She pressed her face into his chest. She didn’t want to think about her past anymore. The way Mack held her gave her hope that one day she’d find someone else to love. She wasn’t destined to spend the rest of her life alone. But as much as she liked Mack, she didn’t want to rush into anything. A rebound relationship with her boss would only complicateherlife.
As another blast of frigid air whistled across the porch, she stood. “Let’s go find your mom’s cookbook. I’d love to make a pie tomorrownight.”
* * *
The next morning,Mack jogged through a fresh dusting of snow on the way to the bed and breakfast. He held a bouquet of peach roses in one hand and a tin of huckleberry hot chocolate in the other, courtesy of his early morning run to themarket.
As he opened the door, a rush of burnt coffee assaulted his senses. He gagged for a second before kicking the door closed behind him. The scent grew stronger as he entered thekitchen.
Madison turned away from the stove with a spatula in one hand and a dishtowel in the other. “Hey, oh wow, those flowers arebeautiful.”
He flushed. “I was thinking they would look nice on the dining roomtable.”
“I can’t believe you found fresh flowers in the middle ofwinter.”
“Sometimes the grocery store has them.” He eyed a coffee filter filled with burnt grounds. How on earth had she managed to burncoffee?
She followed his gaze. “I know what you’rethinking.”
“That a cup of coffee sounds amazing right now?” hesmiled.
“I’m sure that’s exactly what you’re thinking.” She grabbed a mug and started pouring. “I’ll have you know that I only had to use the fireextinguisheronce.”
“Only once? I’m impressed.” He took the mug of steaming coffee and gave it a tentative sniff. It smelled more like diesel than that rocket fuel she’d served the previous morning. At least she was heading in the rightdirection.
“I got up a little early and went looking for the cookbook. I couldn’t find it anywhere,”shesaid.
“Maybe she put it in storage in the attic. She had the recipesmemorized.”
“We could check there afterbreakfast.”
Her smile lit up the room and sent a rush of heat through his body. How was it that he couldn’t talk to her for more than five minutes without wanting to bend her over the counter? His bear paced in agitation, waiting for him to cave to his animalisticimpulses.
He slid off the stool and circled the counter. As he stepped up behind her, she turned and gasped. “I didn’t hear youcoming.”
“I can bestealthy.”
She bit the edge of her lip in that alluring way that sent his bear into a fit of need. “I thought we decided this wasn’t agoodidea.”
His gaze dropped from her lips to the curve of her throat. His bear longed to nuzzle her soft flesh and inhale her intoxicating scent. “It’snot.”
She dropped the hand towel on the counter and placed her hands on his chest. Even through his jacket and flannel shirt, he could feel the heat radiating off her palms. “Your brothers will be here in a fewminutes.”
“Iknow.”
He slid his hands across her hips before pulling her tight against him. The rigid length of him pressed against her belly. She stood at least eight inches shorter than his six feet, but she was the perfect sizeforhim.
“You’re supposed to be helping me make the biscuits,” shemurmured.
“I’d rather be kneading you,” hegrowled.
He couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her, but just as he was about to make contact, a puff of flour burst across his face. “Whatthe—”
Through a cloud of white, he caught the shit-eating grin onherface.
“Did you just throw flour at me?” He brushed athisface.
She giggled. “I had to figure out a way tostopyou.”
