Page 37 of Forbidden Secrets
A moment later Pancake nosed her way through the dog flap in the side door to bound across the driveway.Addy clutched the cookie container to her chest when Pancake sniffed it.
“It’s not for you, Pancake.Chocolate chips are bad for dogs.”
The door opened and Gage leaned against the frame like he had all the time in the world.Hair finger-combed back from his forehead, broad shoulders filling the space, long legs casually crossed.His eyes, dark and direct, zeroed in on her beneath a furrowed brow.
Her heart fluttered in her chest and Melanie couldn’t help but thinkno, no, no.Her attraction was over the top and it scared her.She and Addy were fine on their own.She didn’t need a man in her life.And yet, every time she saw him, she fell a little deeper.
He’d risked himself this morning.He could have called 9-1-1 and let law enforcement handle it.But no.He’d run headlong into danger to keep her safe.Brave, capable, protective.Of course, he was the kind of guy who took on two intruders single-handedly.
“Hi, Gage, we brought thank-you cookies ’cause Mom says you helped her this morning.”
Addy beamed, holding up the plastic container like a prize.
Gage’s gaze rested on Melanie, and she gave a quick shake of her head.She hadn’t told Addy about the break-in.
He didn’t miss a beat.He took the cookies, holding them up to the light.“Cookies.I like the sound of that.What kind we got here, sunshine?”
“Oatmeal chocolate chip,” Addy said.“I helped Mom bake them.We tested them to make sure they taste good.”
Gage grinned.Thatgrin.Melanie barely resisted a groan.It’d been a long time since she’d been attracted to a man.
“Quality control is important,” he said solemnly.“And the verdict?”
“Yummy,” Addy announced, her gap-toothed smile lighting her face.
“Come on in.I want to try these.”
“Oh, we don’t want to intrude,” Melanie said quickly, trying to rein in what she could control.
“But I want to see Pancake’s house.”Addy bounced on her toes.
Gage shot Melanie a smug look and opened the door wider so Addy could enter.
He met Melanie’s gaze over the container.“You coming?”She had the uncomfortable feeling he knew exactly why she hesitated.
Outmaneuvered, Melanie stepped past Gage into a small room off the kitchen.A washer and dryer sat beneath a long counter, with a basket of clean clothes perched on top.Across from it was a bench with cubbies for shoes and hooks for jackets.A red leash hung beside a familiar black coat.In the corner, Pancake’s food and water dishes sat on a gray mat.
“You have an actual mudroom,” she said, pausing to take it in.“Why doesn’t every house have one?I have mudroom envy.”
“Didn’t even know they were a thing until I stayed at Shane’s,” Gage said.“And I agree, it’s a useful space.”He pointed to the hooks.“You can hang your jacket there.”
She added her bright red puffer next to his.The contrast made her feel weirdly domestic.
He led them into the kitchen, U-shaped, with clean lines and cool gray quartz counters.While it wasn’t fancy, it was neat and efficient.The window over the sink looked toward her house.
At the far end, a cozy nook held a wooden table framed by large windows that brought in the outdoors.
He set the cookies on the counter.
She stooped to pick up Addy’s pink coat where she’d dropped it and took it to the mudroom.
In the nook, Addy was on her knees next to a basket overflowing with dog toys.She held up a bright blue ball.Pancake locked in on it, tail thumping the wall.
“Addy, not in the house,” she warned.
“Can I take it outside?”
“It’s dark.”
