Page 58 of Meowy & Bright

“Merry.” I give her a short nod, doing my best to run around the car before she sees my massive erection.

When I open the door for Ruby, she gets an eyeful of the hard length in my pants, and when she stares at it for a beat longer than seems Christian, I almost lose it.

“Ruby?” Merry calls and clears her throat.

“Right. Gotta go.” Ruby stands and gives me a sweet, sexy smile. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Count on it.” I close her car door and walk her up onto the sidewalk. I can hear Lorraine from here. She’s yelling at whatever incompetent help she’d arranged for the morning. Ruby’s going to have a long day. I only hope she’s not too worn out to let me devour her again tonight.

She and Merry hug and fall into a quick, hushed conversation—likely about me—so I have to take my leave and drive all of two blocks over to my shop.

Greasy is already sitting on the TransAm by the time I walk in. “I figured you’d be at the bakery making big Puss in Boots eyes at Ruby.” I pet him as two cars pull up in front of the oil change bay.

His eyes glint, and for a second I think he might take my idea and run off toward the bakery. But he doesn’t, just headbutts me gently.

“Good boy.” I kiss him on top of his head between the ears. “Do you think she’s falling for me?” I whisper.

He headbutts me again, and I take that as a good sign.

The morning flies by as I do some engine work on the town snowplow and a trickle of customers show up needing tune-ups, tires, or oil changes. My employees handle most of that while I work on transmissions, engines, and any deeper issues that show up in the day-to-day. When lunchtime hits, I’m on my way to pick up lunch from the diner and then back over to the bakery.

Before I can even reach the door, the scent of vanilla and some sort of spice cake fills the air. My mouth waters. But not for any confection created in the bakery. I want Ruby.

When I walk in, she comes from the back, a smudge of chocolate on her jaw and flour dusting her apron.

“Hey.” She greets me brightly. “Didn’t I just see you?”

“I can’t get enough.” I shrug and put the food on the counter.

She peeks inside. “Oh my God, what’s today? Is it beef stroganoff day?” She inhales. “It is!”

I take the packages of food and open the top one. The stroganoff steams as Ruby tears a fork free from the to-go napkin.

“It’s hot.” I take the fork from her and select some noodles and beef from the creamy sauce, then blow on them. “Open.”

She does, her pink tongue giving me so many filthy ideas. I slide the bite of stroganoff onto her tongue, and she chews with a sensual moan. “So good. Even better than I remember.”

“Beef stroganoff day?” Lorraine pops through the kitchen door and pulls out another plate from the bag. “You can feed me, too, if you like, young man.” She gives me a cheeky grin and flips the top off the to-go container.

“Grams!” Ruby laughs.

“Worth a shot.” She takes the plate and a fork back into the kitchen.

“Grams is right. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, right?”

“Are you suggesting I share you with Grams?” Ruby laughs as I fork some more stroganoff for her.

“Never.” I feed her again, loving the way she enjoys every last bite.

“More orders?” I ask.

“Some Olin guy—” She narrows her eyes at me. “Who I heard from Merry might just work for your family—keeps placing orders for cakes, cookies, you name it. We’re swamped.”

I suppose I should pull back on the flood of orders. Keep it busy enough that Ruby has to stay, but not so busy that I don’t get to spend time with her.

Leaning over the counter, I kiss her.

She smiles against my mouth. “Are you trying to distract me?”

---