Page 9 of One Sweet Match Up

It only took one look at his culinary masterpiece for her stomach to growl its yearning.

What would the harm be in having a warm meal before she headed back to the Ice Heaven? She took a cautious step back to the booth and then another. “I wanted to see if anyone was on the road.” She offered the first excuse that popped into her head.

“Hmmm . . . I hope not. At least not tonight. It’s too dangerous out there.”

“Yeah. It’s coming down pretty hard.” That it was. It would probably be hours before a

plow made it through. She walked over and slid back into the booth, setting her mittens to the side and taking the fork Donovan offered.

“Listen, Zoe.” He set a plate of linguini down in front of her. “I know you don’t know

me. I mean, for all you know I could be an ax murderer.”

She laughed at that thought. Pompous asshole, yes. Small-town killer, unlikely. “Abby would never hire you.”

“Right. That she wouldn’t. I promise you, I’m harmless.”

She raised an eyebrow. Being known as Denver’s consummate bachelor in the local papers hardly made him harmless.

“What have you heard?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Nothing. No one in this town has told me anything.” She took a bite, and her eyes immediately rolled back. Damn, his Bolognese sauce was as good as she remembered. “This is incredible.”

“Yeah, I love making it. Although, Abby didn’t have nearly enough spices to give it its unique kick.” He sprang up. “But she has pepper. That will work.”

Zoe couldn’t help catching the view as he bent over the counter to retrieve the pepper shaker. Man, he had one hell of a cute butt. The man could seriously rock a pair of dark jeans.

“So, why did you move to Buttermilk Falls?” Donovan sprang that question on her as he came back to the table, shaking the pepper across her plate.

“I needed a change.” She twirled her fork into the pasta, taking another eager bite. “I didn’t have much of a choice.”Since you ran me out of Denver.

“I completely understand. I got a little restless, too. Over Christmas, I decided it was time to do something different. Get out of the city and settle down.”

She glanced up from her plate, fork frozen in midair. “Yeah, right,” she blurted out,

immediately trying to recover. “Um . . . I mean . . . um . . . Good for you.” Stabbing the fork back into her pasta, she avoided eye contact.

“Okay, confess.” He leaned in. “You have heard something about me. Was it Rachel running her mouth?”

Zoe snorted. “No. I can honestly say I know nothing about you from your sister.” She

reached for a paper napkin from the dispenser on the table, wiping her mouth. “I’m sorry. I don’t even know you. You . . . um . . . you look like the type that wouldn’t settle down. That’s all I meant.”

“Well, looks can be deceiving.” He reached for his wine and took a sip. “So, Zoe. Why don’t you get along with my sister?”

Oh, so we’re going there, are we?She lifted her shoulder, giving what she hoped was an

indifferent shrug. “Who said we don’t get along? What has Rachel said aboutme?”

“Nothing, really. She has a few things to say on the subject of you and Will, though.”

Of course, she did. Zoe shook her head. “I wish she would drop it. Will Jenkins and I are

nothing . . . nothing at all. It’s all that stupid blue spoon’s fault.”

“Aw, right . . . the magic blue spoon.” He nodded to the kitchen. “Good thing it’s locked

in the safe with its pink counterpart. I heard Will showed up in your batter.”

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