Page 10 of Burning Obsession
With a defeated sigh, I reach over and pull the little pastry box free and open the lid.
Fuck if the pastry doesn’t look like a piece of art. Golden swirls of bread peek out from beneath thick ribbons of cream cheese icing that have melted just enough to sink into every crack and fold. Cinnamon sugar sparkles across the top, and the smell? Don’t even get me started. That alone should be illegal.
I catch myself licking my lips. "This is how horror movies start," I mutter. “Guy eats mysterious baked goods. Guy dies. Roll credits.”
I snort at my own joke before picking it up with both hands and taking a bite. "Oh," I moan. Now I get it when women say chocolate is better than an orgasm.
The cinnamon roll is just sweet enough without being overwhelming. The cream cheese icing wraps around everything in a rich, tangy finish that makes every taste bud in my mouth stand up and applaud.
I chew slowly, savoring every second despite every logical part of my brain yelling at me not to enjoy anonymous gifts. Bite after bite, I mentally scold myself for enjoying it as much as I do until the last bite is swallowed.
My phone starts vibrating in my pocket. Yep, horror movie. Now comes the call from the mysterious person who sent the food, telling me that it’s laced with something.
Leaning forward, I place the empty container on the coffee table by my drink and pull my phone free from my back pocket. The screen lights up with Stellan’s name and I let out a sigh of relief. I mean it wouldn't be too far-fetched to think this secret admirer of mine has my number, or my address, seeing as how they know what I like to eat.
I barely place the phone on speaker when his voice booms through before I can say anything.
"Oh my God," he says dramatically. "Tell me everything."
I shake my head already knowing he knows another gift was delivered today. The fucker hasn’t let me live it down.
"Hello to you too."
"I don't care about hellos. I want to hear about your mysterious admirer.”
"There is no admirer," I say through gritted teeth. It’s a stalker, let’s get it straight.
"Oh? So someone anonymously buying you pastries is just, what? Community outreach? Is that what we’re calling it now? It’s been four months dude, when are you going to finally admit it?"
"Who told you someone bought me pastries? If you mean Fifi, she brought them for everyone."
"Dude, stop playing. Yeah, she was the messenger, but someone else bought them," he barely gets out through laughter.
“You know you’re worse than a women’s gossip group. How long after Fifi got there did you get the message?”
“Let’s just say it was still wet in your hands and you hadn’t even left the bay.” He can’t stop laughing. Guess he thinks he’s a comedian.
“Not funny.” I seethe.
“You’ve got to stop pretending like you don’t have an admirer. I’m positive it’s someone you saved at a call.” He pauses for a minute, and I hear what sounds like him swallowing. “At least you know they’re not dangerous. They haven’t killed you yet. Or put you in a hole lowering down a basket with lotion in it for you to rub on your skin.”
Images immediately begin to flash through my mind and my body shivers.
“We can’t rule that out yet. They might not be escalating at the moment, or I haven’t triggered the spiral yet. All it could take is a rejection of the gift and then I’ll be on tomorrow’s newscast as a missing person.”
“Dramatic much?” he asks.
“No, just being realistic. I know you’re getting a big laugh out of this, but what if it was you it was happening to?”
“I’d eat up every minute of it.”
And he would. I have no doubt.
“I just think people aren’t seeing the full picture. This has been going on for months. That’s more than enough time for this person to come forward. And if it’s some love lorn woman I can let her down easy.”
“So, did you turn down today’s gift? You don’t even have to answer, Lawson. I know for a fact you didn’t and I bet you ate it already.”
I don’t say a word, just glance at the empty container. He’s right. I did eat it and I enjoyed every bite of it, too.
