Edible Espionage (8 page)

Maybe in the form of pillow talk…
A sly smile formed.

****

As Gavin tenderly touched Sarah with his fingertips, he watched her close her eyes and he let his hand linger on her hair. He slid down his palm to the nape of her neck, letting it rest.
Kiss her.
He wanted to sweep her up in his arms and have his way with her right on the rug…but he would be taking advantage, and he wasn’t that guy. Well, not totally. She’d been hurt, the fault laying solely on him and he couldn’t take advantage of her vulnerability now.
Way to draw a twisted moral line, Arnold. Now I decide to grow a slight conscience.

“Why are you so obsessed with the back of my head?” She opened her eyes and tilted her chin his way.

Gavin kept his hand on her neck. “I want to make sure the bump isn’t getting bigger. It might be.” Ah hell.

“Doubtful. I’ve fallen before, ya know.” She chuckled. “I think I’ll live.”

“I’m just being thorough.” He released her neck and moved his arm back by his body. “Dammit, I’m so sorry. Maybe we should go have you checked out. You could have bleeding of the brain or something.”

Did I just say bleeding of the brain?
He focused on his breathing. Terror slipped through his body at the sudden realization she might not be okay.
She’s fine. She’ll be okay.

“Really…bleeding of the brain?” She repeated his words with raised eyebrows “The only thing I would worry about is memory loss.” She pulled up her knees, resting her chin there. “Then I won’t win the Trio Trifecta.” She tapped her head with her finger. “All my special recipes are up here.”

“Memory loss…I didn’t even consider memory loss.” He raised his eyebrows.

“Calm down. I’m just kidding. It’s a bump on the head. It’ll heal with no problems associated.” She stretched her arms in the air and yawned. “I would, however, like to go to bed. Thank you for dinner.”

“I’m not sure you should sleep. Maybe we should take you to Haven Medical. I only have basic medical training.”

“No. A hospital isn’t happening.”

“At least, let me keep an eye on you tonight. I’d feel better.”

“What? Like when I’m sleeping?” Her head shook.

“You’re making me sound creepy.” He slid a sideways glance only to spot a big smile on her face. “I’ll sleep on the couch and wake you up a couple of times throughout the night.”

“So, basically I’m not getting any sleep tonight. Great.” She blew out a long sigh, leaning back her head on the couch, and then lurched forward to hoist herself up. “Ouch!”

“What? You okay?” Gavin’s heartbeat quickened.

“No. I just leaned back and my head hurts like a sonuvagun.”

“It’s settled. I’ll be the creepy guy on your couch tonight.” Calmness replaced anxiety. This is exactly where he wanted to be. He glanced down her hallway. Well, about fifteen feet away.

“Fine. But I need to warn you I’m not a morning person nor am I a person who likes to be woken when sleeping peacefully. I’m not responsible for anything I say or do in the next eight hours.”

She waggled a finger at him.

“Fair enough.”

****

Sarah handed Gavin blankets for the couch.
This is so weird. He really doesn’t need to be here. Is this part of his plan, too? Will he rummage through my house?
Sarah yawned again. Exhaustion took over her body.
Spying is tiring.
At this point, he could poke around all he wanted. She didn’t keep things written down anyway. Her bed was calling her name.

“Thank you.” He grabbed one end of the fabric to help her make shift a bed on her gray microfiber couch.

“Are you sure about this? You don’t have to stay. I won’t think you’re a bad person or anything.”
Do I want him to stay or go? Hmm.
She held her breath.
Stay. I want him close.

“No, I’ll be fine. I wouldn’t sleep at all if I left.”

She slowly let out her breath.
Good.
“Suit yourself. My room is down the hall.” She pointed behind her with her thumb. “Okay. Well, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

She headed to her bedroom, slipped on a red tank top and boy shorts, tossed back some pain relievers, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and climbed in bed.
Just go to sleep. Don’t concern yourself with him.
Picturing him naked on her couch didn’t help matters.
I’m never getting to sleep. Just go out there. It’s stupid he’s on the couch. He could sleep in here. I have a king-sized bed after all.

She let the images of their deep and longing kisses flow through her mind—how his strong arms had lifted her up on the dance floor and wrapped around her. She shifted to her side.
When did I become a pansy? I could go out there and say something about the couch being uncomfortable.
She pictured walking to the living room, her presence being enough to beckon him to follow her and make love to her…all night long.

Sarah woke with a start and sat up in bed, flailing her arms. “Ah!”

“Sarah, it’s okay. It’s just me….Gavin.”

His warm hand rested on her bare shoulder as she looked over at his shadow beside her bed. “Why? What?” Her head throbbed from the sudden movement. She reached up to soothe the pounding. “I can’t believe you were
serious
about waking me up.” Crankiness paved a way for sleepy anger. “Who does that?”

“I’m just checking on you. Sorry.”

“Holy hell,” she let out dryly. “You sure know how to get a girl’s pulse going.”

“Sorry.”

She caught her breath as he sat on the bed, shirtless and, from what she could make out, in his briefs. The shadows of night made his face dark and mysterious. She breathed deeper to stop her pulse from kicking up again. Hints of his sweet masculine cologne flowed over her and her body betrayed her mind.

“How do you feel?”

His sincerity cut through the darkness. A chuckle escaped her lips. “Are you kidding me? I feel a lot of adrenaline and sleepy. I’m so tired. I can’t believe you actually woke me up.”

“I told you I would.”

She couldn’t make out his raised brows, but knew from past experience how they looked. “Yes, you did.” The smooth comforter felt cool under her finger tips. “And I told
you
I wasn’t responsible for my reaction.” She leaned in close, putting her hand on his face, and kissed him. The sound of his breath catching sent tingles down her spine. “Gavin,” she said in a breath.

