“Me?” he askedindignantly.
“Yes, you.” She playfully tappedhiship.
“I just want things to go right on the ranch. Now that my parents are both gone, I’m the head of the household and it’s my responsibility to take care of myfamily.”
“You’re agoodman.”
“I try. I have a legacy to uphold. The bed and breakfast is one of the most well-liked hotels in the area. We have a reputation for having a family-like feel. Many people who have stayed with us say that they felt like they were staying withfamily.”
She laced her fingers into his large hand. “I’m sorry I let you down. I understand if you want to replace me with someone who actually knows what they’redoing.”
“You might need some help in the kitchen, but you’re smart enough and resourceful enough to do the job. I have confidenceinyou.”
“Really?”
He gathered her into his arms and gave her a tight hug. “I might have to stand by with a fire extinguisher when you’re cooking, but you deserve a chance tocontinue.”
She nestled into his arms. He felt like a giant teddy bear. The way he held her against him infused strength into her soul. He was right; she could survive the next few weeks. She’d figure out how to cook without burning the place down. How hard could it really be? And with Mack by her side, she couldaccomplishit.
“Did your mom leave any cookbooks lying around?” sheasked.
He laughed. “Actually, I was looking around for the Curvy Bear Ranch’s official cookbook. I could have sworn Sarah had left it on one of the bookshelves, but she may have stored it somewhere else. It’s filled with all of my mom’s oldrecipes.”
“I bet she was anamazingcook.”
“With six sons, she learned how to make hearty food as well as someamazingpies.”
“I love pie,”shesaid.
“She has a really old family recipe for huckleberry pie that will blow your socks off. I haven’t had it since she passed away. Sarah tried to make it once, but it just wasn’t the same. My mom had a magical touch. Her pie crust was always golden brown, and the flaky layers would melt in your mouth. I used to joke with mom that if I ever found a woman who could cook a pie like her, I’dmarryher.”
Her smile dropped. “I hope you find someone to love. You seem like a loyal man, not one who will chase women’s skirts likeadog.”
“I picked you up in a bar and had sex with you in the parking lot. I don’t know how honorable thatmakesme.”
She laughed. “That’sdifferent.”
“Oh?”
“We were just having fun, blowing off steam. It didn’t meananything.”
“And inthebarn?”
She swallowed and looked away. “I’m sorryaboutthat.”
He gently clasped her chin and turned her face back to his. “I’mnot.”
With only a whisper of space between them, an arc of energy sizzled across her lips. She couldn’t turn away, not when his dazzling hazel eyes stared at her sointently.
He closed the distance and kissed her with a gentleness that made the world fall away. The only thing that mattered was the brush of his lips across hers. Tendrils of desire unfurled in her belly. She leaned into the kiss and let him pull her intohislap.
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, a blast of snow-drenched air whipped her hair to one side. He brushed the errant strands away and caressed her cheek with the back of hisknuckles.
When he finally pulled away he murmured, “I can’t stopkissingyou.”
“Mack.”
He lay his cheek against hers. “I can’t believe someone letyougo.”
