He started to open the cabinet, but stopped when his eyes locked onto the plate on top of the fridge. “Woman!” he growled when he spied the plate of brownies. “Tell me that you didn’t make these today,” he said and lifted the plate, bringing them down to his nose. “Aw honey, you just made these,” he groaned. “They’re still warm!”
She glanced at him over her shoulder once again and her heart melted when he lifted one of her brownies and ate half of it in one bite. “You’re a chocolate man?” she asked, thinking he looked adorable in a rugged, powerful, mountain-man kind of way. Well, as adorable as a mountain-man could look. He really was too raw and rough looking to be labeled “adorable”.
“You’ll spoil your appetite,” she teased, and reached behind him for two plates. She then scooped up an enormous helping of her chicken casserole, then sliced a bit of corn bread, handing it all to him.
He took the plate and found the forks, handing her one and keeping one for himself. Leaning against the countertop, he looked down at her and lust surged through him. She was in his shirt and her slender legs had never looked sexier. Well, except when she was completely naked. Or wearing jeans. Or when…his body hardened yet again just thinking about those gorgeous legs wrapped around his waist. He’d like to see them….
“What do you think?” she asked, holding a bite of the casserole on her fork, but looking up at him with an anxious expression in her eyes.
He looked down at the untouched casserole and took a fast bite, thinking that the faster he ate dinner, the faster he could get her back into bed.
But then the spiciness mixed with a creamy, cheesy sauce hit him and he slowed down. “Wow! This is really good, Violet!” he told her, taking another bite. His stomach growled at that moment, telling him how hungry he really was. Everything got pushed to the back of his mind when Violet was around.
He ate everything she’d served him, and even took another helping, devouring all of it and was truly impressed with her cooking skills. While they ate, she told him about the latest art pieces she’d discovered from a new artist, as well as her idea of having a craft show in the summertime, a way to maybe encourage other artists to show their crafts to tourists. Creek was struck by how generous she was. Violet didn’t even care if the artists sold their items in her store or not, she just wanted to help them, to encourage them, and give anyone a chance to sell their ideas in an open forum.
She was sweet, generous and intelligent!
It struck him once again that he must have misunderstood George. There was no way that this woman was a prostitute! Creek shook his head, laughing at himself because he’d so completely misunderstood that conversation. It was absolutely ridiculous that this sweet, warm, caring woman would sell her body to the highest bidder.
“Come here,” he growled and pulled her back into his arms. “You’re beautiful,” he breathed a moment before he lifted her back up into his arms, loving the way she wrapped her own arms around his neck and curled up against him. “Grab the brownies, woman. I have some new ideas.”
Violet laughed, but she grabbed the plate of brownies as he carried her into the bedroom. She’d thought he only wanted to eat the brownies in bed and then have sex.
Oh my, she’d been so wrong! As she drifted off to sleep that night, she made a mental note to make another batch of brownies for tomorrow night. But she was too exhausted and too sated to do more than snuggle closer to Creek as she fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 9
Creek stared at the disgusting man standing in his kitchen. “Excuse me?” he growled, wanting to punch him for the words.
George crossed his arms over his chest. “No need to get all nasty about this. Just a business transaction, my man.”
“I’m not your man, and I don’t transact illegal business.”
The fat man only raised his eyebrows. “Oh really? So what’s different about this time versus the first time?” When Creek had no response, George chuckled, almost salivating at the windfall he was about to receive. “You’ve been with Violet for the past several nights, ain’t ye?”
“That’s none of your business,” Creek snapped.
George tilted his head. “Well, now that’s where you’re wrong. See, I’m her business manager. The pretty woman doesn’t like to get her fingers dirty, so to speak.” He laughed at his own joke before continuing. “You’ve received the services, now it is time to pay.”
Creek could barely speak. Surely this was some sort of joke. Done in bad taste, but still…