Baked Goods: Unknown Tasks, #1

By Donna Steele

Brandy has worked alone since she graduated, but the task before her now is different, long-term and complicated. Is this a promotion or a test? And why is the object of her task so . . . male. There's never been attraction before, everything about this task is different.

Jason has been on the run since his entire team was ambushed and murdered. He has no time to stop, but nowhere else to go. Can this intriguing woman, who doesn't know him, really help?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Steele
• Release date: Dec 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223614661

Donna Steele

Women strong enough for love. Donna writes science fiction, paranormal and small town romances about women coming into their strength and having the courage to find and accept love. Now that she has retired from going into an office every day, she created an office at home and writes full time. Talk about living the dream! She was the girl at the party who was yearning for the quiet corner and a book to read (go Rory Gilmore!), and has been writing in her head since she learned to read. Getting those stories down on paper (or in her laptop) has been more fun than she ever imagined it could be. The possibilities of science fiction have always drawn her and she's read them all, there just needed to be a little more romance in them. She finally got up the courage to write them herself and is delighted to be able to share these stories with you. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. She can be reached at www.steelestories.com, www.facebook.com/donnasteeleauthor, or https://twitter.com/steele_donna

Book preview

Prologue

Brandy Carter drove her small SUV into the parking lot of a chain motel and plucked an overnight bag out of the back seat. No need to open the trunk for her large suitcase. She wouldn’t be here more than overnight. She took a room on the second floor and, using the card, let herself inside. Identical to so many rooms she had stayed in, it held the obligatory pastel landscape bolted to the wall, white puffy cover over the bed. One chair, a desk, and a TV stand. The tiny fridge and even tinier coffeemaker sat outside the bath. The room was clean and as always, temporary.

Her assignment tonight was a simple one. She’d need very little, and as usual, no one would remember she had been here when she was gone.

She trotted down the stairs and out the side door to head to the small restaurant adjacent to the motel. An easy walk, and the weather was finally cooling as the day ended.

Stopping just inside the door, Brandy let her eyes sweep the place. The woman she’d come to help wasn’t in sight, but Brandy could pick up her essence close by. Brandy no longer dwelled on how her employers knew these things. She went where she was needed and asked no questions. Most of the people she helped never knew of her involvement, or even that they had been assisted. That’s the way those that assigned her tasks wanted things.

Nice place, friendly, warm atmosphere. Brandy wasn’t familiar with Tennessee, maybe every place was like this. She’d been in Minnesota for her last job and to be honest, with this heat and humidity she wished it had been the other way around. Still, she didn’t question what she referred to as her tasks, and she went where she was needed.

She chose a two-person table at the back of the restaurant and took the seat facing the door. She wasn’t armed, not in any traditional sense, but she’d learned to be aware, to always observe what was going on around her.

Shortly after taking her chair, Brandy spotted the young woman she’d been watching for enter the dining area from the back of the restaurant. She was younger than Brandy expected but looked a little worn. The waitress glanced around, spied Brandy and headed toward her table.

Good evening. What would you like?

Brandy looked at the laminated menu on the table. What’s your favorite?

The waitress smiled and that lightened the tired look in her eyes. The pulled pork barbeque.

I’ll have that then.

It comes with slaw and hushpuppies, but you can substitute fries.

No, the original sounds find. And ice water, please. She glanced at the pocket on the waitress’s uniform, Jen.

It’ll be right up. Jen smiled and made her way to the counter, speaking to several people, probably regulars.

The food was delicious when Jen brought it. This type of barbeque was different than what Brandy had eaten before. The vinegar taste was quite good and added another new sensation for her to absorb. Her head lifted when the door to the restaurant opened and the essence of wrong wafted in. That was followed closely by a young man with a scowl on his face darker than the scruff covering his chin. He looked rough, in need of a shower at least. Yeah, this was him.

As Brandy observed from the far side of the room, he moved toward Jen. She saw the young woman tense and surreptitiously look around. Escape or protection? This was the man who had put those bruises on Jen’s arms. The man didn’t touch her here in public but backed her up to the counter. He spoke low so none of the others in the restaurant would be able to hear, but Brandy had no trouble listening in, even at this distance. Some people had looked up, then away, not getting involved. This guy was well-known and not popular.

How much have you got in tips?

Not much, it’s early.

Damn it, hand it over.

Keith—

Now, I need to get moving.

Jen reached into her apron pocket and withdrew a few bills. He snatched them, looking around to ensure no one was paying close attention. He didn’t focus on Brandy, no one ever did.

This is for shit.

It’s early, she repeated.

Lotta good that does me. You’re off work at nine. I expect you inside the house by ten after.

Do you want me to bring some food?

Not from this dump. I’m tired of everything they burn here.

It will take me longer if I stop somewhere else, she pointed out.

Fine, a burger. Don’t you be late.

Brandy recognized that as her cue. Wouldn’t be good for him to leave until she had the opportunity to act. She rose from her table and picked up the empty ketchup bottle. She approached the couple and Jen glanced over at her. Jen’s eyes were wide and seemed to be trying to warn her.

Could I have a little more ketchup? Brandy asked, moving closer to her target, Keith. Yes, waves of bad rolled off him and now that he saw her, his eyes were assessing her closely. He seemed to like what he saw.

