Page 33 of Tempting Fire

“I’m broken.”

“Chloe Rose Avery, you’re you. You might be down, but you’re not out.” His hand stroked down her arm, his fingers tangling with hers. “Come here.”

She looked up at him in confusion. He tugged, and she followed him into the kitchen. She spotted a pink bakery box.

“Open it.”

Inside were six gorgeous cupcakes, each one lovelier than the last.

“Each one is different, but not one of them is less incredible than the other. They’re just different flavors.”

She stared up at him.

“Do you get me?”

“I think so,” she said hesitantly.

“Every one of your flavors is beautiful to me. Now do you understand?”

She nodded.

“Let’s go eat cold broccoli and congealed cheese, and then you can have a cupcake or three.” He grinned down at her. “How does that sound?”

“Dreadful. Can we just have cupcakes?”

“Deal.”

Each of the man’s smiles were more beautiful than the last.