Page 24 of Savage Secrets

“Oh, I miss you being right next door.” Kirsten squeezed her hard enough to force a laugh out of her. “Since you haven’t been to town to see me for days, I figured I had to come to you.”

“And you brought my favorite cinnamon rolls.” Feeling buoyed by affection, Opal stood back to look over Kirsten. She took the pan of rolls from her and set it on the worn laminate countertop.

Kirsten looked around. “Want me to close the door?”

She waved a hand. “Leave it open. It’s one of the last warm days we’ll have this time of year. Besides, the air smells good—but not as good as these rolls. Let me at them!”

Kirsten laughed and moved toward the coffeepot.

“It needs refilled. Let me do that. You’re my guest. Pull up a seat. I’ll get the coffee going and we can catch up.” Opal abandoned the pan of gooey rolls and turned her attention to the coffeemaker.

Just seeing it sent heat into her cheeks. This morning when she woke up, the scent of coffee reminded her of what she and Zach had done the previous night.

Knowing that he came inside in the wee hours of the morning and got the coffee going—even setting out a mug for her to pour herself when she woke up—left her tingling in places she forgot existed.

Quickly, she dumped the old grounds and filter and filled it with fresh. When she carried the pot to the sink to rinse and fill, she turned her head aside. If anyone was going to notice her blush, it was Kirsten.

“Ohh!” The feminine exclamation made Opal look up. She followed her friend’s gaze to the screen door, where Zach stood.

“Hey.” Through the screen, his gaze landed on her. His gruff tone brought back even more memories of their night together. And those dark eyes of his made Opal’s stomach grip with need.

“Come in.” She battled to keep the breathlessness she felt from her voice. “Zach, you remember Kirsten.”

He entered the kitchen, looking huge, rough…and delicious.

“Of course. Hello.”

“Hey, cowboy.”

Opal gave a mental eye roll. The minute Zach walked back out, Kirsten would jump all over her with questions.

“I hope I’m not interrupting. I was just coming inside for more coffee.” He shuffled his feet as if uncomfortable.

Opal took a deep breath to dispel her nerves, but that backfired big time when she caught a hint of his fresh soap scent mingled with leather.

Her gaze was riveted on his hard lips. God, the way he’d gone down on her the night before—

Water overflowed the pot and rushed over her fingers. She switched off the water and dumped out some of the water, her cheeks and even her ears heating as she realized Zach and Kirsten were both staring at her.

Composing herself, she filled the coffeemaker and set it to brew.

“Kirsten brought cinnamon rolls,” she said to cover her discomposure.

“I smell them.”

Kirsten got up from her seat to pull the foil off the pan, displaying neat rows of mouthwatering, golden-brown rolls dripping with vanilla frosting. She waved a hand for Zach to take one.

When he had a roll in hand, he took a bite and let out a noise of appreciation. “The best I’ve had. Thank you.”

“My grandma’s recipe.” She beamed.

He looked at the project Opal had left spread out on the floor. “Is that a kitchen drawer?”

She focused on something besides his broad chest. “Yes. The drawer is warped, and I was fixing it. I should set it up where the girls won’t trip on it and get hurt.” She quickly gathered the drawer she’d taken apart with the intention to replace the warped board.

Within a few minutes, Zach had his travel mug refilled and two cinnamon rolls in his stomach. “I’ll get back to work now. Give you ladies a chance to talk.”

The little girls rushed through the kitchen, shoved their feet into their boots and raced out the screen door. “We’re going to play outside!” Rainie called as she went.

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