Page 3 of If You Loved Me

I grabbed the final muffin from the case and slid the glass door shut. Careful not to touch him for fear of going up in flames from the heat I felt, I slid the lone muffin across the counter before folding the box lid closed and sealing it with one of my logo stickers.

“That’ll be—” Holy mother of Moses. Ranger’s lips moved over the top of the muffin as he took a bite. I’d never been into watching other people eat food. Honestly, it kind of grossed me out.

But seeing Ranger devour my blueberry muffin was downright sinful with the way he licked the small crumbs from his bottom lip. Seeing his tongue run along the edge of his mouth had me squirming with naughty thoughts of that tongue licking something else entirely.

When I snapped out of my debauchery, I realized Ranger’s eyebrows were lifted like he was waiting for me to finish my statement.

“Um.” I swallowed the hard knot in my throat. “That’ll be twenty-four ninety-nine.”

I watched his torso shift as he reached for his wallet in the back pocket of his jeans which happened to be so damn tight I could see the outline of his large thigh muscles.

This man was the epitome of sex on legs and here I was, falling head over heels for it.

Trying to lessen the shake in my hand, I flexed the small muscles of my forearm and fingers as I reached across the counter and took his card. Once again, careful not to let our fingertips touch. There was no telling what I might say or do if I actually felt his skin against my own and I’d already made a total mess of myself.

“Thank you,” I croaked out as I slid his card into the machine to read the chip.

I handed him back his card and with the tip of his hat he said in a gravelly tone, “Thank you, Sarah.”

Melting. My insides were melting—turning into a giant pile of goo hearing my name on his lips.

I didn’t have the wits to say anything back so I just nodded before he grabbed the box of muffins and headed out the door.

I stared after him, wondering how such a large man could have a smooth swagger as he walked.

Then my phone rang and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

It was Deacon.

I slid my finger across the screen. “Hey, sorry about that.”

“You okay?” He sounded worried. Honestly, given the lust-driven stupor I was in, he probably should be worried about me.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just had a customer come in when I was technically closed.”

“Gotcha. Well, I wanted to tell you that I don’t think you should worry about the virgin thing. When the right guy comes along, he won’t care if you’re experienced or not.”

I walked back to the kitchen and threw open the fridge door. Leaning far into it, I welcomed the blast of cool air along my flushed skin.

“Thanks, Deacon. I appreciate you saying that. I was actually going to ask you to do the honors and teach me some skills, but I think you might be right.”

Deacon must have choked on his coffee because all I heard was a pained gurgling noise.

“No. There’s no way in hell I’d touch you with a ten-foot pole.”

“Thanks for that.” I scowled, even though he couldn’t see me.

“Just being honest. That would be like having sex with my sister. Just…no.”

That had me chuckling. “Well, I appreciate you lending an ear. But I have to get back to work now.”

“Any time. Talk soon.”

I tucked my phone into my apron pocket and stepped away from the open fridge.

I hoped Deacon was right. That the guy I finally gave myself to would understand why I’d waited so long and that he would be okay with my lack of experience.

As I finished piping the last cupcakes and heard the kitchen door squeak open with Stephanie’s entrance, I realized that I’d spent the last hour daydreaming about a man with long dark hair whose eyes pierced right through me.

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