Page 71 of Full Mountie

I need busy work. I need to distract myself.

In the kitchen, I poke through his fridge. He’s got mushrooms and onions, so the leftover steak from tonight could be turned into the filling for meat pies. I don’t even know if he likes meat pies, but whatever. My fingers shake as I pull out the ingredients. I get that going, and as I chop and stir, my pulse slows down again.Breath, Beth. Easier said than done, but the cooking helps.

As the gravy simmers, I wander to his pantry. He’s got oatmeal, raisins, chocolate chips.

Flour. Sugar.

Butter and eggs from the fridge.

When I’m done investigating, his counters are covered in supplies and I have enough work to do for at least an hour so I don’t have to worry about…whatever is on my mind.

The second tray of cookies is just going into the oven when I feel Lachlan’s presence. I glance toward his bedroom just in time to see him step into the hallway and pull the door shut behind him.

He rubs the sleep out of his eyes. “Can’t sleep?”

“Did I wake you?”

“That’s not an answer.” He pulls me close and kisses my forehead. “But no, I don’t think so. Hugh rolled into me and he’s a lot bigger than you. I wondered where my Beth had gone.”

I shrug it off. I feel heaps better now, anyway. “Sometimes when I’ve got insomnia, I like to cook. And bake.”

“And tonight you’re doing both.”

“I made you cookies.”

He glances at the tray I just pulled out, now cooling on a rack. “Yum.”

“You have a very well-stocked kitchen.”

“I told you I like to cook.”

“I think you said something like, ‘I make a decent steak and a mean egg.’”

He laughs. “Those are both true statements.”

“I can vouch for the steak, yeah. But I think you undersold your abilities.” I sigh. “And why am I surprised? You’re never one to toot your own horn.”

“I don’t need to brag. I just need to do.” He grins down at me. “Can I help?”

I shake my head. “All done. Even the dishes. Just need to wait for twelve minutes until the last batch is ready to come out.”

“Do you have a timer, or are you watching the clock?”

“Timer.”

“Good.” He picks me up and sets me on the counter. His body is right against mine. Hugh had me in the same position earlier, but now I’m half-naked.

I shift on the cold counter.

“Are you okay? Sore from earlier?”

I shake my head. “Not sore at all. It’s cold.”

“I can warm you up.”

“I know you can.” I lean in and kiss him. He tastes sleepy and warm, but the heat turns up quickly. It’s just like the first couple of times we were together.

Hugh was right. There’s no doubt about our chemistry.

---