He watched her shoulders slump, then she nodded. “All right. One more chance, Holt James but if you pull this shit again, I will kick you to the curb.”
Holt did his best not to grin. “Yes, ma’am. Can I come by tonight?”
“Around seven.” She turned from him, picked up a napkin, wrapped one of the muffins in it, and handed it to him. “On the house. I’ll see you later.”
He grabbed her, pulled her close, and pressed his lips to hers then lifted his head. He grinned then turned and headed out the door, through the crowd, and crossed the street to his truck. Once inside, he took a bite of the warm muffin to find it was blueberry, and he groaned at how good it was.
“Damn, this is fantastic. She’s going to have a goldmine in that place.” He started his truck, pulled onto the street, and drove to the Feed Store.
At seven that evening, he parked his truck by the back stairs and stared up at the stoop. He got out of his truck and made the climb. He took a deep breath, knocked, and heard the deadbolt turning then the door opened, and there she stood.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hello. Come in,” Sloane said as she pushed the door open wider for him to enter.
He walked past her, entered the apartment, and turned to look at her. She closed the door, looked at him, and folded her arms across her chest. Shit. The thought that this was not going to go well ran through his head.
“Sloane—” He stopped when she held her hand up.
“I’m willing to let it go. If it happens again—”
“It won’t.” He took his hat off, held it in front of him, and stared at her. He could see the hurt in her eyes. “It just surprised me that it could be that good with anyone other than Carolyn. Can you see how that threw me for a loop? I’m not saying I expected it to be bad, just not that good. Hell, that didn’t come out right either.”
He raked his fingers through his hair and watched her nibble on her bottom lip. Something he’d come to realize she did when she was nervous or giving something serious thought.
“I get it. I do, Holt, but it hurt me.”
He stepped closer to her and cupped her cheek in his hand.
“I am so sorry. Can we please start over?”
Her green eyes stared up at him, then she nodded, and he blew out a relieved breath.
“So, did you like your muffin?” She smiled.
“Damn, woman. It was fantastic. I have a feeling I’ll be gaining weight with that bakery around.”
When Sloane laughed, he pulled her to him, pressed his lips to hers, and deepened the kiss when she opened to him. Her arms wrapped around him, and he picked her up then walked to the sofa and took a seat with her on his lap. He moved his lips over hers. He tossed his hat to the chair without raising his lips and moved his tongue into her mouth. Her fingers sifted through his hair, and he slowly raised his lips from hers.
“How did your first day go? It looked damn crowded when I was there this morning.”
“People were lined up before I opened.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t believe it. I had a little trouble getting them organized, but they eventually got it.”
“It was a good idea putting the ticket dispenser in.”
“Oh, I used that in my old bakery. I make people take a number even if they’re the only person there. You never know when someone will come in and try to step in front of them.”
“Yeah, I saw that this morning.” Holt grinned. “I loved how you handled that with the whistle.”
Sloane laughed. “That whistle has come in handy many a time.”
“Do you want to go downstairs and get a burger, or have you already eaten?”
“No, I haven’t eaten yet, so I’d love to get a burger.” She pushed up from his lap, stood, and put her hand out to him.
Holt grabbed her hand, kissed the palm, got to his feet, and picked up his hat. She pulled a sweater off the hall tree and put it on. They walked out the door, and he waited while she locked it, then they headed down the stairs, and around the front to the diner.
“It’s nice tonight,” she said.
“Yeah, for mid-April, it is but that could mean snow.” He continued to walk but noticed she wasn’t beside him, and he looked over his shoulder to see her standing there and staring at him with her mouth agape.
“Snow? In April?”
He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. It’s only April.”
Sloane shook her head and strolled up beside him.
“But it’s warm enough that I’m just wearing a sweater,” she said in shock.
“Exactly. Which means this could be a warm front before more snow.” He leaned over and kissed her temple. “You’ll get used to it.”
Taking her hand in his, he led her to the door of the diner, pulled it open, making the bell jingle, and jerked his chin for her to enter. They weaved their way through the tables toward a booth. Holt was stopped by just about everyone they passed along the way. He removed his hat, hung it on the peg on the side of the back of the seat. He waited for Sloane to slide in before he did across from her.
“Hi, you two,” Connie said when she stepped up beside the booth.
“Hello, Connie.” He gave her a nod.
“Hi, Connie. How are you?” Sloane said with a smile.
“I’m fine, hon. I heard the bakery did great today.”
He watched as a beautiful smile lit up Sloane’s face.
“It did. I was surprised, but pleasantly so.”
“Everyone missed it when Celeste’s closed, so I’m sure they’re happy to have a new bakery.” Connie leaned forward and lowered her voice. “How did my pies go?”
“Sold out,” Sloane said with a laugh.
“Oh, my. I’ll make more for you then. I have two apples and one cherry you can have if you want them.”
“Oh, Connie, I would love them. Thank you. I’ll pay you for them.”
“You most certainly will not. I’ll get them to you before you leave. Do you both want your usual?”
Holt nodded, and so did Sloane, then Connie turned and headed for the kitchen. He watched Sloane fool with the napkin holder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“You seem to have something on your mind. I thought we were all right now.”
