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around in the backroom. She hoped she could get through the rest of the customers before he reentered the shop. However, just as Thomas stepped up to the counter, Eli walked out carrying a coffee urn.
    “Good morning,” Anna said. “Want your usual bear claw and regular Italian brew?”
    A deep line creased between Thomas’ dark brows. “Who’s that?”
    “Hmm?” Anna asked, but she felt a wave of heat roll over her as Eli passed by behind her. She tried to hold her smile steady for Thomas. “New employee.”
    “I didn’t even know you were looking for help,” Thomas said, toying with the gold band on his left hand. “What happened to the young girl from the college? Josie, wasn’t it?”
    “Oh, she’s great. Took a few weeks off for midterms and then fall break. Your usual?” she asked again. Thomas’ smile was tight, and his eyes followed Eli’s movements. Was Thomas being overprotective of her? He obviously hadn’t heard the news that Baron was ditching her for the Pacific Ocean and picturesque, rolling hills covered in vineyards.
    “So, who’s he?” Thomas asked, watching the movement over Anna’s right shoulder.
    Before Anna could answer, she felt Eli’s hand on her back. Her mind fogged over, and her heart pumped thick, hot blood down to her toes. She couldn’t focus on anything except the feel of his hand against her. Her bottom lip drooped open.
    Eli held out his other hand to Thomas. “Eli,” he said.
    “Thomas Harper. One of Anna’s usual customers. Every day actually.”
    “Dedicated. I like that. How are you? Italian brew, right?” Eli asked, handing over a travel coffee cup with a lid. He removed his hand from Anna’s back.
    Thomas took the offered cup and thanked him, but Anna blinked and immediately saw confusion in Thomas’ dark eyes. The air was rimmed with the smell of burning leaves, and she coughed. As quickly as she could, she grabbed a bear claw from the display case and wrapped it.
    “One bear claw to go,” she said, struggling to inhale a full breath.
    “I think I’ll sit awhile,” Thomas said, and he thanked Anna for the pastry.
    “Sure. Great. Sit for as long as you like. I’ll just be here…baking or something,” she babbled. No, go away, Thomas. Go away. Can’t you see I’m losing my marbles here ?
    Since no one else was in line, Anna scurried to the backroom to fill a glass with ice water and to splash at least half of it on her face. She blindly reached for a paper towel to dry off and then she chugged some of the water.
    “He’s territorial,” Eli said much too close to Anna’s ear. She yelped, tossing the rest of her water straight into the air. It rained all over the countertop, and she and Eli danced out of its path. Eli’s hand was on her arm, and she wiggled away from him.
    “Stop doing that,” Anna said, pressing her back against the wall. Eli grinned, and the sight of his smile tugged something deep in her stomach.
    “Doing what? I thought we were having a conversation,” he said.
    “Stop touching me,” she said, waving her hands in front of her. “I can’t think when you do that.”
    Eli’s grin widened, and he took a step closer. Her hands fell to her sides, and her too-wide green eyes watched him.
    “That doesn’t sound so bad,” he said, and his voice was thick like caramel.
    Anna’s heart pounded hard, and she pressed her hands to her chest in case it burst out. Eli took another step toward her, and she made the mistake of looking up at his face. His blue eyes undid her, so she darted away from him, putting the island in between them.
    “No!” she said. “You stay on your side.”
    Eli leaned his head back and laughed loudly. It echoed through the backroom and out into the bakery, and Anna’s heart leapt at the sound of it. The front door opened, and the bell jingled. A briny breeze blew through the shop, ruffling Anna’s haphazard ponytail. Tiny piles of powdered sugar tornadoed across the island. A man’s voice