Oh, yeah sure. Jen quickly reached behind the counter and snatched a fresh bottle, almost thrusting the container at her. She obviously wanted to get Brandy out of the line of fire as soon as possible. Sorry about that.

No problem. Brandy turned and allowed her hand to brush Keith’s arm. For an instant his expression lost focus, not long enough for anyone else to notice and Brandy continued to her table.

Give me what you’ve got, he hissed at Jen, Brandy already forgotten.

I did. That’s all I have.

He looked down at the bills in his hand. Shit.

I’ll have more later.

You’d better. He looked around again, then headed outside. Brandy listened to an engine rev, probably annoying everyone around him, and then his vehicle peeled out.

She returned to her meal, relaxing. People came and went. Due to the heat, she ordered the cobbler with ice cream for dessert. Then she watched and waited.

She was still enjoying the ice cream when the door opened and a cop, probably a county deputy from his uniform, stepped inside. He stopped and looked around, obviously searching for someone specific. When he spotted Jen, he made a beeline for her.

He spoke low, others didn’t need to hear what he had to tell her, but again Brandy had no problem. You need to be aware, Keith’s been arrested. He was speeding and ran through a stop sign. He plowed into Bruce’s cruiser, then came out fighting. He assaulted Bruce, not one of his brighter ideas, and was taken to lock up. He was drinking so he’s gonna be gone a few days at least, this time.

Brandy hid her smile. He’d be gone longer than that. There would be a fight at the jail and his sentence would be extended several times. He was out of Jen’s life. The deputy, his name was Stan, spoke with her for a little while, advising her not to attempt to post any bail and left.

Jen was shaken when she brought Brandy’s ticket. Brandy made a point to brush her hand as she took it. Yes. Keith was gone. Jen would marry that nice guy named Stan and their daughter would become a state legislator, passing several bills to help abused women.

Brandy left a generous tip and returned to her motel room.

Now it was time to wait for the next task.

Chapter One

Brandy’s thoughts drifted back to the night in Tennessee, over six months ago now. The irony of her position brought a half smile to her lips. Of course, Jen had been a waitress at that restaurant, an employee, whereas Brandy now owned this diner.

She had finally quit wondering how her employers handled logistics. When she’d arrived in White Falls, North Carolina the funds had been available to purchase this place and the previous owner had been able to fulfill his dream of moving closer to his daughter and grandchildren with more profit than he’d expected. And she owned a business which would be the endcap of this particular bit of work.

She hadn’t known then why she was headed to North Carolina, but she’d learned long ago not to bother questioning things like that. This was her job.

Someone needed help so she went. Even before she arrived, this had felt longer term, and she’d turned out correct in her assumption. This mission was convoluted and multi-layered. She thought of this job as a promotion since she rarely stayed anywhere more than a day or two. It was nice to have time to look around a place and meet people.

Her tasks were varied. Usually, she woke up with the knowledge of what she should do fully outlined in her head.

That night’s work with Jen and Keith was typical for her. Keith wouldn’t be getting out of prison for years and couldn’t reasonably blame Jen for any of it. Not that the man had ever been reasonable from the little Brandy had gleaned from him with her touch. The tip money taken from Jen that evening had bought the booze he’d snatched up when he left the restaurant, but that was all on him. No need for Jen to even testify against him. Jen had been at work and removed from his drinking and driving, much less assaulting a law officer.

Hopefully the deputy, Stan, that Brandy had seen with Jen before she left had stepped right up.

For this undertaking, her most elaborate thus far, a more concrete infrastructure needed to be created. While it was a new sensation to have people see and remember her, it had been pleasant for the most part in this environment. This was shaping up to be her most complicated and multi-tiered assignment yet. Letting her employers down was not an option, and so many people would be affected by what could be accomplished, even her new friends, Paige and Lindsay. It would have been nice to be able to talk to someone about this job–her life-long friends Kip or Nat, even O. That wasn’t a possibility. They had their own assignments.

Brandy had friends here, yet she was still all alone. Now was not a good time to become overwhelmed.

She could feel him now. He was close. He had taken some time to arrive here, but Brandy became more aware as he approached her location. His pace had given her time to prepare for him, construct the infrastructure she now had. She wasn’t able to see his face yet, but his body was that of a man in his prime, despite whatever he was going through. He was definitely hungry, that was easy enough to pick up on, but he couldn’t allow that to slow him down. Little slowed this man down, but she could tell he was burdened, nearing the end of his rope.

Why did she still not know what constituted that rope?

He was the main reason she was here and had created a more permanent living arrangement—much more than any previous task she’d been assigned. It had been a busy time since rescuing Jen from Keith back in Tennessee. Instead of a single motel room, Brandy now had what, to her, was an elaborate setup.

Others would benefit as well. This task was multi-faceted and seemed to be of highest importance to her employers. She would do what she could to help all of them. They had put a lot into this, more than she was accustomed to.

****

Jason observed the bus driver closely as he left the driver’s seat and stepped out onto the sidewalk. The driver stretched quickly, then, shivering from the cold, hurried inside the small storefront which also served as the depot for this town. If