray "I keep theat either man

Neither answered her and she didn't care She walked straight toward the back door She knew Tiical reason for her not to step outside into the cooler air Since she had to wear a cardigan as Alonzo commanded, and it had been a clear order, she was hot The shop ar by herself behind the counter made for very hot work

"Don't" Ti stopped her in her tracks as she reached for the doorknob

She halted, facing away fro a little sick "I'm not your prisoner," she snapped "It's hot workin' back here and I need to cool off"

"Don't," he repeated

One si her from her apparent--and unfortunate--attraction to cri stupid, re herself that they would leave soon and she could refuse the service to any criminals

She couldn't just fling open the door and run for it That wouldher business She'd sunk every penny of the money she'd inherited from her mother into the shop and her house If she couldn't work, she couldn't pay her

She shrugged out of her sweater and turned back toward the twoher warily, as if they expected her to do so crazy and were ready to pounce The instant she saw the

Don't They're leopard Too close

You're upset

I can handle it She breathed away the desire to claw and rake at both ht to come into her beloved sanctuary, her haven, and order her around

She took a quick bathroom break and then hurried to restock There were soher inventory, she knew she wouldn't have any left even if theti at her, and she wished she'd put her sweater back on She served a few of the bodyguards, noting only one guard fro three to watch over their man

The phone rang as she turned to go into the back to get her sweater She couldn't stand being ogled Not like that "Small Sweet Shoppe"

"Hey, beautiful, I'ot a private party going on I need some of your famous cannolis Just sneak me in"

Brice A friendly voice She glanced through the enormousand soing on You'll live without the to create an intiet for a moment she was surrounded by criminals

"Co you today You're my fix You know that Meet me at the back door with a box of cannolis then At least I'll get a chance to ask you out"

Alonzo's tall, very large body suddenly blocked her view of Brice He stood solidly in front of her, his back to the others "Coffee," he snapped

She glared at him That didn't faze hi thein his frozen stare was very, very scary

"I've got to get back to work, Brice See you tomorrow"