Batter of Wits: An Enemies to Lovers Small Town Romance (Donner Bakery Book 5)
Page 28
Gah! Why did he have to be so hot? And nice? And make such great coffee? And always invite me to freaking share it with him? But more importantly, why did I keep saying yes?
My nose scrunched up.
“You’re a like a ray of midnight, Willard. How many shades of black are you wearing today?” His smile shifted sideways as he teased me and his frickin’ beautiful eyes twinkled in the sunlight shining through the window.
“I’ll change my color palette when I find something darker,” I shot back along with my best don’t-mess-with-me smirk.
He gestured to my black “Genie’s Bar” tank top, under my open black cardigan, atop my black leggings. “Working early?” he asked, unaffected by the power of my smirk armor.
“Not until later. Saturday night is the best night for tips.”
Saturday nights were always crazy at Genie’s, a country western bar in town. It was the place to be for your wholesome line dancing and friendly-hookup needs. Those that wanted to skip the dancing and head straight for the hooking up headed to The Wooden Plank. And those with a taste for venereal diseases and hostile bikers headed to The Dragon Biker Bar, home of the Iron Wraith’s biker club, located right outside of town. When I got back to Green Valley, I headed straight to Genie’s to apply for a job. I’d been working in bars since the age of twenty-one and I’d learned the hard way which kind to avoid. Plus, Genie was my aunt and I was not above using family connections to land a job.
Everett gestured to the coffeepot and the container of hazelnut creamer sitting next to it—my favorite. “Help yourself.”
“Thank you. You make the best coffee.” I poured a cup, added a healthy splash of the creamer and took a sip, closing my eyes involuntarily. Yum.
I opened them to find his eyes burning into mine. I had caught him looking at me like that a few times before—eyes heated, hooded, full of sex—but the look always disappeared just as fast as I caught it. I was probably projecting my own dirty thoughts onto him.
Quit imagining things.
My eyebrows raised over my mug as he quickly turned away and placed his own mug in the sink.
He cleared his throat, but his voice still came out low and husky, “So, uh—there are doughnuts on the table. Help yourself. I’m going to shower.” He opened his mouth again as if to say something else. The silence hung in the air between us like invisible strings pulling us closer. But then he closed his mouth and looked away. And I refused to let myself say anything more to him, so whatever that moment was, it ended.
I loved listening to his smoky, sexy voice. I wished I could talk to him all day just to hear the sound of it. But the more I talked to him, the more I fell into like with him and I couldn’t have that. So, I kept quiet and watched him walk away instead.
“Bye…” I whispered to his back as he turned and headed up the kitchen staircase. I would not imagine him all naked and slippery with soap in the shower…
I should have just stayed in my camper van at the Walmart parking lot in Maryville. Being semi-homeless was almost easier. With a twist of the key I could drive away from my problems. Escape. Sometimes I wanted to do just that. But my family and my best friend were here in Green Valley, and I wanted them to trust me. But mostly, I wanted somewhere to belong again. Plus, I had a job I actually liked for a change. Running away is what got me into this mess. It was time to rediscover the roots I’d left behind and attempt to start over.
No more running.
** END SNEAK PEEK **
Carpentry and Cocktails Releases April 28th, 2020!
Other Books by Karla Sorensen
The Ward Family series (A Washington Wolves spin-off)
Focused
Smartypants Romance Books
Baking Me Crazy
Batter of Wits
Washington Wolves
The Bombshell Effect
The Ex Effect
The Marriage Effect
Three Little Words
By Your Side
Light Me Up
Tell Them Lies
The Bachelors of the Ridge
Dylan
Garrett
Cole
Michael
Tristan
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Other Books by Smartypants Romance
Green Valley Chronicles
The Donner Bakery Series
Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen (#1)
Stud Muffin by Jiffy Kate (#2)
No Whisk, No Reward by Ellie Kay (#3)
Beef Cake by Jiffy Kate (#4)
Batter of Wits by Karla Sorensen (#5)
The Green Valley Library Series
Love in Due Time by L.B. Dunbar (#1)
Crime and Periodicals by Nora Everly (#2)
Prose Before Bros by Cathy Yardley (#3)
Shelf Awareness by Katie Ashley (#4)
Carpentry and Cocktails by Nora Everly (#5)
Love in Deed by L.B. Dunbar (#6)
Scorned Women’s Society Series
My Bare Lady by Piper Sheldon (#1)
The Treble with Men by Piper Sheldon (#2)
Park Ranger Series
Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott (#1)
Stranger Ranger by Daisy Prescott (#2)
The Leffersbee Series
Been There Done That by Hope Ellis (#1)
The Higher Learning Series
Upsy Daisy by Chelsie Edwards (#1)
Seduction in the City
Cipher Security Series
Code of Conduct by April White (#1)
Code of Honor by April White (#2)
Cipher Office Series
Weight Expectations by M.E. Carter (#1)
Sticking to the Script by Stella Weaver (#2)
Cutie and the Beast by M.E. Carter (#3)