Page 4 of My Brooding Valentine

I didn’t realize the full effect the beautiful baker was having on me until I stepped away from her to go to the breaker box. I sucked air into my lungs like I’d been starved for it for the past half hour or so.

But as I waited for that feeling I got any time I was attracted to a woman, something even weirder happened. The walls weren’t closing in on me. I was breathing just fine. Okay, so I needed a second to recover from this intense chemistry I was feeling with her, but that wasn’t the same as fear.

No, it was another emotion altogether. Excitement.

“It’s working,” she called out seconds after I flipped the switch.

I returned to find her standing in front of the stove. She’d taken off the apron, and it was now draped over one of the stools pushed up to the island.

Now that I had the chance, I scanned her body from head to toe, taking in the pale pink sweater and faded jeans that fit just tight enough to show off that impressively round ass. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, the thick, reddish-brown strands bouncing as she moved.

But when she turned, it was the face that drew my full attention. Those big brown eyes and that intoxicating smile.

Damn, she was beautiful. That was the only way to put it.

“I’m making you dinner to thank you,” she said. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

I was heading toward the oven to grab my toolbox from the counter, but her words slowed my stride. I stopped near the island.

“It’s only noon,” I said.

“It’s after two, actually.” She looked over her shoulder at the oven and back at me. “The clock reset.”

Right, it was blinking twelve o’clock. I felt like a dumbass for not realizing that.

“Six o’clock,” she said. “Do you like lasagna?”

I nodded. “But you don’t have to do that.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head slightly. “Are you really going to turn down delicious lasagna from an award-winning baker?”

“Your baking has won awards?” I asked.

She straightened her head and shrugged. “No, but it will soon, thanks in large part to you.”

All I’d done was fix her oven. I didn’t know anything about awards or baking.

“Without your skills, I’d be going to Seduction Summit in a couple of days without the baking samples we’re required to bring. I’m not sure if not having them would be enough to disqualify me, but I don’t want to find out.”

“Seduction Summit?” I asked. “Is that a real place?”

If it was, I wanted to go there. Especially if it meant being seduced by this woman. Or maybe I’d be the one doing the seducing. Either way, it was cool with me.

“It’s a little mountain town in North Carolina,” she said. “Mostly known for its skiing. But they’re trying to keep business coming in even after ski season is over.”

“Is ski season still going on there?” I asked, glancing toward the windows.

It was still chilly here in Montana, but maybe snow wasn’t falling in North Carolina anymore. Heck if I’d know a darn thing about skiing.

“It’s an annual event,” she said. “They have a block of rooms booked for us. I guess the skiers don’t like it, but bakers like to ski too. Anyway, it’s not Valentine’s Day yet, but I decided since this is the month of love, I’d do a Valentine’s Day theme withmy cookies.” She gestured toward the island. “You sure you don’t want to try one?”

My mouth watered just looking at them. I wasn’t big on sweets, but damn if those didn’t look good.

“Maybe one,” I said.

I reached over and grabbed the one on top, eyeing the words on it.Be mine. I lifted my gaze and stared directly at her as I took a bite. It was like I was sending a message.

But what I wanted that message to be was that, no, I wouldn’t be hers. Or anyone’s. It was my first instinct—guard my heart at all costs.

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