Page 23 (1/2)

The diner was busy enough for the next hour she didn’t have tiing Cleular with a sweet tooth and a toothless smile, his tenth cup of coffee

"Order up, Macie," TJ yelled fro of parsley on top of the plate and delivered it to her custoht She was ready to go ho?" Vel on a bowl of iceberg lettuce

"I don’t know I’m just cranky" And horny Which made her even more cranky She was never horny Or she’d never been until Carter McKay sent her hor problems now? Simply because it’d been a week since she’d seen or heard froh, she hadn’t heard that from him directly, but from Gemma Luckily her father hadn’t chi him in her bed Evidently there hadn’t been any projects around the Bar 9 that required Carter’s help either Which meant her dad had plenty of tione horseback riding twice, and she’d spent her freehim ith Ge out her frustrations on custoreen peppers for the Western-style potato salad for to onions always

Unless she needed another reason to hide out in the kitchen And cry

She’d restocked the dry goods and was rolling silverhen the wind chiroaned "Velot to--" drink all the cooking sherry in the pantry, "--check the apples for worot it handled M him"

"What?"

"Nothin’" Macie heard the spritz spritz of Velar Why don’t you rest thear? Macie turned and saw Carter standing in theeveryone, just staring at her

Still feeling cranky, she de here?"

Without a word, without taking his eyes off hers, Carter stalked behind the counter

When he stood in front of her, he curled his hands around her head and slanted his mouth over hers He kissed her like she was air, like she was food, like she was everything

Damn him

The diner was dead quiet except for the sound of heavy breathing Hers mostly

Carter pulled back scarcely a here Oh And this is why I’ain Like she was naked

"Can I get some more coffee back here?"

"Hush up, Clem," Velma snapped "This is better than the dinner theater down in Lingle"

But Cleht Macie back to reality She retreated froain "I want to talk to you I need to talk to you"

"Sit down You’re not supposed to be back here"

"It’s okay withHe already thinks rules don’t apply to hirinned

Macie pointed at the counter "Sit"

"Ifierce, Macie Don’t be ize"

"Stay out of it, Veled Carter’s wandering hands When she returned fro Cle the ood?"

Velma answered, "Well, the New York strip is on special But you oughta try the chicken breast in lemon vodka sauce It’ll knock your boots off It’s Macie’s recipe"

Carter shot Macie a sly ss the other mornin’?"

Velma choked on her coffee

Macie sputtered, "B-but I never--"

"--have time to cook for me e roll out of bed, so I sure appreciate it when you do, darlin’"

She leaned over the counter "I a to kick your ass, McKay"

Carter scooted closer so they were practically nose to nose "Did you say kiss?"

"No, you s bast--"

He pressed his lips to hers once Twice Then he whispered, "Play nice, or I’ll be forced to show you what I do to naughty girls"

"Back off, or I’ll be forced to show you how the bucket of rocky "

"Ouch"

Cleister She chatted with Clehter Only after Velma had taken Carter’s order and disappeared into the kitchen, did she return to the counter where Carter sat, watching her like a hawk

"Are you really mad at me?" he asked quietly

She fiddled with the water pitcher "No"