Page 76 of Absinthe Minded

I tried to wrap my brain around Chloe’s words. “Cakes aren’t for sad days.”

Ryan climbed onto my back for either a pony ride or round two of wrestling. “Cakes are for all days!”

Chloe gave the two of us a patient smile. “Aunt Maggie makes cakes on birthdaysandwhen she’s cranky or sad.”

“Huh. Girls are weird.” I pulled Ryan around, pinned him to the ground and tickled him until he squealed for mercy.

“I’m not weird.” Chloe launched herself at us and peeled me away from her baby brother.

Zach came upstairs and watched the wrestling match with a wry expression. “I hate to break up the party, but you should go talk to Maggie before she goes.”

I pulled both munchkins off me and stood. “Where’s she going?”

“To work. At the bar.Yourbar.” Zach stared. He’d perfected the teenage ability to call adults stupid without saying a word.

“I’m on it.” I took the stairs two at a time, crossed the house, and glanced in Maggie’s room. Not finding her, I went into the master and knocked on the bathroom door.

“Come in.”

I hesitated, wondering if she realized it was me. She’d been almost hostile since I’d come home. “Maggie, it’s me.”

“Come in.” She added more irritation to the two syllables.

“Zach told me you’re going into work?” I walked in and stopped in my tracks.

“Jessie called. I figured you knew.” She leaned over the sink putting on mascara with her mouth hanging open and both eyes open wide.

She’s adorable.

My gaze fell to her ass. Bent over the counter, she looked better than the cake smelled. I took a step forward and set my hand on her hip. “You could be late.”

She glared at my reflection. “I’m still upset with you.”

“Is that why you were crying earlier?” I caressed her shoulder.

She turned and sidestepped me. “I’m in a hurry. We’ll talk about it later.”

I folded my arms and rested my hip against the vanity and considered the situation. Even though her words were less than friendly, she hadn’t flinched when I’d touched her. The hurt look in her eyes concerned me, but she hadn’t asked me to leave the room. The woman didn’t seem to know what she wanted.

“Talk to me now.” I followed her into her bedroom.

Maggie opened her closet and riffled through shirt after shirt. “Jessie suggested I dress sexy. What do you think?”

I think I’ll have a little chat with Jessie. “Jeans and a T-shirt are fine. Sneakers or comfortable boots.”

She pulled out a red, silky number that looked more like a bathing suit than a top. Before I could tell her not to wear the scrap of material, she whipped her shirt and bra off. My heart stopped beating when all my blood went south—a situation that didn’t improve when she shimmied into the red halter top.

“Maggie.” I spoke in a tone more warning than conversation.

“Gabe.” She mimicked my voice.

I wrapped my hands around her arms, pulled her against me, and kissed her smart mouth.

She tensed but didn’t pull away.

I coaxed her lips open with my tongue and grabbed two handfuls of her hair. Tugging hard enough to elicit a soft moan, I nibbled a line down her neck.

Maggie whispered, “I’m going to be late.”

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