His grin makes my heart flutter. “Just making sure I’m good and clean before we start on this filling.”
Filling.
I should have let him fill me.
I shake the thought from my head and once he’s done washing up, it’s my turn. He helps me down from the countertop, but his hands don’t leave my waist as I scrub my own beneath the hot water. I sing “Happy Birthday” in my head twice while I clean up, even going so far as to splash some on my face.
I point to the side. “Can you hand me that?—”
“Here,” Knox says, placing a paper towel in my hand.
“Thanks.”
I blot at my face before wiping off my hands and turn to the kitchen island, where the produce sits. I’m still trying to catch my breath, though. That’s not good. The only time my body is this worn down is when I’m close to my heat.
God, a knot would be nice.
I shove the thought away and toss the paper towel into the trash can. “All right. Ready for the next phase of the cinnamon rolls?”
Knox’s grin is bright. “Ready when you are, Sunshine.”
It takes us no time at all to assemble the compote that goes inside of the cinnamon rolls. Time flies by, with Knox stirring the sugar on the stovetop and me tossing in the produce as I cube it up. The smell is divine, lighting up the kitchen as I bring the dough over and flour the surface of the countertop.
In no time at all we have not one, but two pans of cherry-rhubarb cinnamon rolls.
“I thought you only needed one,” Knox points out.
I tilt my head from side to side. “I was nervous about getting them wrong, so I made extras, just in case. What should we do with the second tray?”
“Maybe Walker will want to do something with them here?” I don’t even get a chance to respond before Knox snaps his fingers. “Oh! Wait, I know. We could take them to Tansy’s place. You ever pass by The Gilded Lady?”
“I’ve been in there a time or two for a cookie and some tea, yeah.”
“I bet she’d love these, especially since they’re seasonal. She’s got these displays in her window. I bet these would look great.”
I chew on my lower lip. “Maybe I’ll offer them to my client first. See if they want to buy both trays.”
“And if not,” Knox says as he wraps around to my front and places his hands on my shoulders, “we’ll try Tansy. Who knows? Maybe you’ll pick up another client with her.”
My nose wrinkles. “I don’t know. I don’t really wanna step on her toes.”
Knox chuckles. “For a businesswoman, you sure are concerned about not giving anyone any sort of competition.”
I shrug. “I just don’t believe business has to be dirty. I believe there’s business for all of us, and that we can all work together for the good of our communities.”
There’s this look in Knox’s eye that I can’t quite place. His face softens and so does his grin. His hands massage my shoulders, and I close my eyes to let myself enjoy his touch.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
“You’re a good person, Sunshine. I hope you know that.”
He pulls me in for a hug, but all I do is lean against him. My arms tuck in between us as his burly arms cloak me awayfrom the rest of the world. I inhale his scent, my nostrils flaring greedily to appease my own instincts.
They’re kicking up more and more as the days go by.
“Your pies were wonderful,” Knox murmurs as he rubs his hand up and down my back. “I can attest to that personally. And if your pies were wonderful, so are these. Tansy will love them. So don’t worry, okay?”
“Okay,” I mumble against his chest.
