Unseen Threads

Chapter 2:Glimmers of Attraction

The rich aroma of freshly baked pastries filled the air, curling around Maya like a comforting embrace. Her hands moved with precision, expertly shaping dough into delicate croissants. Every press and fold carried the weight of her thoughts, as she replayed the previous night over and over again in her mind. Kane Anderson. His name alone sent a flutter through her chest, the kind of flutter she hadn't felt in years.

The bakery was her sanctuary, a place where the world's chaos couldn't touch her. Here, the scent of cinnamon and butter anchored her to reality, pushing back the shadows of past heartbreaks. The memories crept in, however, refusing to be ignored. The echoes of laughter, whispers of broken promises, and the sting of betrayal filled the quiet room. She swallowed hard, blinking against the sudden burn in her eyes. She didn't have time for this—not when Kane's dark eyes and strong frame haunted her every thought.

Her heart raced, heat rising to her cheeks as she remembered how their eyes had locked the night before. She had seen something in him, something raw and broken, just like herself. The way he moved, like a predator barely contained, had drawn her in. She could still feel the electric charge in the air, crackling between them as if the universe had pushed their worlds together.

With a soft sigh, Maya reached for a bowl of sugar, the fine grains slipping through her fingers like sand, a stark contrast to the tension building within her. She needed to focus, to ground herself. Her hands moved faster, mixing ingredients with a force that mirrored the confusion swirling in her head.

*He's just another man,* she tried to convince herself, kneading the dough with more vigor than necessary. But her body betrayed her, remembering the intensity of his gaze, how his presence had filled the room like a storm, dark and consuming. There was something about Kane that tugged at her, and no amount of denial was going to change that.

The bell above the bakery door chimed, jolting her from her thoughts. Maya wiped her flour-covered hands on her apron, turning toward the sound. Her breath caught in her throat as Kane walked in, his broad shoulders framed by the morning light streaming through the windows. The air seemed to still, the usual hum of the bakery fading into the background as if the world had paused just for this moment.

He moved with purpose, each step confident, like he owned the space around him. His dark eyes found hers immediately, and there it was again—that pull, that electric connection that made her pulse quicken. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air thick with unsaid words and hidden desires.

Maya's heart thudded in her chest as Kane approached the counter. The contrast between his rugged exterior and the gentle warmth of the bakery was jarring. His military background was evident in the way he stood, tense and alert, but there was something else in his expression—something softer, more vulnerable, as if the weight of his past still clung to him.

"Morning," Kane's voice was low, rough like gravel, sending a shiver down her spine. His gaze swept over the pastries on display, but it was clear his attention was solely on her.

"Morning," Maya managed to reply, her voice a little too breathy for her liking. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "What can I get for you?"

Kane's lips curved into a half-smile, and for a brief moment, it softened the hardened edges of his face. "I'm not here for pastries, but now that you mention it..." He leaned against the counter, his large frame towering over her. The closeness made her pulse race, the scent of him—clean, with a hint of musk—cutting through the sweet bakery air.

Maya felt the heat rise again, spreading through her chest and up to her neck. She struggled to focus on anything but him, the way his eyes seemed to pierce right through her defenses. The last thing she wanted was to seem affected by his presence, but her body had other ideas.

"I recommend the croissants," she said, her voice betraying her by trembling slightly. She reached for one of the golden-brown pastries, her hand brushing his as she placed it on a plate. The brief contact sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she quickly pulled her hand back, hoping he hadn't noticed.

Kane's smile widened, but there was something deeper in his gaze now, something that spoke of secrets and unspoken truths. "Croissant it is," he said, his voice lower now, almost intimate. His eyes never left hers as he reached into his pocket for his wallet.

As Maya rang him up, the silence between them grew heavy with unspoken words. Her fingers fumbled with the cash register, her nerves betraying her in a way that both excited and terrified her. She had always been in control, had always kept her guard up, but with Kane, she felt it slipping.

"So," he began, breaking the silence, "you come here every day, bake these amazing pastries... How do you do it?"

Maya blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Do what?"

"Be here, doing something so... normal." His eyes darkened slightly, the weight of whatever he wasn't saying hanging in the air. "I mean, you're not... like everyone else."

A flutter of confusion mixed with the thrill of his attention. She wanted to ask him what he meant, to delve into the mystery behind his words, but her own fears held her back. *Why does he make me feel so off balance?* She felt a flicker of fear at the thought of letting someone like Kane in, someone with shadows as dark as her own.

"I like the routine," she said softly, choosing her words carefully. "It keeps me grounded."

Kane nodded, his expression thoughtful as he picked up the croissant and took a bite. The way his eyes lit up at the taste sent a strange surge of pride through her. She watched as he savored it, his strong jaw working as he chewed. "This is incredible," he murmured.

Maya felt a smile tug at her lips despite herself. "I'm glad you like it."

Their eyes met again, and this time, the intensity between them was undeniable. The air felt charged, like the moment right before a storm broke. Maya's heart hammered in her chest as Kane leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"I'm not just here for the croissants, you know."

Her breath caught, and for a second, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. The way he looked at her, like she was something precious, something he couldn't resist, made her pulse race.

"I know," she whispered back, her voice barely audible.

Kane's smile deepened, but there was something dangerous in his eyes now, something that made Maya's heart race with both fear and anticipation. "Good," he said, standing up straighter, his presence filling the room once more. "Because I'm not done yet."

As he turned to leave, the door chiming softly behind him, Maya was left standing there, her mind spinning and her heart pounding. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the storm of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

Whatever was brewing between them, it was far from over. And for the first time in a long time, Maya wasn't sure if she wanted to run away from it or dive headfirst into the storm.