Page 23 of Erotic Temptations 2

“Sure,” Kane said, easy. “They smell incredible. Been torturing me for ten minutes.”

“Sit,” Estell commanded, gesturing to the end of the table. “Elijah, serve the man cookies.”

Was there a polite way to crawl under the rug and die? No? I grabbed a plate, shaking off powdered sugar, and handed it to Kane.

“Um. Whatever you do, don’t let them wrangle you into judging,” I whispered. “They’re holding me hostage as taste tester, unless you’re into old ladies shoving cookies down your throat.”

He took a bite of lemon bar first, wincing a little when the zing hit. “That’s bright,” he said. “But good.”

Sophia looked smug. Mabel, not to be outdone, shoved the fudge brownie at him next.

“Too late,” I said under my breath. “You didn’t escape fast enough.”

Kane didn’t hesitate. He inhaled the whole square, then made a sound that was suspiciously close to a moan. “Damn. That’s amazing.”

I wanted to hear that moan again. In my bedroom. While naked.

She preened. “Told you.”

“I don’t mind being held hostage with you,” he whispered when the ladies moved to the stove to pick out other cookies to fatten us up with. “At least we’ll be in it together.”

Nope. Uh-uh. I was ignoring that comment. My sugared-up brain was not ready for it.

I poured him coffee from the pot, trying not to let my hand shake. My cheeks probably looked radioactive, but whatever.

Mabel and Sophia exchanged glances, clearly pondering ways to get more compliments from Kane, but they kept it subtle, just beaming like proud aunts. Estell stayed busy with the box of ornaments in the corner, though she snuck peeks over her shoulder.

It was almost…normal? For a second, I felt something warm settle in my stomach, and it wasn’t just the million calories.

Kane strolled over when the others got distracted swapping recipes. “Is it really safe in here?”

I snorted. “If you survive the cookies, you get a medal.”

He looked at my apron, then my face. “I like the slogan,” he said, deadpan.

My throat closed up.

Even though the ladies were busy, I felt their eyes glued to us. I motioned for Kane to exit the kitchen. They were already nosy enough. I didn’t need them prying in…whatever this was.

“You live in this building or just hanging out with your friends?” Kane bit into a cookie I didn’t know he had in his hand.

“Next door.” I never knew chewing could be so erotic.

“No shit.” He grinned. I wanted to roll naked in sugar and beg him to lick it off. “I just moved in. Wanted to keep a closer eye on my granddad. Not in the same apartment though. His snores could wake the dead.”

Same building. We were living in the same building? This building? My brain didn’t know what to do with that information.

“Could use some help unpacking, if you’re free.” He glanced past me. “Bring some cookies.” His gaze once again fell to my apron. “Apartment 4C.”

He walked out before I could answer him.

Which was a good thing, because I had no idea what to say.

* * * *

Two hours and three outfit changes later, I examined myself in the bedroom mirror. Turned this way, then that, bent my knees a little to assess the jeans situation. Had my ass always looked this…optimistically padded? Hard to say.

I tried a smile but ended up with something between a wince and a smirk. I was one catch-phrase apron away from a full meltdown.