I yanked open the trash compactor, snarling even before I did. No muffins.
There was also a trashcan by the end of a bank of cabinets. Something had sparked in me, an annoyance that wouldn’t be satisfied until I learned the truth.
I smashed my foot on the pedal, the metal door flinging open and hitting the edge of the cabinet. Still no muffins.
A wave of electricity hit me like a ton of bricks. Stiffening, I shifted my foot and slowly turned around, knowing who’d be standing there. I loathed being flustered around anyone, especially him.
His grin was practically evil and his arms were folded across his chest, the buttons on his shirt undone to the point I was given an incredible view of additional ink curling between the two edges of the material. His sleeves had been rolled past his elbows, providing a much better view of his colorful art. “Are you searching for dead bodies?” He followed my line of sight, his fisted hand flexing his muscles.
“Are there any?”
Even his casual shrug tested me. “The weekend isn’t over yet.” As he walked closer, I found myself backing further into the kitchen. Was I afraid of him or of the intense cravings he’d unleased? “If you’re wondering about your muffins, they were delicious.”
“I thought they were merely ‘edible.’”
With two shakes of his head, he inched closer. “They were incredible. I finished them.”
“All of them?” The little lilt in my voice was a dead giveaway. Ugh.
“In one sitting. Or I should say standing over the kitchen sink to contain the crumbs.”
“I’ll have you know those muffins were moister than any I’ve made in a very long time.” Which was a true statement since I usually overcooked them.
Now he was standing only inches away. Every action the man took was calculated, including reaching for both drinks. “Do you always argue with everyone?”
“No, almost never. I enjoy being around people.”
“Then why do you do so with me?” The low, sensual, and husky tone of his voice was far too captivating.
“It happens naturally because you’re an irritating man.” The brief touch of our fingers seared my skin. When I pulled my hand away with enough force beads of liquid slipped past the rim, he was even more amused.
The awkwardness between us wasn’t unexpected. Instead it was an additional allure, a perfect aphrodisiac. As if tasting the forbidden was everything I’d ever wanted. If I didn’t want to lie to myself, I’d admit that was exactly what I’d been thinking since seeing him without his shirt.
“What were you doing, checking for intruders?” I asked, the question meant as a casual break of the ice, but I could tell almost instantly, I’d hit the nail on the head.
“You can never be too careful, Fleur.”
“This is Stowe, a city where everybody knows everybody. Well, almost. I guess I don’t know all five thousand people, but a significant number of them, half shopping at my store. Maybe not half. A third. Okay, if I’m being entirely honest, maybe ten percent.” And I was being generous. Why was I word vomiting? Because the way his hot breath was cascading across my skin left me in shambles? Or maybe the musky scent I’d yet to get enough of.
Even the slow and steady fall of his hooded eyes created a pool of wetness between my legs. If my nipples were any harder, they’d break off in the cold. Speaking of which. Why was it so cold in the house? Certainly not because of him. He was a hot body in the worst of ways.
I bit my lower lip, avoiding a dangerously effective moan.
“Do I make you nervous?”
“Lackluster sales make me nervous.”
Why was it every time he smiled, I was pulled into his universe, envisioning all the ruthless actions he’d taken in his life? “There’s no need for you to be frightened of me.”
“I never said I was frightened of you. I wouldn’t be here if I was. I’m going to assume the people who should be terrified of you are the ones who had anything to do with your injury.”
He lifted his glass. “You’d be right.”
“Who are you, Montgomery? I mean other than some rich guy able to take time in a town you obviously don’t enjoy visiting to heal?”
“Just a guy finding a place to rest.”
“You mean hide.”
