Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
N othin’ But Muffins was dead the Friday after Thanksgiving. The parking spaces in front were all empty and not a soul sat at the tables Casey could see through the window. Either everyone in town had gone to the big cities to Christmas shop or they’d stuffed themselves on turkey and pumpkin pie and had no room for muffins.
Of course, Casey wasn’t there for muffins either. He was there to make sure Noelle had cleared things up with her followers. He’d been checking her profile page all day, and so far, there hadn’t been one post and he wanted to know what was taking so long. He was ready to wash his hands of this Noelle Holiday situation so things could go back to normal.
Because he sure didn’t feel normal now.
He felt grumpy and jumpy and not anything like his easygoing self. And people were starting to take notice. Rome and Cloe kept asking him if everything was all right and, this morning, he caught Sam looking at him with concern. It was concerning. Casey was extremely concerned about all the thoughts that kept popping into his head. Thoughts that were all centered on an annoying baker with cherry-red lips. He wanted them to stop.
He parked his truck and hopped out. The temperature had dropped and it finally felt like fall had arrived. He flipped up the collar of his fleece-lined jean jacket as he moved through the brisk wind toward the door.
As soon as the bell jangled, Noelle appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. It was obvious she’d been baking. She had an oven mitt on one hand and flour dusted the ruffled holly apron she wore. Her welcoming smile fizzled as soon as she saw him.
“Oh. You.”
“I guess you were hoping for Reid Mitchell.”
Last night, his mind had gone back to what Noelle had said about finding a cowboy who knew how to commit. He’d realized that was why she’d saved a seat for Reid at Thanksgiving dinner. She wanted Reid as Casey’s replacement. Her next words confirmed it.
“Reid would be a much more welcome sight.”
His anger returned and he scowled. “Look, I don’t care what cowboy you replace me with as long as you do.”
She placed the mitt-covered hand on her hip and matched his scowl. “Is that why you’re here? To make sure I let all your girlfriends know you’re still available? Well, you don’t need to worry. I plan on posting as soon as I close up.”
“About your new boyfriend Reid?”
What the hell? Why couldn’t he shut up about Reid? Of course, he knew why. Just the thought of Noelle giving Reid her blossom made him feel like hitting something. He didn’t know why. He shouldn’t care who she gave her blossom to. But for some reason he did. This was confirmed when he was flooded with relief at her next words.
“Reid isn’t going to be my new cowboy hero. No one is. I’m just going to tell my followers that I’m heading back to Dallas after the holidays so I decided it doesn’t make sense to get in a serious relationship. And I decided to break things off with you.”
“That’s not exactly coming clean. You were never with me.”
She sent him an annoyed look. “I know that, but would it hurt you to just play along this once. You owe me for all the hell you’ve put me through over the years.”
He figured she had a point. “Fine. Just as long as you make it clear that it’s over between us.” He hesitated. “So why Dallas? I mean it’s a nice city, but you seem pretty happy to be back with your family and working here at Nothin’ But Muffins.”
She glanced around and smiled. “I do love working here. But once Sheryl gets back, I won’t be needed. And I have to make a living doing something. I’ve applied at numerous hotels and restaurants in Dallas as a pastry chef. Hopefully, one will pan out.”
“If those Thanksgiving pies you made are any indication, I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting a job.”
She stared at him. “Was that a compliment, Casey Remington?”
He shrugged. “Just saying those were damn good pies.”
“You would know. You tried every single one.”
“What can I say? I have a sweet tooth.”
She studied him intently for a second before she waved her mitt. “Come on back in the kitchen, I need your help.”
“With what?”
“Taste-testing my new muffin.”
He really wished he and his high school buddies hadn’t used the word muffin to describe a certain female body part. Because her words instantly evoked a naughty image of Noelle sitting on the stainless-steel island wearing nothing but her ruffled apron with her legs spread invitingly.
“Case? Are you okay?”
It took a real effort to push the image out of his mind. “Yeah. I’m fine. I just . . . uhh . . . need to get back to the ranch. So I’ll have to taste your . . . umm . . . muffin another time.” Was his face on fire? He felt like his face was flaming from the inside out.
“Don’t be silly. It won’t take but a second. And take off your coat. You look like you’re burning up.” She whirled and headed back to the kitchen.
Casey should probably slip out the door. Plenty of work did await him back at the ranch. But for some reason, he didn’t leave. Maybe it was the thought of going back out in the icy wind when the café was so warm and cozy with its glowing Christmas tree in the corner and the delicious scent filling the air. Or maybe it was the lure of Noelle’s muffin. Whatever the reason, he took off his jacket and hung it on the coatrack before following her into the kitchen.
