Whiskey Sharp: Jagged. Lauren Dane

of sliding back into anything less than true honesty between them. Skittish was fine. Aloof wasn’t.

      They made their way back to the parking lot, not talking. But he knew it wasn’t that she was ignoring him, but thinking of a response.

      He enjoyed the birdsong until she stopped, turning to face him. “I love chocolate cake. And I love it when people make me food. You have excellent forearms and I like to look at them and your butt when you’re in a kitchen. I’m fairly sure I’d like to watch you bake.”

      Her words spilled out, tumbling one after the next and he caught each one.

      “You should feel free to come by the bakery when I’m working and I’ll set you up in the corner with a cup of tea and something sweet while you watch me knead dough.”

      “Don’t joke. I think I just had an orgasm at that visual.”

      He paused at the revelation of another layer of this woman. Then he grinned. “It’s not a joke. Especially after that comment. I’m there pretty much every day we’re open. Otherwise, should you need an orgasm, I’m happy to deliver that as well as dinner.”

      She pinkened and he ducked to kiss her.

      People came up the trail so they moved to the side as they started back down once more.

      * * *

      RACHEL WATCHED THE scenery whiz by as he drove. Ideas came often enough that she had her notepad out and began working on a new idea, not realizing how close they were to home until he stopped at a stop sign just three blocks away.

      “Would you like to come over?” she asked him.

      “Yes. I’ll shower and come over after.”

      As her bathroom had a pretty small shower, one that would challenge the width of his shoulders she was sure, she didn’t invite him to share hers.

      He dropped her off and waited until she’d unlocked all three locks on the front door and went inside. Where she relocked everything, reset the alarm and toed off her shoes, tucking them into the hall closet before padding into the kitchen, where Alexsei stood at the sink.

      Maybe was cleaning up what appeared to be an exploding blender.

      “So I thought, how hard could it be to make smoothies? This is why I don’t cook,” Maybe said when she caught sight of Rachel.

      “I suggested moderation in the total volume of fruit in the blender,” Alexsei said, making Rachel laugh.

      “Maybe thinks moderation is for suckers,” she told him.

      “Only when it’s about food. And sex. And sleep,” Maybe added.

      “Atta girl. Vic is coming over in a bit so I’m going to clean up from our hike and be back down.”

      Of course, Maybe was sitting on her bed after her shower.

      “You’re in ambush mode all the time now,” Rachel said as she got changed. “One would think you’d have less time to stalk me like a jungle cat when you have a hot dude in your bed to take to bone town.”

      “He sleeps with me. Believe me when I tell you I have a frequent flier card for trips to bone town. Speaking of bone town, I note the very sexy matching underwear you’ve got going on. I like to see you all giddy and sexy and stuff.” Maybe picked up a candle on the nightstand, sniffed it and put it back.

      “Did Alexsei tell you about Valentine’s Day?” Rachel asked her.

      “He did. It’ll be my first Valentine’s Day with like a for-real boyfriend. I know this is old hat for you but as such things go, it’s pretty cool so far. Except I don’t really know what to get him. What are you going to get Vic?”

      “Jesus, Maybe! Now I’m going to be all nervous about it. I have no idea.”

      “Well fuck. You’re the expert. What did you get Brad? You lived with him. He was all serious business until he put his penis in someone else while you were in a coma and all.”

      Rachel snickered. Leave it to her sister to know just what to say to make her laugh. “Well see, that’s why you shouldn’t ask me for my opinion.”

      “I highly doubt he cheated on you because you got him what? A watch or something?”

      “I’m sure he’d say so.” Her ex was a total dick. A cheating dick who’d stolen money from their joint account while she was in that coma Maybe had just mentioned. “As for presents, I got him a cashmere sweater once. A watch, but a really nice one he wanted and wasn’t going to shut up about until he got it. And the last one I got him a Coach duffel. All very good gifts. All things he wanted. But I don’t think I’ll give Vic any of those things.”

      “Why? He’d look gorgeous in a cashmere sweater.”

      “He totally would. But I don’t think those presents would be for Valentine’s Day. I don’t know. It just feels like he’d appreciate a gift that meant something to him.” He struck her that way. Sentimental but not in a negative sense. “I’m going to look around and when I see the right thing it’ll jump out at me. I hope. It’s not like I can bake him something.”

      Maybe nodded. “Not that you should complain because that means he will bake for you. And by extension, me. But you did give me good advice just now. I’ve been looking for the right present but I haven’t found it yet. I should be patient.”

      “You got him that antique shaving set for Christmas and he loved that. You’re doing fine.”

      “Look at us, panicking about Valentine’s Day like adults.” Maybe linked her arm with Rachel’s before heading back downstairs where the commotion signaled Vic’s arrival.