Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(73)

Rylan sighed and looked up at her. “Man, you really are a nutcracker.”

That did it. She started laughing uncontrollably, her emotions having gone completely bonkers.

His eyes flared with heat. “I warned you...”

Oh dear lord, her laughter really did turn him on. She ducked past him and his tempting I-want-you-now expression to the other side of the display counter. Which had no exit. “Rylan, you do know the storefront is not made of one-way glass, right?”

At the telling blush of…fascination over her own observation, he grinned.

He continued to stalk her. Until her back bumped into the wall. End of the road.

“Look.” She tried for stern but failed miserably as the situation continued to evade her control. “Just because Luke is at his home kitchen this morning doesn’t mean he won’t stop by here,” she lied. “And bring-your-sex-to-work day really is a holiday reserved for business owners like Dani and Luke—that company perk is most assuredly not in employee contracts.”

A twitch of humor tipped his lips.

“Plus, I need to have all this chocolate packaging done before we open in an hour,” she added primly, proud of her ability to continue reasoning despite her imagination having gone on the attack with images of Rylan stripped him down to nothing…her atop the nearest counter…

And that’s when her brain lost all control of the helm.

Pirated thoughts of the dirtiest variety soon had her noting the optimal butt-level height of the counters. They really did look to have a sturdy foundation...

Rylan muttered a silent oath. “You’re killing me. Stop looking at the counters like that. It’s plenty strong to do everything you’re fantasizing. You really want to take a run at the scenario those pretty eyes of yours are begging for? Me taking you right here?”

Damn him. And damn her eyes for being portals to her mind, or whatever part of her body was currently in control.

“Sugar, I think it’s time you tell me what you want,” he sighed gruffly. “A no-tomorrows quickie on the counter or the whole package with me?” Stopping a few inches in front of her, he cupped her cheek and gazed into her eyes. “Personally, I want you to pick the whole package,” he whispered against her lips. “Do you know that if I had been allowed to enter Luke’s Random Acts of Romance challenge, I would’ve had a hundred entries in mind? All for you.”

A flush of pleasure spread across her cheeks.

“I’ve thought about as least that many ways to win you over.” He trailed his thumb along her jawline. “I figured if I had entered the challenge, odds were I would’ve won the prize due to the sheer volume of my entries alone. So, I went ahead and awarded myself the prize. Well, half of it, at least.” He pulled out an embossed ivory card from his back pocket.

“You bought a certificate from that spa?” Quinn recognized the ivory card immediately because she’d actually been the one to pick the spa for Luke’s contest. Of course she’d never had the time or money to ever go there as a customer herself, but she’d heard good things.

“For you. It’s a single certificate because I didn’t want you to feel there were strings attached to it. I know how hard you work and I wanted you to have a day to relax. Even if you don’t want to see where this can lead between us, it’s still yours.” He kissed her gently, silently giving her the promise that there was no pressure to say yes and no guilt in saying no.

She looked at the spa certificate and then at the sinfully hot man asking her to let him love her in the way she’d always dreamed—two of the sweetest offers she’d ever received.

“Yes...I’m saying yes,” she replied breathlessly. “I don’t just want a ride on the counter. I want the whole package.” She looked into his eyes. “With you.”



*



THE DIFFERENCE in Quinn the past few days could only leave Luke to believe she was in love. Or close to it. For the first time ever. That remarkable realization was what made this conversation ten times more difficult. He hated seeing her perpetual smile lately vanish and get replaced by worry over the financial problems he’d put them in.

“Quinn, I just found out this morning. Harold’s son Noah was the one to call and tell me directly.” Luke waited for the bomb he’d just dropped to sink in. “The lease increase would start our next contract period in July if we decide to accept and renew.” Luke looked up warily.

Quinn fell back against her office chair, stunned. “Double our monthly lease?”

“He said a few wineries are interested in setting up shop here in Cactus Creek and our building is the top choice because of the cellar and the location. Apparently, besides the two who want to buy the building, a third is part of some big franchise offering to pay double what we’re paying to lease. But he says he’ll stick with us if we can match what they’re offering.”

“There’s no way we can afford that drastic a hike. Since we went with the three-year business loan for the lower interest rate and higher monthlies, nearly all our profits go straight to our payments as is.” She shook her head sadly. “Crazy as it sounds, I’ve grown to love it here almost as much as you, but I simply cannot see us paying that huge sum each month to stay here.”

“It’s not as if this space isn’t worth it, Quinn. You know the amount isn’t unreasonable.”