“Says who?”
“Says me.”
His hands drift from my waist to my ass, and he pulls me against him. “Wildfire, I’m secure enough in my sexuality toobjectively say that that man is attractive, and he was standing way too close to you.”
“Noah’s attractive?” I blink innocently, and Brooks growls again. “I didn’t notice. Anyway, he seems nice. He was recommended to me by Cassie, yoursister’spersonal chef. And I really need the help, babe. I’mtired.I don’t want to work every single day anymore even though I love it here, and I’m proud of it. But I want to see more of you and spend time with you.”
“Okay, that I can live with.” He lowers his head and nibbles my lips. “If he ever gets handsy, you tell me, and I’ll remove them from his body.”
“Have you been reading some of my Mafia books?”
He smirks and kisses me once more. “I have to grab the sandwiches I ordered on my way back here and get to work. I’ll probably be at the garage a little late today.”
“Well, I’m going to head home soon, since my crew seems to have it handled here. I'd like to do a little cleaning and then read. Book club is tomorrow night, and I have a couple of hours left in the book.”
“Youshouldgo home and relax, baby.”
He nuzzles my nose, then pulls away. I wish he could go home with me, and we could cuddle up for the afternoon. I’d love it if he would read to me, the way he used to when we were young.
But my man has a busy garage to run.
Christy has his bag ready for him, and he kisses my cheek before he heads back to work.
“I’m out of here,” I tell Christy. “Call me if you need me.”
“We won’t. The craziness has died down a bit, and we have a handle on things. But don’t worry, I’ll call if anything weird happens.”
I nod, take off my apron, and toss it in the hamper. Then I grab my handbag and sling it across my body and set off for the house.
Brooks dropped me off this morning, so I get to walk home. I admit, although I try to take a walk at least once a day, I haven’t been as diligent about it since I married Brooks.
I don’t feel like I need an escape from anything.
It’s cold enough outside that I zip up my hoodie and take in a breath of crisp air. It’s been raining, and I hear we’re supposed to get a thunderstorm this afternoon, which actually sounds so nice.
I love storms.
I always have.
I know that some people are terrified of them, and I can respect that. But I want to get home in time to open all the windows, light my favorite candle—which also smells like rain—and get cozy with a book before it starts to storm.
That sounds like heaven right now.
The walk home is quick, and the first thing that I do is put a load of laundry into the machine in the mudroom. It’sso niceto live with a washer and dryer again. Then I quickly clean the primary bathroom and change the sheets on the bed before walking into the kitchen. I set my candle in the middle of the island and light it, then open all the windows in the living room and kitchen.
Yeah, it’s chilly outside, but I’ll throw a blanket around me. Problem solved.
I’ve just sat in my new favorite spot, the corner of the couch by the windows, with a paperback copy ofPlay Along, a hot mug of tea, and a cozy blanket, when the thunder booms off in the distance, making me sigh happily.
It’s a little late in the season for thunderstorms in Montana. Typically, it would just rain. Or snow. Thunderstorms mostly happen in the spring and summer, but I’m not complaining a bit.
I tip my head against the back of the couch and sigh happily. I feel like this is the first time I’ve taken a moment to relax since I reopened the restaurant almost two weeks ago. Just as I thought it would, the dust is starting to settle, and we’re not bombarded with customers the way we were that first day back.
However, wearestill busy. We’ve managed to keep a steady stream of hungry people flooding in each day, and that makes me happy.
I’m also thrilled that I have enough staff that I can take the occasional afternoon—or full day—off. Everyone needs that.
I can hear the rain start outside, and I glance over to the window to watch the droplets fall out of the sky. Thunder rolls in the distance, and the rain picks up, falling insheets.
