Second Chance at the Sugar Shack (22 page)

“I’m looking at the best thing I’ve seen in years.” He swung his leg over the seat and walked toward her. He pulled the gloves from his hands and brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheeks before cupping her face and lowering his head.

His lips were cool. His tongue warm. And as he kissed her slow and sweet, Kate’s heart swelled. Foreheads together, they looked into each other’s eyes. She slid her hands up the smooth fabric of his down jacket. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

He grinned. “Best place in Montana for breakfast.”

“I don’t see a restaurant.”

“I’ve got something better.” He kissed her fingers before he released her to grab a pack from the snowmobile.

She watched him walk away, admiring his long legs and confident carriage. “Yes, you do, Deputy Ryan.”

He turned and caught her smiling. “Are you checking me out?”

She lifted an eyebrow and nodded. Laughing, he turned his back. Temptation proved too much. She scooped up a handful of snow, patted it into a ball, and let it fly. It landed with a splat on the back of his coat. “Oops.”

When he faced her, humor lit up those already bright eyes. “So that’s the way you want to play, huh?” In a blink he was after her. She squeaked, laughed, and dodged him as he made a grab. But the pants she’d borrowed were way too big and way too long and her efforts were wasted. She went down. Hooking her hands in his coat, she pulled him with her. With a
whoof
they landed in the snow. Him on top. Her loving every second.

Their laughter stopped when they looked into each other’s eyes. Hearts pounding their lips met. When they came up for air he asked, “Hungry?”

“Starving.” Though she wasn’t at all sure she was talking about food.

He got to his feet, pulled her up, and dusted the snow off her backside. Then he went to the snowmobile, unzipped some kind of backpack and withdrew an insulated bag, thermos, and two travel mugs. “While you were taking a shower, I made some coffee and breakfast burritos.”

“Wow. Handsome and can cook too. Got any sweetener in there?”

He held up a ziplock bag containing small packets. “This is the only time you’ll see me carrying pink.”

She laughed. “You are a saint.”

“Nah, I just didn’t want to hear you whining. Come on over here.” His long legs carried him over to a grouping of rocks where he proceeded to brush off the snow and lay a folded blanket for her to sit.

“What about you?” She asked, perching herself on the warm wool cushion. “Won’t your butt freeze?”

“Will you warm me up if I do?”

“Yes.”

“Then I hate to admit that with these snow pants I won’t feel the cold at all.” He sat on a rock behind her, took the aluminum-wrapped burritos from the bag and handed one to her.

Kate pulled her gloves from her hands and peeled away the foil. Steam rose from the egg, cheese, and sausage concoction and she took a bite. “Either I really am starving or this is excellent.”

“Well, we did work up an appetite before we got out of bed.”

“Mmmmm. Great way to start a morning.”

“The best,” he said. “I’m glad you agreed to come here with me.”

“I am too. I’d forgotten there’s more to see around here than just beautiful downtown Deer Lick.”

“Then I’m sure you’ve forgotten the hot springs and how much you liked going there after dark.”

“I remember loving the hot springs and how much
you
liked going there after dark because I wouldn’t wear a bathing suit.”

He sipped at his coffee and chuckled. “You can hardly blame me.”

“Yeah, well you weren’t the only one who got a free peek. And may I say you certainly lived up to the advertisement.”

He laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Please do.” She finished the last bite of egg burrito and wadded up the foil.

“Kate?”

“Hmm?”

“I missed you when you left.”

“I know.” And with all honesty she said, “I missed you too.”

As they gazed out across the wonder of the Montana wilderness, she leaned back against him. He slid his arms around her, locked their fingers together, and rested his chin on top of her head.

Kate had been to Hollywood, New York, Paris, and Rome, but nowhere was more wonderful than sitting on a mountaintop wrapped in Matt Ryan’s arms.

C
HAPTER
F
IFTEEN

A
lmost a week had passed since Kate had flung herself on the mercy of Matt’s doorstep, hauling sugar-laden desserts and fine champagne as backup bribery. And every night since, after she’d worked to finish up the bakery makeover, she’d locked the doors and put her mother’s cruise ship on auto pilot to his house.