He was quiet, his hands gentle on her upper arms in the still night. He deepened their kiss, melding their tongues and caressing her fantasies. Without warning, he moved back until they were nose to nose. “We shouldn’t,” he said hoarsely.

“Yes, we should.” She continued kissing him.

“No.” With both of his hands, he pushed her away. “I can’t.” He dipped his head, avoiding her gaze.

What?
She could only form the question on her face.

“I’m here to make sure you’re okay…not to take advantage of you.”

She moved her hands bit by bit up his chest. His hands still gripped her arms, but he wasn’t stopping her so she continued to slide her hands until she rested them on both his cheeks. “I want you,” she whispered in his ear, letting her lips find their way to his mouth.
I win.
Bolts of electricity surged through her body at the thought of victory.

He kissed her as he glided his hands to touch her soft tank top.

Sarah started to lean back, pulling him on her when he stopped, moved back, and let her collapse on the pillow.

“I can’t.”

His soft voice didn’t lessen the impact of his words.
What the hell? I’m lying here, in my little pajamas, telling this guy I want him and he won’t? This couldn’t get more humiliating.
She definitely would blame sleep deprivation and her head injury for her actions in the morning.

“Sorry, Sarah.” He disappeared out of her bedroom.

You have got to be kidding me. Will I see him in the morning in my kitchen?
Terrific.
At the very least, she was stuck working with him one mortifying day after another—and then there was the competition.

Sarah lay back against her pillow and folded her arms over her face.
When will I get my act together and stop playing these games? Stick to the plan. Priority one—get Gavin out of my life.

The rest of the night was a restless blur of sleep, dreams, and reality.

Chapter Five: Zagic

Sarah kept her head down when the back door to the bakery opened. She’d been fuming all morning about her stupidity last night and the crazy mixed-up situation she found herself in.
I wish he wasn’t working today. I wish I hadn’t hired his stupid pretty face, and I wish I hadn’t come on to him last night.
For a moment, she stopped kneading the cherry chocolate cookie dough.
And I wish he wasn’t trying to steal my secrets.

She chuckled to herself partly in amusement and partly in disgust. W
hat a ridiculous life I lead.
Circumstances had left her with two choices, either laugh or cry, and she hated crying.

“Good morning. You seem to be feeling better. How’s the bump?” He smiled as he put on the pink apron over his brown long-sleeved T-shirt.

“Yes, much better.”
Now that I have my head on straight.
“Thank you. I hope the couch provided a decent night’s sleep.”
Act like nothing happened. For all he knows, I was in a dream state and don’t remember a thing.

“Yes. Thank you. I left early so I could wash up.” He stared at the mixing bowl. “I wanted to leave a note but couldn’t find a pen.”

“No worries.” With her chin, Sarah pushed up her sleeves. Chilled due to the drizzling rain, she’d opted for a black sweater to match perfectly with her eggplant skinny jeans and tall black boots.
Time to kick plan “Screw You” into high gear.

Gavin reached for her sleeves. “Here, let me help.” He rolled them above her elbow.

His touch was soft and tender. Hot chills spread, emanating from his finger tips on her skin.
Stop wanting him. It’s over.
She needed to shut off her stupid emotions and get real.

This is business.
She cleared her throat. “My hands are all messy. Would you mind grabbing the red jar?” She nodded in the direction of the jar she’d filled with ingredients when she first arrived that morning.

“This one?” He held up the red jar.

“Yep.” She watched him return to the counter and then said, “Can you measure out four teaspoons, please?”

Gavin grabbed the measuring spoon ring off the counter. “What’s this?”

She watched him as he added in the exact amount she’d instructed. “My secret weapon.”
No reaction. Well played, Arnold.

“I see. This is the sugar crack, huh?” His gaze found hers and he smiled.

“Ha, ha. No, it’s my Zagic…my secret weapon.” Throughout the generations in the Zion family, they’d discovered a mixture of ingredients to make the perfect batch of cookies every time. The magic of the ingredients eventually became known as Zagic. She intended for Gavin to get his hands on the wrong secret combination.

“What’s in this
Zagic
?”

“Oh…ya know…stuff.”
You’ll never figure it out.

“A short cut.” He winked. “Not much of a secret, Sarah.”

“I guess you could call it a shortcut.” Sarah started kneading the dough again. The sweet smell of cherries surrounded them. “My grandmother showed me there are secrets to baking that most people leave out when they make cookies. People assume I add a weird ingredient to my batches, but it’s really this special mixture.”

“What is Zagic?”

Sarah laughed and resisted the urge to narrow her gaze. “Do you honestly believe I would give away my Zagic that easily? What do you take me for? A moron?”
Because you shouldn’t.
“Fiona doesn’t even fully know what I put in the mix, and she is my best friend.”

“When you need to talk to someone about your family’s dark history of conjuring up secret ingredient spells, you let me know. I’m here for you.” He chuckled then shifted on his feet and looked at the ground. “About last night…”

Her smile faded as she thought of a response.

“I’m sorry for the whole thing, knocking you down, being overprotective…just… everything.” He rested his right hand on his hip.

For spying on me, too? I’ll make sure you’re
really
sorry.
“Apology accepted.”
Ish.
“Let’s move on.” She smiled curtly and moved over to the sink to wash her hands so she could start scooping out balls of dough.

Later that afternoon, Sarah sat in the plush office chair, put her feet up on the wood desk, and dialed Fi. “Hey. How’s your day?”

“Good. Ella’s finally on a schedule, and Jake and Ronald are all lined up to watch her while I staff the bakery. Jane even said she’d come in if I got slammed.”