“I have to be honest, Holt. I’m terrified it will happen again. I might have been a fool where Doug was concerned, but I won’t be for any man again.”
He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, Sloane. I really am. I don’t know how to explain it any other way than I did. I loved Caro, and it just shocked me that the sex was so good with you. I just never thought it could ever be better than what I had with her. I needed some distance. I can never apologize enough for that. Can we please try to move past it?”
Sloane sighed. “I suppose that’s all we can do.”
“I’m willing to try if you are.”
“All right,” she said in a low tone of voice.
“I have a feeling you’re still not sure.” Had he screwed this up too much for her to get past it? God, he hoped not.
“I’m trying. I’m just tired. Four comes early.”
“Well, then let’s eat, and I’ll walk you back upstairs. But you have to eat, right?”
“I am hungry. I think I’ll take the pies over to the shop before going home though. Is that all right?”
“Darlin’, anything you want to do is all right with me.” He grinned when he saw a blush move across her cheeks. “I can’t believe you blush.”
“I usually don’t.”
“Must be me then.”
Sloane laughed. “It is definitely you.”
He smirked. “I think I like that.”
Connie came back with their drinks and set them down. She gave them a wink then turned to head back into the kitchen.
“This place is so great,” Sloane said as she glanced around.
“The town or the diner?”
“Both. I haven’t met anyone who isn’t
nice.”
He looked to the door when the bell jingled and grinned when he saw his friend, Trick Dillon, enter behind his wife, Kaylee. He slid out of the booth when Trick glanced his way, then headed for him.
“Hey, Trick. Kaylee. How are you two?” Holt and Trick shook hands then he hugged Kaylee.
“We’re good. You?” Trick looked at Sloane then back to Holt and raised an eyebrow.
“Trick, Kaylee, this is Sloane Gates. Sloane, this is Trick Dillon and his wife, Kaylee.”
“It’s so nice to meet you both,” Sloane said with a smile.
Kaylee smiled at her. “You too.”
“You said, Gates? You look like you’re related to the other Gates women,” Trick said.
“Cousins. Our fathers are brothers.”
“Well, it’s real nice to meet you,” Trick said as he touched the brim of his hat then looked at Holt. “We’ll let you two eat. We just stopped in to grab some burgers to go. Harlee’s at her grandparents’ right now and Kaylee wanted a burger.”
Holt chuckled. “Still spoiling her, I see.”
“He’d better never stop.” Kaylee laughed, took Trick’s hand, and they walked back to the counter.
Holt slid back into the booth.
“Who is Harlee?”
“Their daughter. Trick spoils both her and Kaylee rotten.” He shrugged.
“He is devastatingly handsome.”
Holt narrowed his eyes. “Is that so?”
She laughed. “Yes, but so are you. I think it’s his eyes. They’re so dark.”
“His eyes do appear black. I only know of two other people with eyes that dark, Wyatt Stone, and Trent. Of course, Trent and Wyatt are half-brothers, but you already know that.”
“I have never seen anyone with eyes that dark. I mean, when I first met Trent, I couldn’t see where his pupil ended, and his iris began.”
“Well, Trick’s a good man who is very much in love with his wife.”
“Point taken,” she said with a laugh.
“Good.” He was stopped from saying more because Connie appeared with their dinners.
“Enjoy. I’ll box up the pies for you, Sloane.”
“Thank you, Connie.”
Sloane picked up her burger and took a bite. Holt couldn’t take his eyes off her but when she moaned, he wanted to drag her under the booth and have his way with her. Other than Carolyn, he’d never had such a quick reaction to a woman. Sure, there’d been women he was interested in taking to bed, but he just felt like he wanted more with Sloane and he’d just met her as had been the case with Carolyn. What did that mean?
His damn dick twitched, and he had to shift in his seat to get comfortable. Down boy! He looked across the table, and she was staring at him, and as he watched, a slow grin lifted those lush lips, and he knew she knew he was suffering.
“Something funny?” he asked as he picked up his burger and took a bite.
“Why would you ask me that?” She batted her thick lashes at him.
The hell with taking her under the table, he was going to take her on top of it. He chuckled.
“Why would I ask that, she says.”
Sloane laughed, set her burger down, and picked up a fry and bit into it.
When they finished eating, he signaled for the check, and Connie brought it over to them.
“The pies are in a bag on the counter,” Connie said with a nod to where the bag sat.
“Thanks. I’m so happy that you’re baking them for me. I’d never been able to make them as tasty as you do.”
“That’s a load of crap, and you know it,” Connie said, making them laugh.
“We’ll get them on the way out.” Holt slid out of the booth and put his hand out to help Sloane then put his hat on his head.
“Thank you. Your mama raised you right.”
“And the song says not to let your babies grow up to be cowboys,” Connie said with a snicker. “No man has better manners.”
He touched the brim of his hat. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Connie chuckled, picked up their empty plates, turned, and walked to the kitchen. He and Sloane headed for the counter where he paid for their dinners, then Holt picked up the bag holding the pies and jerked his chin for her to go out while he held the door.
