Page 56 of One Touch

Her eyebrows lifted. “Of course I do.”

“Great. Do you happen to know what her favorite is?” I pointed to the glass display case full of scones, muffins, and danishes.

Her face softened, and a small smile overtook the scowl. “Katie likes the cheese danish but usually only lets herself get it once a week.”

I grinned. “Perfect. Two cheese danishes for her, whatever her coffee order is, and the blueberry crumb muffin with a black coffee for me, please.”

The woman nodded and rang me up before relaying the coffee order to the teenaged barista working the espresso machine.

As the woman handed me the small white paper bag with the pastries inside, another woman came through the swinging double doors from the back.

“Sylvie ... there’s an issue with this week’s produce order. Huck isn’t here, so someone needs to talk with Duke Sullivan. Can you do it?”

My eyebrows lifted as her cheeks stained pink. She looked pissed off. Inconvenienced. “Right now?”

The woman grimaced. “He’s waiting in the back.”

Sylvie sighed and wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ll be right there.” She turned to me and painted on a thin, forced smile. “Have a good day.”

With my hands full of coffee and pastries, I offered a small salute and headed toward the Sullivan farmhouse.

To my surprise, Kate was not only awake but looked gorgeous in the early autumn light. She sat on the top stairs in jeans and a cream blouse with short, fluttery sleeves. Next to her was a small overnight bag with a sweater looped through the strap. As my truck rolled down the driveway, I raised a hand to the three crew members who were working on a Saturday to keep us on schedule.

As I opened the driver door, Kate stood, stuck out her thumb like a hitchhiker, and lifted a knee to wiggle it in the air. I laughed at how damn cute she could be when she wasn’t at my throat all the time.

I rested a forearm on the top of my open door. “Need a ride, Princess?”

“I mean”—she batted her lashes playfully—“if you’re offering up round two.” The thinly veiled promise of giving Kate a different kind ofridesent tingles of anticipation through me. We may have had the best sex I had ever experienced, but I wasn’t done with her. Far from it.

“Your chariot awaits.”

As she hooked the strap of her overnight bag onto her shoulder, I rounded the truck to open the passenger door for her.

“Oh, and he’s a gentleman,” she crooned.

To prove to her just howungentlemanly I was, I smacked her ass hard as she climbed in and was rewarded with a yelp and her giggle.

The drive from Outtatowner to the city was just over two hours if traffic was light. Instead of pushing it, I opted for an easy pace, and for the first time in a long time enjoyed the winding roads and tree-lined views as we drove.

Kate hummed along to the radio. It didn’t seem to matter which station it was or even if she knew the song. Her low, thick voice vibrated as she hummed the melodies. For a while she looked out the window as the lake raced alongside us. Then she took to staring at the side of my face.

When I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction, she finally spoke up. “It’s weird.”

“What? My face?”

She laughed.Christ, that had to be the best sound in the world.

“No, idiot. It’s weird to not be fighting with you.”

“Oh, I can give you some solid design advice. Get some work done. Maybe even breathe a little too loudly? Those things seem to piss you right off.”

She rolled her eyes and gently pushed my shoulder.

I smirked. “It is kinda fun, though.”

I winked at her, and a sexy blush bloomed on her cheeks. Reaching across the truck, I laid my palm on her upper thigh. Absently I rubbed and enjoyed the tight quarters of the cab. It was wrong to have my hands on her, but there was no denying howrighther body felt under my hands. When she didn’t push me away, I let my fingers drag in slow, sensuous circles.

“Did you talk with him yet? Duke?” I could tell Kate was nervous about everything between us being unexpectedly out in the open. Though, surprisingly, the thrill of being with her seemed to only grow the more time we spent together.

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