and we can just pick ‘em. Easy as pie."
“Easy as pie,” Cady said under her breath. “All right, Pete, sure. As long as you’ve got time."
“Absolutely.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Damon—” she directed him a thunderous look “—we’d better get going."
He had better sense than to argue. Cady marched to the end of the row in silence, though he could see from the set of her shoulders that she had plenty to say. He figured he’d just wait her out.
He didn’t have to wait long.
“Happy with yourself?” she demanded as soon as they were out of the square.
Now was not the time to smile, he reminded himself as he followed her down the street. “Happy why?"
“Oh, you got your trip to the market, now you’re going to get your wild onions."
“Leeks.”
“Whatever.” She stopped beside her truck. “You’re good at getting people to do what you want, aren’t you? You’re a regular puppeteer."
He couldn’t help laughing at that as he set the tomatoes and mushrooms in the truck bed. “I’m flattered that you think so much of me."
She glowered. “Oh, I think of you, all right. I think all kinds of things about you."
“Good.” In the sunlight, her hair gleamed cinnamon and copper. He could see a light dusting of freckles on the bridge of her nose. “You know,” he said as she opened her mouth to continue, “for someone who tries to come off so tough, that was a pretty nice thing you did for Pete."
She stared at him, momentarily disarmed. “He’s a friend,” she muttered finally. “I want them to have a nice time."
“They will, thanks to you.”
“And you,” she said, then blinked as though the thought had ambushed her.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you just said something nice to me."
The flush that spread across her cheeks made her look even more delectable. “Don’t try to distract me."
There was something that kind of delighted him about that bemused look she got on her face when she felt she was losing control of the situation. “Oh, I don’t know, I’m beginning to think distracting you could be interesting. Very interesting,” he added.
He reached out, then, to touch, running a finger across her cheek to her chin. Softer than he’d expected. She might dress and act like a tomboy but Cady McBain was all girl. Her eyes flashed with surprise, awareness, the hazel green darkening to amber. He saw the desire flicker even as he felt it himself.
All it would take was bridging that distance to find out how it would be with her. He couldn’t help wondering. And even as he told himself it wasn’t smart, he leaned in toward her.
The chirp of a horn had them both jolting apart.
Damon snapped his head around to see a blue Escort packed with a trio of what looked like college-age girls.
“Hey, you leaving?” the gum-chewing passenger called out the window.
“Definitely,” Cady answered from behind him, opening the driver’s door.
He turned to her. “Why the rush?” he asked. “We’ve done everything we need to do here.” “You think so?”
“I know so,” she said. “We’re done with this.”
“No.” Damon got in on the other side and shut the door. “That’s one thing I’m pretty sure of. We’re not done with this by a long shot."
Chapter Five
She couldn’t believe she’d let it happen. Cady pulled her truck to a stop in the employee side of the parking lot the next morning and stared at the box of ramps next to her. Bad enough that he’d manipulated her into grubbing around some forest glen looking for his wild leeks, but he’dgotten to her. One minute she’d been ready to put him in his place, which was as far from her as she could manage. The next, she was gaping at him as if she was hypnotized, as if she didn’t have a brain in her head.
He’d charmed her. Her, the one who prided herself on keeping it together, on being immune to good-looking guys. The one who was never again going to make herself vulnerable to some guy who thought the world should be at his feet.
And the worst part was that he hadn’t even had to try. All he’d had to do was to make nice to her in that voice that sent those little bubbles fizzing through her veins, look at her with those eyes and touch her.
And touch her.
Involuntarily, Cady shivered. It didn’t mean anything. It had been so long since anybody had touched her outside of family, that was all. That was why it had affected her. It wasn’t him, certainly not him.
Definitely not.
That didn’t mean she wouldn’t be smart to keep her distance. While she sincerely doubted that Damon Hurst had any real interest in her, she had no plans to give him any opportunities. She checked her watch and got out of the truck with the box of greens. Best to drop off the ramps and get to work.
Her steps faltered a bit when she discovered the back door to the kitchen unlocked and the lights on. For an instant, she debated just leaving the box outside the back door. She hadn’t spent a backbreaking hour picking them only to see someone walk all over them by accident, though. Besides, she was many things but she wasn’t a wimp. She’d go inside just as she’d planned.
It was probably only Roman there, anyway. It wasn’t like Mr. Celebrity Chef was going to be up at the crack of dawn doing prep. And even if it were him, it wasn’t a problem, she told herself quickly. She’d been caught off guard at the market, that was all. This time, she was prepared for any games he might play. Everything would be fine.
And if she held her breath when she walked through the passageway into the kitchen and put the box on one of the stainless steel counters, it was nobody’s business but her own. She’d fulfilled her obligation. All she had to do was—
“Stop.” Damon’s voice sounded in her ear. Adrenaline flooded through her. Every muscle in her body tensed. She moved to turn.
“No. Close your eyes,” he ordered.
Cady bristled. “Who do you think—”
“Just do it.”
And she found herself obeying, as much out of surprise as anything. Her heart thudded in her chest. He was right in front of her; she could feel him, sense the heat from his body.
Feel his breath feathering across her face.
“Open your mouth.”
Pulse jittery, she did.
“Tell