****
They crossed the street then headed up the sidewalk toward the bakery. Sloane took deep breaths of the evening air, and she swore she could smell snow.
“Do you really think it will snow?”
“Smells like it to me,” Holt said.
She smiled. “I was just thinking the same thing. I’d love to see it. We don’t get a lot of snow in New Mexico.”
“Not like we get here, I’d bet. Being so close to the Glaciers, we get quite a bit.”
“I can’t wait.”
He shook his head. “You’ll think differently when it’s up to your sweet little ass.”
“How romantic,” she said with a laugh.
Holt chuckled. “It’s true but if it does snow, I know a good way to spend a day.”
She stopped, looked up at him, and frowned.
“Just how is that, Mr. James?”
“What a dirty mind you have, Ms. Gates. I meant in front of a roaring fire.”
“Sure, you did,” she said as he grinned at her. “That would be nice though.”
“Anytime, Sloane. Anytime at all.”
They started walking again. He walked on the outside of her on the sidewalk like a man was supposed to do, though Doug never did. Usually, he walked ahead of her. As if he was either in a hurry to get to where he was going or away from her.
“What’s going through your head? You’re frowning.”
“I was thinking that you do have very good manners.” She glanced over at him to see him raise an eyebrow. “You walk on the outside of me.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s how I was raised.”
She nodded but didn’t say more as they stopped in front of the door to the bakery. She took her key from her pocket, inserted it, pushed the door open, and flipped on the lights. When he stepped in behind her, she pushed it closed, locked it then headed for the kitchen to put the pies in one of the big refrigerators. She turned on the lights in the kitchen, opened one of the doors on the refrigerator, and removed the pies from the bag as he held it for her.
“God, I think I just gained ten pounds from the smell alone in here.”
“A bakery always smells good.”
“Yes, ma’am. That blueberry muffin you gave me was fantastic.”
“Thank you. I made croissants too, this morning. Let me get you one.”
“I’d love one, but I’d really like a kiss first.”
“Of course,” she whispered and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He started to lower his head but picked her up instead and set her on the counter. His lips covered hers so she wrapped her legs around his waist, making him groan into her mouth. She pulled her lips from his.
“Hmm…you taste like a burger from the diner.”
“So do you, but I happen to really like those burgers,” he murmured as he cupped her face in his hands, lowered his head again, and took her lips in a deep kiss.
She groaned again, removed his hat, tossed it, and raked her fingers through his thick, dark hair. Tightening her legs around him, she pulled him closer, and she could feel his hard cock straining against the zipper of his Wranglers. His hands went around her waist, and he pulled her against him then moved his lips to her neck.
“God, I want you,” he said in a half-groan.
“I want you too, but we’re not having sex on this table.”
Holt chuckled against her neck, then raised his head and looked into her eyes. “No?”
“No. Help me down so we can get out of here.”
“I have a feeling your bed isn’t big enough.” He moved to pick his hat up from the floor.
“It’s not, but who says it has to be a bed?” She watched him put
the hat on, tug it low on his forehead, and she almost sighed.
“I like the way you think, darlin’.” He helped her down.
She cupped his cheek in her hand, and walked to one of the counters, lifted the plastic cover over a plate of croissants, and picked one up for him.
“Do you want it heated up?” she asked, holding it up.
“Please.”
“I’ll just nuke it for about twenty seconds. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“I’m anxious to try it.”
She smiled over her shoulder at him as she placed the pastry on a paper plate then put it in the microwave.
“You’ll have to eat it right away. Otherwise, it will get hard.”
“Like me.” She shot him a look and he cleared his throat. “Yes, ma’am.”
Shaking her head, Sloane set the microwave for twenty seconds, touched the Start button, folded her arms, and waited. Nearby, Holt leaned a hip against the table, stuck his hands in the pockets of his coat, and watched her.
“Too bad it’s not a Friday. I’d take you home with me.”
“You think so?”
A smirk lifted his lips. “Well, I’d ask first.”
“There are those manners again.”
He chuckled, and she realized she’d keep doing whatever she could to make him laugh because it was a very sexy sound. The microwave dinged and she opened the door to remove the croissant then placed it on the counter, picked up a knife and the butter.
“You do want butter, right?”
“Yes, ma’am, but I can do it. I might be a man, but I’m not helpless.”
Shaking her head and grinning, she cut the pastry open, buttered it, put it back on the paper plate then walked to him and presented it to him. He winked at her, picked it up, took a tentative bite, and groaned then chewed and swallowed.
“Son of a bitch, that is fantastic.”
“Thank you.” She turned back to the covered plate, lifted the lid again, and put the remaining six croissants in a bag for him. “You can take the rest of them. I have to bake more in the morning.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, croissants go stale pretty quickly, so you’re doing me a favor.”
He laughed. “I’ll do favors like this anytime.” He popped the rest of it into his mouth.
Sloane grinned. She was happy they’d gotten past what had happened the last time they’d been together. It still stung that he had acted that way, but it wasn’t because he was still hung up on his late wife. Or so she had to believe. She felt bad for him because losing someone that way couldn’t be easy, and it sounded like Carolyn had really suffered.
Holt Men of Clifton, Montana Book 12 Page 9
