Page 28 of Fairy Cakes in Winter

“Thanks. I think.”

Scott puffed his cheeks out and released a slow stream of air. “You know, that was a first for me.”

“You said you were a mile-high guy, so technically, you’re the seasoned expert,” I huffed.

“Shh.” He snort-laughed, craning his neck around the near-empty car for comedic effect. “That was ages ago, and I told you I was drunk at the time. I don’t know what the hell got into me last week. I’m not sorry it happened by any means, but I’m not sure where that leaves us, ’cause…it wouldn’t be wise to do that again.”

“Oh, right. No. Definitely not wise,” I sputtered, probably turning five shades of red.

My heart dropped for no good reason. It would’ve been weird if he’d swooped me into his arms, smothered me in kisses, and told me his life was now complete. I didn’t know Scott well enough to have “feelings” for him. I just had lust.

A lot of it.

And at this very moment, his body heat was setting off a carnal wave through my internal system, tripping every nerve ending and sending tingles of awareness along my spine. Don’t get me started on the state of my cock. If he so much as put his hand on my knee, I’d spontaneously combust.

However, I didn’t come to England looking for a regular booty call. I came to visit my mother…then volunteered to help a new friend grow his business…free of charge.

I supposed I could charge him in hand jobs. Or blowjobs.

Scott choked as his eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Excuse me?”

“Gesundheit.”

“I didn’t sneeze, Theo. That was an abbreviation for ‘Excuse me, did you really just suggest a sexual favors payment plan?’” he asked, clearly amused.

Oh, my God. Did I say that out loud?

I widened my eyes comically and covered my mouth. “Never!”

I scooted as far from him as possible, arranging my features into my very most innocent expression.

Scott didn’t look convinced. He scratched his beard and squinted. “And how would that work? One hour equals a blowjob? Two hours is a combo hand—”

I shoved his biceps and shushed him but had a hard time keeping a straight face when he dissolved into laughter. I couldn’t help it. I was hopelessly attracted to the tough guy with the fierce glower who baked cakes and snickered like a teenager.

But I could resist his unwitting charms. No problem at all.

“I would never suggest such a thing,” I hissed.

“You pretty much just did.”

“I did not.”

“Did too.”

My mouth hung open for a long moment before I finally huffed, “I wouldn’t do it again if you were the last man on Earth.”

Total lie. If there was a chance of a lightning strike in the area, I’d be doomed.

“No?” Scott flashed a lopsided smile and held his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, that’s cool. I can’t say the same. If we were hypothetically the last two men on the planet, I’d be down.”

“Well, you’d have to find someone else…to be down with.”

“How? If there’s no one else, I’m shit outta luck,” he countered, a wide grin splitting his face in half.

I shrugged. “Oh, well.”

After a minute or so of strained silence—on my part anyway—Scott bumped my shoulder playfully. “Just kidding. If there were only two other guys available, I’d still choose you. Unless one of them was Henry Cavill.”