Today as she finished up restocking the display cases and the lunch supplies he walked through the door and toward her take-out counter. While his long muscular legs carried him closer, she imagined him sans clothes and aviators. Mmmm, maybe he could leave the sunglasses on. They did add a little mystery to his already sexy appeal.

“Good afternoon, Deputy Ryan. What can I do for you today?”

He leaned his big hand on the counter, pretending to peruse the new menu above her head. But not even the aviators perched on his slightly imperfect nose could hide where those pale blue eyes were really fixated.

A slow, seductive smile curled his lips. “How about a tuna sub. A repeat of this morning. No tomato. A repeat of last night. An iced tea. And something new for when you come home tonight.”

Home. Hmmm. She liked the sound of that. “And would you like mayo? Black panties or white?”

His smile broke into a grin. “I’m in a dark mood today.”

“Then black it is.” She flashed him a wink, spun on the toe of her Chucks, and since they were alone, went about making his tuna sub in the most erotic fashion possible. He removed the sunglasses and hooked them in the pocket of his shirt. The intense way he watched her made her feel beautiful and desired and way, way hungry for him.

She wrapped his sandwich, added chips, and tossed in a few brownies. Then she slid the order across the counter. “Deputy?” She slid her hand over the top of his when he reached for the bag. “I wonder if you wouldn’t mind helping me in the stock room.” She batted her eyelashes to sufficiently put Scarlet O’Hara to shame. “I need some sugar and it’s just too much for little old me to reach alone.” Ah, God, she loved the fun and games that came with a comfortable relationship.

His blue eyes brightened. “Why certainly, ma’am.” He tipped two fingers to the brim of his Stetson. “I’d be happy to help.”

He followed her to the stock room and with every step, excitement fluttered from Kate’s heart to the tips of her breasts and way, way lower. She could not get enough of this man.

The moment they were both inside the storage room he kicked the door shut and pressed her against the wall. He leaned in, his clean-shaven face brushed against her cheek. His clean, sexy male scent wrapped around her like the best of birthday presents.

“Where do I find the sugar, Kate?” he whispered against her mouth. “Is it here?” He kissed her forehead. “Or here?” His lips brushed the tip of her nose. “Or maybe . . . it’s right here.

Bull’s-eye.

His mouth covered hers and he kissed her in a deliberate, tender, and incredibly intense way that made her knees go weak and her heart pound. His lips were warm and soft as his tongue coaxed, caressed, and promised a heaven Kate knew he could deliver.

She moaned, threw her arms around his neck and his soft feeding kisses turned to unrestrained hunger. His hand shot up beneath her white apron and cupped her breast through her sweater. His palm molded against her and the hot caress sent zaps of electricity down into her jeans. When she thought she could take no more until she got her hands on his warm skin, he slid his big hands down to her bottom and lifted. She gave up all hope of decorum and wrapped her legs around him.

He leaned his big body into hers and she pressed herself against the swollen crest of his erection. His satisfaction groaned deep in his chest. With both of his hands on her butt, holding her tight against his very proper uniform khakis, he murmured, “Too bad you’re wearing jeans. Or I could slide your panties down your legs and have my way with you right now.”

“I can take them off fast.” She panted like she’d run a mile at the high school track. “I swear.” He responded by sliding his hot mouth down the sensitive curve of her neck and gently sucking. Desperate to feel him deep inside her, she reached for her zipper.

The radio transmitter attached to his shoulder squawked and crackled. Then dispatch called out a series of numbers and Matt pulled back.

Wham! Reality intruded and left them both gasping for air.

“That’s for me,” he said.

When her senses floated back to earth, Kate giggled. “Busted.”

Matt leaned his forehead against hers, pressed his erection into her one last time and groaned a sad sound. “Not the first time that’s happened.”

“Sad but true.” Reluctantly she unwound her legs and he lowered her feet to the floor. She dropped her head back against the wall and breathed deep to steady her heart.

