Page 38 of Undercover Billionaire

She opened her mouth, closed it. Considered feigning innocence. Decided, why bother? “For your information, I do mind,” she hissed.

"My cousin said you were a master with the appliances,” Cynthia purred, retaking their attention. “I need your expertise."

Uh-oh.During one of their phone calls, she had claimed Drake was a big asset with the kitchen equipment. Yet no matter his skill as an actor, he couldn't operate the complicated professional grade machinery. She had to find a way to distract her cousin. "I thought you were cleaning out the freezer."

"Craig is doing that now. He offered to switch with me."

Yeah, right.Most likely Cynthia badgered her brother until he finally agreed to trade jobs. "Allison is in there. She knows how to work the equipment," Kaitlyn tried again.

"But not fix them," Cynthia countered. "Something is wrong with the kneading machine. It keeps making a loud clunking noise."

Kaitlyn wiped her flour-laden hands on her apron. "I’ll take a look at it."

"Is there some reason Drake can’t do it?"

The words were a challenge, a thrown gauntlet implying more than they asked. Cynthia was on to them, or at least suspicious. If Drake refused the request, it would ignite the spark of a case she had against them.

"I’d be happy to help." Drake stepped forward, giving Kaitlyn a slight nod. They silently made their way through the kitchen, Cynthia’s expression triumphant, Drake’s flush with determination.

As they arrived at the kneader where the rest of the family already stood, Kaitlyn leaned close to Drake. "The townsfolk are here to witness the execution."

He rubbed his hands together. "The jury is still out on this one, sweetheart. Now what seems to be the problem?" He kneeled in front of the silver machine just as it emitted a loud clunking noise, its metal hands jerking back and forth instead of rotating smoothly. He opened several compartments, yet no malfunctions were obvious. Kaitlyn cocked her head to the side. The sound was unusual, almost as if….

"Something is stuck in the motor," she breathed.

"Just what I thought," Drake replied smoothly.

"Here." She grasped his hand and placed it over the opening to the motor compartment. A spark of electricity seemingly passed between them, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. His eyes darkened, their depths filled with gold specks and fathomless emotion.

"I’ve never seen a couple so mesmerized." Allison’s words returned her to the present. Her best friend stared at her with a peculiar expression, strange since she knew about the ruse. Clearly, their acting was convincing.

"That’s what happens when you care strongly for each other." Drake spoke with quiet sincerity, almost as if he actually meant it.

No.Kaitlyn exhaled slowly. The line between performance and reality was diminishing like the blazing sun in a twilight sky, but it didn’t – couldn’t – mean anything. His endearments may seem real, but they beckoned true danger. Danger because it wasn't supposed to be real and danger for the miniscule chance that it was.

She had to focus. With jerky movements, she snapped opened the motor compartment. "What in the world?" Her focus left Drake for a moment as she reached into the device and removed a smooth pebble. "I think I found the problem," she said dryly, turning to Cynthia. Her cousin boldly returned the gaze, her expression betraying neither guilt nor innocence. It didn’t matter. No one else would have sabotaged the machine.

Drake grasped the stone. "A child’s prank. One of the kids must’ve run back here while no one was looking and put the stone in." He didn’t mention how careful they were, or how they never would’ve allowed a child entrance into a kitchen full of dangerous equipment. "There’s no time to discuss it. Back to the pastries."

Kaitlyn glared at Cynthia as accusations demanded attention, but Drake's gentle pressure restrained her. She allowed herself to be led from the room, waiting until they were out of hearing range before pivoting to Drake. "She set us up!"

"I know."

"Can you believe her?" She paced back and forth, hissing anger-fueled words, "She could've broken a machine worth thousands of dollars. All to prove me wrong!”

“I know you’re upset.” He touched her shoulder. “But we must focus if we’re going to finish in time.”

How could she worry about cookies and croissants when her cousin had tried to sabotage her business? Yet, he was right – if she didn’t calm down, she would sabotage it herself.

“Maybe I can distract you.”

She looked up sharply. “How are you going to–”

He took her lips.

Fire and passion intertwined in a storm of desire, engulfing her in the power that was Drake Alexander. Instincts blazed, as every part of his body pressed against her. He was hardness defined, muscular and powerful and oh-so-tempting. He caressed her with bold strokes, massaging her neck, her back, then lower, every touch swirling irresistible sensation.

"Drake, we can’t do this. Someone will see us." Yet the words were breathless, the tone half-hearted, as she clutched him closer. She couldn’t hide the desire mirrored in his eyes.

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