Flour, Frosting & Forever

For years, Kaira had been alone.

No family. No home to return to. No one to rely on except herself.

So she built a life from scratch - one lined with buttercream frosting, early mornings, and the comforting scent of fresh bread. Zara's Crumbs was never meant to be anything more than a quiet little bakery and a safe place for her and her daughter. Hidden behind pink walls, warm pastries, and carefully practiced smiles, it was enough. More than enough.

Until Adrian Blackwood walked through her doors.

Powerful without arrogance, gentle in ways that unsettled her, and far too observant for her liking, Adrian was nothing like the men Kaira had learned to fear. He slipped into their lives slowly - through shared coffees, lingering conversations - not only with her but also her daughter.

And somewhere between guarded glances and stolen moments, the walls Kaira had spent years building began to crack.

Because Adrian's arrival was never meant to feel like fate.

It is supposed to ruin everything. Even with her life crumbling around her, she felt hope she hasn't in years.

With his presence came questions she couldn't answer, and the terrifying realization that for the first time in years... maybe she wanted more than survival.

But how was she supposed to let herself fall when she still hadn't learned how to stop looking over her shoulder?