He leaned in and kissed her again. “If you promise to be a good girl, we can finish what we started after we get off work.”

She wound her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss she hoped would make him think of good things to come. “It’s a date.”

After a few moments of readjusting, rearranging, and getting it together, Matt followed her to the front of the shop. Before he walked around the counter, she grabbed his lunch bag and tossed it to him. “You might want to use that to cover up so you don’t give any little old ladies strolling down the street a heart attack.”

He didn’t bother looking down. He just gave her a private smile, grabbed his iced tea, and headed toward the door.

“Thanks for your help, Deputy Ryan.”

He turned and lifted a dark brow. “Gotta go, beautiful.”

Through the front window she watched him open the door to his patrol car and slip inside. A nice little hum vibrated through her body when she thought of the naughty promises he’d just made for after they both got off work. When she went home to him. She sighed.

She was falling in love with him.

She could feel it in every breath she took. Like she was falling from a cloud, spinning and twirling through the air with nothing to catch her but those big strong arms that had held her last night while she slept.

With only a day left to wrap up the finishing touches on her bakery remodel she scooted off to the storage room. From the pocket of her apron her cell phone chimed. She glanced at the caller ID, then hit
answer
. “Hey Josh.”

“OMG!” Josh’s panic wailed through the phone. “You have to be in London next week!”

“What? Why?”

“Our favorite wreck of a songbird just landed a role in the new Peter Jackson film. They’re doing a promo shoot and Peggy, agent tormentor of the century, insists you be there.”

“What happened to Inara flying away to temporary lockdown?”

“It’s off. Apparently a ten million dollar price tag tops lack of decorum. Besides, who says no to an Oscar-winning director?”

“Not anyone with common sense.”

“Correct. Look, I can book you on a flight out of Deer Spit tomorrow morning to L.A. You can catch a connecting flight from there.”

“I can’t just go running off, Josh. My dad needs me.”
And I’m in the middle of remodeling the bakery and I have the bakery grand reopening plus the grand opening of Cindi’s Attic and . . . a beautiful man to go home to.

An exaggerated sigh whooshed through the phone. “Sweetie, exactly how long is your dad going to need you?”

“You can’t put a time frame on something like that and you know it.”

“Fine.” His snippy bitch side surfaced with a vengeance. “I didn’t want to have to tell you this but you leave me no choice.”

“Cut the drama and just say it.”

“You
have
to come back. Peggy wasn’t happy when I told her you wouldn’t come back to play Miss Manners to her number one catastrophe of a client. But she said she’d let it slide. Once. When I spoke to her not ten minutes ago, she told me you already used your get-out-of-jail-free card. She reminded me in a way only Peggy can, that you signed a contract to be Inara’s stylist. And this time, she’s going to hold you to it.”

All the happiness that had been in Kate’s heart before the phone rang shriveled like a grape in the sun. Emotion tangled in her stomach and tightened in her throat. “Or?”

“She’ll sue.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly.”

“Josh, you’ve been my assistant for three years. You’ve been with me from the beginning. You deserve to take the lead. I completely trust you to make all the right decisions.”

“I appreciate your confidence, Kate, but I already tried that angle. And even though you and I both know I am unbelievably fabulous Peggy wouldn’t buy it. Her exact words were ‘Kate signed the contract. Kate is the business. Kate better have her skinny ass in London next week or I will sue her for every pathetic rhinestone she’s ever earned.’ ”

“Wow.” Kate flinched at the tone and delivery of Peggy’s message. “You remembered all that? Word for word?”

“I am nothing if not efficient.”

While Josh related the rest of the not-so-nice things Peggy had proclaimed or threatened, Kate paced the length of the back room. When the admonitions ended, she stopped and dropped her forehead to the office door with a thunk. “I’m up shit creek, aren’t I?”

“Without the proverbial paddle.”

