Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(43)

Unless she needed another reason to hide out in the kitchen. And cry.


She’d restocked the dry goods and was rolling silverware when the wind chimes clanked behind her, signaling more customers.


Macie groaned. “Velma, can you take the next table? I forgot to—” drink all the cooking sherry in the pantry, “—check the apples for worms—”


“—don’t worry, I got it handled. Mmm. Mmm. Lord, I wouldn’t mind handling him.”


“What?”


“Nothin’.” Macie heard the spritz spritz of Velma’s breath spray and then Velma cooed, “Howdy there, sugar. Why don’t you rest them fine legs, sit and take a load off?”


Sugar? Macie turned and saw Carter standing in the middle of the diner. Ignoring Velma, ignoring everyone, just staring at her.


Still feeling cranky, she demanded, “What are you doing here?”


Without a word, without taking his eyes off hers, Carter stalked behind the counter.


When he stood in front of her, he curled his hands around her head and slanted his mouth over hers. He kissed her like she was air, like she was food, like she was everything.


Damn him.


The diner was dead quiet except for the sound of heavy breathing. Hers mostly.


Carter pulled back scarcely a millimeter and whispered, “That is what I’m doinghere. Oh. And this is why I’m here too.” He kissed her again. Like she was naked.


“Can I get some more coffee back here?”


“Hush up, Clem,” Velma snapped. “This is better than the dinner theater down in Lingle.”


But Clem’s whiny voice brought Macie back to reality. She retreated from Carter’s irresistible kisses.


He crowded her again. “I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you.”


“Sit down. You’re not supposed to be back here.”


“It’s okay with me,” Velma said cheerily.


“You’re not helping. He already thinks rules don’t apply to him.”


Carter grinned.


Macie pointed at the counter. “Sit.”


“I missed you.”


“Carter—”


“I missed you something fierce, Macie. Don’t be mad at me.”


“Aw. See? The man is here to apologize.”


“Stay out of it, Velma.”


Macie snagged the coffee pot and dodged Carter’s wandering hands. When she returned from refilling Clem’s cup, Carter was seated safely behind the counter studying the menu.


“What’s good?”


Velma answered, “Well, the New York strip is on special. But you oughta try the chicken breast in lemon vodka sauce. It’ll knock your boots off. It’s Macie’s recipe.”


Carter shot Macie a sly smile. “Is that the secret sauce you used to poach my eggs the other mornin’?”


Velma choked on her coffee.


Macie sputtered, “B-but I never—”


“—have time to cook for me when we roll out of bed, so I sure appreciate it when you do, darlin’.”


She leaned over the counter. “I am so going to kick your ass, McKay.”


Carter scooted closer so they were practically nose to nose. “Did you say kiss?”


“No, you smug bast—”


He pressed his lips to hers once. Twice. Then he whispered, “Play nice, or I’ll be forced to show you what I do to naughty girls.”


“Back off, or I’ll be forced to show you how the bucket of rocky mountain oysters in the cooler came to be earlier this morning.”


“Ouch.”


Clem waved her down and Macie headed to the cash register. She chatted with Clem, ignoring Velma and Carter’s whispers and laughter. Only after Velma had taken Carter’s order and disappeared into the kitchen, did she return to the counter where Carter sat, watching her like a hawk.


“Are you really mad at me?” he asked quietly.


She fiddled with the water pitcher. “No.”


“Good. So. When do you get off?”


Whenever I think of you.


Dammit. Her stupid hormones were a menace. No. This stupid man was a menace to her normally well-behaved hormones.


“Macie?”


She refocused. “Umm. In about an hour.”


“Cool. I’ll hang around and wait for you.”


“Don’t bother. I’m sure you have plenty of other things to do.”


His eyes narrowed. “You are mad.”


Before she could deny it, Velma burst through the swinging doors holding a gigantic ice cream concoction decorated with whipped cream and two cherries. “Here’s your root beer float, hon.”


“Thanks.”


“Extra whipped cream, just like you asked.”


Carter smirked at Macie. “You know how much I like sweet, thick cream.”


Heat flashed between her legs. Bad, bad hormones.