Page 17 of The One With The Secret Crushes

I filled it and set it to boil on the fancy gas range while Scott sliced mushrooms, onions, and garlic. I was entranced by how fast he moved, how long his fingers were. Would he handle me in such a precise, capable way? "What do they eat on the nights you're at the bar? Where do they go? If you leave them alone for too long, do they go feral?"

He huffed. "More often than not they wind up at the bar so I can feed them and keep an eye on them." His head jolted up. "Hey, no fucking fighting!" Then he muttered under his breath, "It's not a fucking episode of fuckingPeaky Blinders."

Digger shoved Jasper over and Jasper smacked Digger upside the head with a couch cushion but then they righted the chair and went right back to their game like nothing happened at all.

Scott created a simple shrimp pasta that everyone devoured in a matter of minutes before attacking the warm cookies. Not a crumb was left. Then the boys went to work cleaning up and Scott took my hand. "Let me show you something."

"You trust them to do the washing and cleaning?"

He shrugged. "I've trained them well. It's the price they pay for my cooking. Besides, cleaning up is my least favorite part of the process."

Not that there was much to clean besides the dishes. Scott was also very good at cleaning as he worked, keeping the mess to a minimum.

Logan snapped a dish towel at Jasper who howled and vowed to put salt in his next meal. As entertaining as this was, Scott's offer was more intriguing, so I took his offered hand and followed him out onto the deck.

Like the rest of the house, it was sleek and modern and looked into the jungle-like wilderness of the river’s gorge we called home. With the door closed it was quiet except for the wind in the trees and hum of insects switching from day to night. "The bar must be doing quite well, Scott. This is such a nice place." I envied him. This truly felt like home, a place to curl up at the end of a long day and simply relax or have your gaggle of friends over for a big dinner.

"It helps that this land was owned by Digger's family. They divided it up and sold it to us for a steal."

"Us?"

He pointed as he spoke. "Joanne, me, Piggy, Travis. There are still two undeveloped lots they're saving for close family or friends."

"Oh!" I blinked as the information sank in. Joanne had said something about this, but my mind had been too preoccupied with my dad and keeping the business going to fully comprehend what she was saying. "That's incredibly nice of them."

"We've all got plenty of space and our neighbors are all family. We take care of our own in Lost Creek, you know that." The dim lights of the deck reflected in his eyes. "Right?"

Aside from Aunt Sharon, Maeve, and Joanne, I'd done an admirable job of pushing everyone away and hiding. It was easier on my heart to focus on the gossip and forget about the community. It wasn't perfect, but while the outside world fixated on dividends and profits, Lost Creek just wanted every resident to live a good life. "I think I needed to hear that."

"I know you did. That's why I said it. And I'll say it as many times as you need. You belong here, Mackenzie. You're not an outcast and the only thing these nights have been missing is you."

His gaze was too intense. It made me feel naked. My skin was too tight and my lungs couldn't quite expand properly. So I turned to watch the lightning bugs blinking.

"I'm glad you brought cookies to bake. I don't want you to be nervous around me. Iwantyou to use my shoulder as a pillow again. So if cookies help you get your feet under you, then bake all the damn cookies. The boys will make sure your efforts never go to waste."

My breath finally whooshed out and I had to clutch my belly to keep the wild, swirling emotions inside. Scott was right here, so close, and all the things I thought were impossible were right here.Hewas right here. "What if we kiss and it's awful?"

"It won't be awful."

"How do you know?" I turned my head just enough to sweep my eyes over him.

"Because just being near you makes me feel things I've never felt with anyone before. I think you feel it too."

I gripped the railing because yes, my feelings were having feelings.

"And if you're that worried a kiss could destroy our friendship then I'll just have to kiss you now and put that to rest."

It all happened so fast. His hand cupped my cheek and his fingers threaded into my hair as he pulled me closer, all while he dipped down and pressed his lips to mine.

Scott Shaw was kissing me. My hands froze in midair and then finally settled on his chest as his other hand spanned the small of my back, pulling me even closer to him.

There was nothing awkward about this. Nothing friendly. The way he hungrily devoured me made me feel sexy and wanted. I kissed him right back, memorizing his lips, his soft moans, his gentle coaxing for more.

"Let me take you out, Mackenzie." He pressed his forehead against mine. "If it's terrible, we forget it and go back to being friends knowing we gave it a shot. And if it's as good as I know it will be, then we can start making plans."

"Plans?" I could barelybreathelet alone think straight. What was in that kiss? Stardust? Magic?

"For the future. Like how you'll be sleeping here from now on."

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