The delicious scent was even stronger in here. He took a deep breath as he watched her put on another mitt and pull two trays of steamy, plump muffins out of the oven.
“I have two contenders for a new holiday muffin,” she said as she set them on the stainless-steel countertop. “The Sugarplum Fairy muffin and the Merry Berry muffin. For the Sugarplum Fairy, I used a batter similar to the flavors in a sugar cookie dough, but instead of vanilla, I used almond extract. I filled it with diced plums and added a sugared plum slice to the top. For the Merry Berry muffins, I used a batter similar to the one we use for our blueberry muffins, but instead of blueberries I added a raspberry compote swirl, then topped with three sugared raspberries. Which one do you want to—no wait, let me surprise you.”
She tugged off her mitts, then took him by the arms and positioned him with his back against the counter. “Close your eyes.”
“Close my eyes? I don’t think so. Not when the rolling pin you threatened me with is sitting right there.”
“Don’t be silly. If I wanted to hit you in the head with a rolling pin, I would have done it the other night. And as much as I’ve dreamed about poisoning you, I’m not going to do it today. Now close your eyes.”
He studied her for a moment before he did what she asked. Only a few seconds later, something warm and soft brushed his lips. He opened his mouth and a muffin was crammed in. It was good, but it was nothing compared to the next muffin she offered him. This muffin was warm and sugary and flavored with sweet little chunks of plum.
“Sweet Lord,” he muttered around the confection. “This is awesome.”
“Awesome how?”
He swallowed and opened his eyes. “Awesome as in that’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.”
Her entire face lit up like the Christmas tree in the other room. He couldn’t ever remember making Noelle smile. It felt good. Damn good.
“I knew it!” She punched the air. “Sugarplum Fairy it is!” She peeled back the wrapper of the muffin she held and took a big bite and then closed her eyes as she chewed. “I knew this was the one. It’s just . . . sinful delight.”
What was sinful delight was the woman standing in front of him.
He’d always thought Noelle was pretty. But this close, he could see how creamy her complexion was and how delicate her features. She’d pulled her long bangs back with a stretchy red headband, revealing her high forehead and the arched perfection of her dark eyebrows. Thick twin fans of lashes rested on her high cheekbones and there was a smudge of flour on the tip of her button nose. But it was her cupid bow lips that held his attention. They were more of a dusty rose color today and dusted with crystalized sugar that glittered like tiny diamonds as she spoke.
“It’s like sugar cookies and plum pudding mixed in one perfect little muffin package.” She took another bite and moaned. The sound slammed into him like a Brahman bull at full speed. He wanted to hear that sound again . . . but this time, he wanted to be the cause of it.
Without any direction from his brain, he lowered his head and ran his tongue along her plump sugarcoated bottom lip. Her breath sucked in and her eyes flashed open. He braced for the slap that was sure to come. Or a crack over the head with her rolling pin. And he deserved it. What had he been thinking, licking Noelle like she was a big scoop of his favorite plum sherbet?
But she didn’t slap him. Or crack him over the head.
Those bright green eyes stared back at him for only a second before she dropped what remained of the muffin, grabbed the front of his shirt . . . and tugged him closer.
Talk about sinful delight. Her lips were better than any muffin. They settled against his in a soft press before they opened and invited him into the wet heat of her mouth. Once he got a taste, he realized he’d made a big mistake. Noelle was the best thing he’d ever tasted in his life. And he wanted more. Much more. He wanted to gobble her up until there was nothing left.
She seemed to feel the same way.
She gripped his shirt so tightly it cut into the back of his neck. When he tried to change the angle of the kiss for a deeper fit, she fisted her hands in his hair and tugged him back with a sexy growl that made his knees weak. Then using the hungry slid of her lips and lusty strokes of her tongue, she proceeded to completely obliterate any kiss that had come before.
Any woman who had come before.
There was only one woman.
This woman.
Noelle.
A jingle penetrated his thoughts, followed quickly by—“Yoo-hoo! Anyone home?”
They jumped apart, then stared at each other in disbelief. Had he just kissed Noelle? Had she just kissed him back? He was still trying to come to terms with the answers when two Lab puppies came charging into the kitchen like wiggling balls of energy.
