Read Online What's Cooking? by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sherryl Woods
Tags: United States, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, series, Contemporary Fiction, Harlequin Special Edition
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could always make it a dare," Mike suggested. "Men can't resist a dare."
Rick shot him a disbelieving look. "Hey, man, whose side are you on?"
Mike chuckled. "Melanie's, of course. I have to go home with her."
"And the sooner the better," Maggie snapped.
Her sister beamed at Mike. "I think our work here is done," she said cheerfully. "We've checked out the situation, planted a few seeds, now we can wait to see how they grow." She winked at Rick. "That's what landscape designers like my husband do, you know. That way it escapes being labeled 'meddling.'"
"I doubt Rick's mind is fertile enough for an idea like
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that to grow on him," Maggie said dryly. "You're wasting your time."
"It's never a waste of time to look out for one of my sisters," Melanie insisted.
Maggie scowled at her. "I imagine you'll be reporting in to Ashley tonight, too."
"Of course."
"Why wasn't I cursed with brothers, instead of sisters?" Maggie inquired of no one in particular. "Surely they wouldn't meddle?or whatever it is you're calling this untimely visit."
"No, a brother would just bust in here and demand to know Rick's intentions toward his sister," Melanie said. "Be grateful for what you have. 1 haven't asked him a single question."
"Why is that?" Maggie asked.
Melanie grinned. "Because the answer's already written all over his face. The man is smitten. That'll do for now."
' Before Maggie could rally, her sister and Mike were gone, leaving her to face Rick.
"I am so sorry," she said, mortified. "Melanie may have expectations, but I assure you I don't."
"It's not a problem," he assured her, even though he looked a little shell-shocked. "I think I'd better take off, though."
"Probably a good idea," Maggie concurred. "For all I know, she's out there peeking in the windows and taking notes so she can report back to everyone in Boston."
She walked Rick to the door, feeling oddly out of sorts and fearful. Had Melanie's frank analysis scared Rick silly? It had certainly terrified her. She wouldn't
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WHAT'S COOKING?
blame him if he headed to Boston?or maybe Timbuktu?first thing in the morning.
When they reached the door, Rick tucked his hand under her chin and tilted her face up till their eyes met. "See you tomorrow."
"Really?" There was an annoying hint of relief in her voice.
"You don't think a five-minute visit with your sister is going to scare me off, do you? We have a deal."
"You made it before you realized what you were going to be up against. I wouldn't blame you for taking off."
"Not going to happen."
"Why?" she asked, honestly bewildered.
His lips curved slightly. "Haven't you heard? I'm smitten."
She watched as he strolled away, her heart in her throat. Oh, boy, she thought a little desperately. That little revelation was far more dangerous than he realized, because she was apparently more than a little smitten herself.
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Kick cursed himself for being far too eager to see Maggie the next morning. Then again, with any luck, maybe he could convince her to postpone the start of the ground rules for another day. He'd spent a very long night missing the feel of her in his arms.
As soon as the scheme entered his mind, he told himself to forget about it. He'd made a promise and if Maggie really was hung up on the shallowness of her past relationships, having him turn up first thing today trying to get her into bed would only add to her conviction that it was all she had to offer. He needed to spend a couple of hours otherwise occupied before he saw her. Maybe that would take the edge off his desire.
Though the bed-and-breakfast where he was staying offered a morning meal, he was feeling too uptight to stick around and wait for it. Besides, he wanted some-
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WHAT'S COOKING?
thing more substantial than the continental spread they put out. He'd seen a diner in town the day before that looked promising.
When he walked in, he immediately spotted Maggie's brother-in-law and another man in a booth. Mike saw him and
Rick shot him a disbelieving look. "Hey, man, whose side are you on?"
Mike chuckled. "Melanie's, of course. I have to go home with her."
"And the sooner the better," Maggie snapped.
Her sister beamed at Mike. "I think our work here is done," she said cheerfully. "We've checked out the situation, planted a few seeds, now we can wait to see how they grow." She winked at Rick. "That's what landscape designers like my husband do, you know. That way it escapes being labeled 'meddling.'"
"I doubt Rick's mind is fertile enough for an idea like
69 69
that to grow on him," Maggie said dryly. "You're wasting your time."
"It's never a waste of time to look out for one of my sisters," Melanie insisted.
Maggie scowled at her. "I imagine you'll be reporting in to Ashley tonight, too."
"Of course."
"Why wasn't I cursed with brothers, instead of sisters?" Maggie inquired of no one in particular. "Surely they wouldn't meddle?or whatever it is you're calling this untimely visit."
"No, a brother would just bust in here and demand to know Rick's intentions toward his sister," Melanie said. "Be grateful for what you have. 1 haven't asked him a single question."
"Why is that?" Maggie asked.
Melanie grinned. "Because the answer's already written all over his face. The man is smitten. That'll do for now."
' Before Maggie could rally, her sister and Mike were gone, leaving her to face Rick.
"I am so sorry," she said, mortified. "Melanie may have expectations, but I assure you I don't."
"It's not a problem," he assured her, even though he looked a little shell-shocked. "I think I'd better take off, though."
"Probably a good idea," Maggie concurred. "For all I know, she's out there peeking in the windows and taking notes so she can report back to everyone in Boston."
She walked Rick to the door, feeling oddly out of sorts and fearful. Had Melanie's frank analysis scared Rick silly? It had certainly terrified her. She wouldn't
70
WHAT'S COOKING?
blame him if he headed to Boston?or maybe Timbuktu?first thing in the morning.
When they reached the door, Rick tucked his hand under her chin and tilted her face up till their eyes met. "See you tomorrow."
"Really?" There was an annoying hint of relief in her voice.
"You don't think a five-minute visit with your sister is going to scare me off, do you? We have a deal."
"You made it before you realized what you were going to be up against. I wouldn't blame you for taking off."
"Not going to happen."
"Why?" she asked, honestly bewildered.
His lips curved slightly. "Haven't you heard? I'm smitten."
She watched as he strolled away, her heart in her throat. Oh, boy, she thought a little desperately. That little revelation was far more dangerous than he realized, because she was apparently more than a little smitten herself.
71
Kick cursed himself for being far too eager to see Maggie the next morning. Then again, with any luck, maybe he could convince her to postpone the start of the ground rules for another day. He'd spent a very long night missing the feel of her in his arms.
As soon as the scheme entered his mind, he told himself to forget about it. He'd made a promise and if Maggie really was hung up on the shallowness of her past relationships, having him turn up first thing today trying to get her into bed would only add to her conviction that it was all she had to offer. He needed to spend a couple of hours otherwise occupied before he saw her. Maybe that would take the edge off his desire.
Though the bed-and-breakfast where he was staying offered a morning meal, he was feeling too uptight to stick around and wait for it. Besides, he wanted some-
72
WHAT'S COOKING?
thing more substantial than the continental spread they put out. He'd seen a diner in town the day before that looked promising.
When he walked in, he immediately spotted Maggie's brother-in-law and another man in a booth. Mike saw him and
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