T
here were times in his life Matt could clearly identify as
a moment
. Lying in bed with Kate wrapped in his arms after making love ranked top on his list. With her head resting on his shoulder, he caressed the soft silky strands of her hair. She smelled like sugar cookies and sex and promises. And as soon as he regained his strength, he planned to love her some more.

For ten years he’d learned to live without her. He didn’t think he could manage that again. When she left his bed in the mornings, he missed her. When he left the Shack after he picked up his lunch, he missed her. Hell, when she went downstairs for a glass of water, he missed her. They’d found a peace, a rhythm to being with each other. And hopefully, with enough time, they could make it permanent.

She shifted in his arms and looked up at him. “Matt?”

The way she spoke his name gave his heart an uncomfortable squeeze. “Yeah?”

“Something came up today after you left the Shack.” She propped herself up on an elbow.

“What’s that?” He repositioned the pillow beneath his head to see her better.

“I got a call from Josh.”

“The non-boyfriend gay assistant Josh?”

She nodded but didn’t laugh.

“I . . . have to leave next week,” she said.

Everything inside him turned ice cold. “Leave?”

“I have to go to London.”

And the fantasy ends . . . three, two, one . . . now. “Why?”

“One of my top clients just signed a ten million dollar deal and I have to be at a promo shoot.”

“Your assistant can’t go?”

“It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated? I thought he’s been taking care of things for you.”

“He can’t this time.”

“He can’t or won’t?”

She shook her head. “He’d love to, believe me.”

“Then why doesn’t he?”

“My client won’t allow it.”

There were so many things wrong with that statement he didn’t even know where to begin. He sat up. “What do you mean they won’t
allow
it?”

“I have a contract and she’s threatening to sue if I’m not there.”

“So basically this person can control your life?”

The lips he’d been kissing just a few minutes ago tightened as she too sat up. “I hadn’t thought of it like that but I guess that’s one way to look at it.”

“How many other people have you signed control over your life to?”

She shrugged one bare shoulder. “A few.”

“A few meaning?”

“Maybe three or four.”

“So three or four people can basically tell you what to do, where to be, and how you can live your life because they need you to
dress
them? They can tell you to walk away from your dad when he needs you?”
Or me when I need you?

“I . . . um . . .”

“Are these the so-called clients who pay you to be their friend?”

“Matt, you don’t understand.” Her brows slammed together. “This isn’t just all about me. I’m a business owner. I have an employee and clients to consider.”

He inhaled a calming breath and nodded. “How long will you be gone?”

“I’m not sure. After I leave London I’ll probably go back to L.A. and finish up some projects.”

“So you’re leaving next week and you don’t know when or if you’ll be back?”

“I’ll . . . be back—”

“You don’t sound very confident about that
.” How had this conversation just turned into a nuclear meltdown?
“Exactly how long are these
clients
going to rule your life, Kate?”

“I don’t have exact dates.”

“But until your contracts are up you’re at their beck and call.”

“You make it sound so horrible.”

Maybe it wasn’t for her, but for him? Yeah. It sucked. They both sat there, silent for several breaths while he tried to still his aching heart.

“Come with me,” she finally said.

“What?”

“Don’t yell. It was just an idea.”

“I’m not yelling and it’s a shitty idea.”

“Why?”

He got out of bed, grabbed his jeans from the floor and shoved his legs through. “Why?”

She drew the sheet up to cover herself. “I already said that.”

He couldn’t stop his eyes from rolling or the dagger of pain that stabbed him in the brain. She didn’t get it. At all. Damn it. He should have known this would happen. “Because I’m running for sheriff,” he said, stating the obvious. “I have signs posted all over town. Perhaps you’ve seen them.”

Her chin lifted. “Of course I’ve seen them. It doesn’t have to be—”

“Kate?” He planted his hands on his hips. “I don’t want to just blend in like the people in L.A. I want to make a difference. I can’t go running off. My life is here. I’m a part of something that means a lot to me and in just a few days I plan to stand up in front of the entire community and convince them why they should elect me to protect them, their children, and their homes. How would it look if I just took off on a whim?”