Page 5 of A Sweet Mess

His earlier hesitation forgotten, he ran his knuckles downthe side of her face, relishing the feel of her warm, silky skin. Aubrey leaned lightly into his hand, and her eyes slid shut. She was so responsive to his touch. Landon’s mouth went dry, and all he could think wasmore.He wanted to make her laugh again. He ached to make her fall apart in his arms with her swollen lips calling out his name.

“You’re beautiful,” Landon murmured, unable to look away from her.

“So are you.” Aubrey’s lips curved into a barely there smile that squeezed his heart.

He’d gone to the brewery for a pint to wash away the bitter taste of his sorry day, but he’d discovered something far more intoxicating—something potent enough to tip him off-balance. Aubrey made his blood sing and his rational thoughts melt away. The floor seemed to grow solid and strong, and his body settled heavily into his seat like he’d dropped anchor across from her—as though she had a gravitational pull all her own and he was helpless against it.

He’d led a nomadic life for a decade. He didn’t know how to stay still for long. The smart thing to do would be to run the hell away from this woman, whose mere proximity made it unimaginable to even leave the table.

Butsmartwasn’t part of his vocabulary at the moment. Greedy, feral, and desperate passion overwhelmed all else. He stood abruptly from his seat, and Aubrey’s mouth parted in surprise. Then he grasped her hand and raised her to her feet.

“Do you want to get out of here?” His eyes bored into hers, his desire and urgency displayed for her to see.

“Yes.”

2

Aubrey woke with a start.

She hadn’t meant to fall asleep. Landon had been sexy, demanding, and irresistible, and they’d thoroughly worn each other out. But even now, his parted lips beckoned her to taste him, and her center ached with renewed desire.

They’d walked to his room in silence with their hands entwined—awareness and anticipation sizzling between them. As soon as the door closed behind them, they had torn off their clothes and made love with raging-hot hunger, too far gone to savor and taste each other. Landon reached for her again just as the sweat on her skin began to cool. With the edge of their desire placated, he traced and kissed every dip and curve of her body with curiosity and fascination, and held himself in check while she explored him with greedy fingers. Gasps of surprise and moans of pleasure had filled his room until exhaustion led them off to sleep.

Fortunately, Aubrey woke up before Landon. When it came to relationships, short, lighthearted flings were her modus operandi, but one-night stands were rare. She usually needed a fewdates to trust and respect someone enough to share her body with him. But with Landon, she’d somehow known he would be a considerate lover and would treat her body with respect. More than that, she knew he would make herfeel good.

And her instincts had proven spot-on.

All work and no fun had made Aubrey cranky and exhausted. She hadn’t taken a vacation since Comfort Zone opened its doors. Running a bakery was a full-time job and then some, and all the money she’d earned in the first couple years went straight back into the business. She chose to open her bakery in Weldon for its affordability but also for its awe-inspiring surroundings. Unfortunately, the majestic mountains were a mere backdrop to her life, beautiful but untouchable.

The day before had been a wake-up call that she was hanging on by a thread. It was a tough day, no doubt, but she had been way too close to losing her shit. That wasn’t like her. She’d built Comfort Zone and gained her independence with her focus, determination, and cool-under-pressure disposition. She’d needed a release. Badly.

Hopefully, last night had done the job. Landon was not only a considerate lover but a skilled and creative one. She would be sore and achy in some places later, but if he wanted to go for a fourth round, she’d jump him. Which was precisely why Aubrey had to get out of there.

What if he was annoyed to find her in bed the next morning? What ifhesneaked out on her? The best-case scenario would be a nice-meeting-you and an awkward handshake-or-hug dance. She could imagine herself closing in for a hug and being impaled by his outstretched hand.Death by mortification.

Aubrey prayed for strength and tore her gaze from his mouthonly to be ensnared by his lush eyelashes.What business does he have with lashes like those?She tried glaring at the beautiful man lying next to her, but she only succeeded in ogling him.

A tiny yip escaped her when those ridiculous lashes fluttered as though preparing to unveil the deep, dark eyes beneath. She’d be lost if she looked into them again. Bracing herself on her elbows, Aubrey inched toward the edge of the bed. His arm slid across her bare back as she extracted herself from his embrace, and the innocuous caress set her skin alight. Even after last night, her fiery reaction to his touch flustered her.

By the time she’d crawled down the bed with awkwardly placed limbs, a thin veil of sweat filmed her upper lip. She spotted her bra and crawled over to the coffee table to retrieve it. En route, her knees collided with her shoes. Aubrey pulled on her lacy white bra and grabbed her champagne-colored ballet slippers while scanning the room. She found her shirt and jeans by the armoire, and she slipped her top on with shaky hands.Where the hell are my panties?Getting more nervous by the second, she gave up on her favorite pink undies and pulled on her jeans without them.Ugh.

Aubrey stuck her shoes in the back pockets of her jeans for extra stealth and tiptoed out of the room after a lingering look at Landon. She slipped on her shoes at the end of the hallway and crept out of Lola’s like a cat burglar, careful not to run into anyone. Her clammy skin prickled in the early-morning chill, and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She wasn’t ashamed of spending the night with Landon, but she also didn’t need any town gossip.

The Eastern Sierra Nevada towered beyond the rooftops of Weldon, and Comfort Zone waited for her in a sleepy corner of town. It wasn’t far from the inn, but she picked up her pace so she wouldn’t be late.

She unlocked the rear door at four o’clock, right on schedule. She sighed as she tied a long, white apron around her waist, wondering what delicious mess would end up on it. She soaked in the warmth and security of her kitchen.This is it.She had everything she wanted—a quiet, solitary life doing what she loved most.

Landon’s sleeping face sneaked into her thoughts, and Aubrey shook her head to scatter the image. She was probably still high from the multiple orgasms. Their night together had been amazing, but it was over. She had work to do.

Aubrey dug her hands into a mound of pudgy dough and sighed. She was home. When she baked, nothing could break her concentration. She lost herself in a cocoon of cinnamon, cocoa, and butter. Morning dawned as the sweet aroma of pastries filled the bakery, and Aubrey poured herself a cup of coffee and soaked in the moment.

Just as she unlocked the door to open shop, Tara marched inside.Damn it.It was too early for the Spanish Inquisition.

“Spill it, Bree.” She hopped onto the nearest stool and pinned Aubrey with her don’t-bullshit-me stare. Tara was still in her clothes from the day before. She must’ve closed shop and then brewed all night. “If I were a gambling sort of gal, I’d bet my mom’s Korean fried chicken recipe that you went home with that smoldering sex-on-legs last night.”

“Your mom would turn over in her grave if she knew you were throwing around her secret recipe like common poker chips. But wait. She’s alive and well. What kind of daughter are you?”

“You are dodging the question,” Tara said, pointing her index finger at her. Then her eyes widened, and her nostrils flared like they smelled blood. “Youdidtake him home. Youslept with him? You finally ended the longest drought in the history of Weldon…”

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