“Junie! Johnny! Get back here, you little rascals.” Melba hurried in and tried to grab the puppies, but it looked like they had gotten good at escaping capture. Johnny Cash grabbed the muffin Noelle had dropped and ducked under a low shelf while June Carter headed for the pantry.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Noelle chased after the dog and scooped her up. Junie rewarded her with sloppy kisses. She giggled and cuddled the golden Lab close before she pointed at the thumping black tail sticking out from under the shelf. “Grab him, Case. Sheryl Ann will have a fit if she finds out dogs were loose in her kitchen.”
Once he was down on the floor, he took a few minutes to breathe deeply and collect himself before he reached under the shelf and pulled the puppy out. As soon as he lifted the ornery guy into his arms, he got the same sloppy licks Noelle had.
“I’m sorry,” Melba said. “The little scallywags jumped right out of the basket before I knew what was happening.”
“It’s okay.” Noelle laughed as Junie gave her more kisses. “But we probably better get them out of the kitchen before a health inspector shows up.” She headed into the front and Melba and Casey followed. Once there, she sat down on the floor and started playing with the puppy. Seeing his sister free and having fun had Johnny wiggling to get down. Casey set him on the floor and he raced over to join Junie and Noelle. There was something about watching Noelle playing with two puppies by the Christmas tree that made Casey’s stomach feel all light and airy.
“So I saw your truck parked outside and figured you might be here,” Melba said. “Have you talked with your daddy about taking Junie and Johnny?”
He pulled his gaze from Noelle and the puppies. “I’m sorry, Mel, but I’ve been a little distracted lately. I’ll ask him tonight.”
“Distracted?” Melba glanced between him and Noelle and he wished he’d used another word. “There’s been a rumor going around town about you two. Of course, I’ve never put much store in rumors. I prefer to get my news from the horse’s—or both horses’ mouths.”
Before Casey could reply, Noelle did. “I wouldn’t put much store in the rumors, Mel.” She pulled her apron tie from Junie’s mouth. “Everyone in town should know better than to think Casey and I would ever get together.”
It was the truth. So why did her words rub him wrong? Maybe because, only minutes before, they’d been kissing like they couldn’t get enough of each other. But that had been a mistake. A huge mistake. He had come here today to get Noelle out of his thoughts, not to add more thoughts of her.
“That’s what I told folks,” Melba said. “But I guess people were just hoping for a holiday romance.”
“Nope.” Noelle firmly shook her head. “No romance here.” Her gaze connected with his and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “And I’ll be happy to take the puppies, Melba.”
Casey should have thanked his lucky stars and left. He didn’t need two more dogs. But he seemed to be on a roll of doing things he shouldn’t do. “I’ll take them. After all, I called first dibs.”
“But won’t your daddy skin you alive if you bring home two dogs without asking permission, Casey?” Melba asked.
Noelle smirked, which made Casey more than a little embarrassed and snappish. “I don’t have to ask permission. I’ll take the dogs.”
Melba’s eyes lit up. “Great! I have their food and dishes back at the sheriff’s office. If you swing by on your way home, I’ll give you everything you need. In fact, why don’t I just take these two rascals with me now so we can say our goodbyes.” She scooped up the dogs and put them in the basket, hooking them to the leashes wound around the handle.
Which made Casey realize that Melba had planned the entire escape.
He was starting to wonder if Noelle was her coconspirator. Especially when a satisfied smile settled over her face once Melba was gone.
“So you’re working with Melba now?” he said. “Conning people into foster animals?”
She laughed. “They’re adorable, Casey—tricked into getting them or not. I’m sure Cloe will be thrilled when you bring them home.”
“She’ll be the only one. Sam will throw a fit and Rome is feeling a little stressed out about becoming a daddy so I doubt he’ll be happy about dealing with two pup—” He cut off when she flipped over the closed sign. “What are you doing?”
Noelle glanced over her shoulder. “I’m closing up and don’t want anyone interrupting me when I make my social media post about you no longer being my cowboy hero.”
“You’re doing that now?”
“I thought that’s what you wanted.”
It was. It was exactly what he wanted. Even if there was a niggling feeling in his stomach that said differently. “Great! I’ll let you get to it.” He grabbed his jacket off the rack and then glanced around for his hat.
“It’s in the kitchen. I think I knocked it off when . . .” She let the sentence drift off.
“Right.” He turned and headed into the kitchen. Sure enough, his hat was on the floor right next to the counter. He scooped it up, then headed back to the door where Noelle was waiting. He was almost through it when she stopped him
“Casey?”
He glanced over his shoulder to see a soft smile.
“Thanks for tasting my muffins.”