Page 49 of Pinch of Love

She was just as gorgeous as I remembered, and since the kiss, I’d done a lot of remembering. She had pulled back her hair into a messy bun, and she wore a pair of denim shorts and an oversized pink sweatshirt that hung off her shoulder. A hot-pink bra strap was a bit of a distraction.

“What are you doing here, stranger?” she asked, making her way over.

She scratched Chewie’s head and continued to look at me.

The feeling this woman could hand me from just a glance was disarming. I’d never experienced so much emotion from a set of eyes before.

“Your sister called and said you needed a ride.” I eyed her cautiously. “And that you got some bad news?”

Maya looked over my shoulder to the building and smiled. “She did, did she?”

I nodded slowly, realizing my first hunch had been correct.

“Well, I can’t say I’m mad about seeing your grumpy self.”

My brows rose, and I shook my head. “I showed up with a smile. In fact, I’ve been smiling since the other night.”

And I was still trying to figure out how to give her the cute meeting she wanted or meeting cute or whatever the heck she was talking about. I needed to Google it.

Maya bit her bottom lip before letting out a small sigh. “I probably shouldn’t have.”

“Shouldn’t have kissed me?”

She let out a deep breath while it felt like all the air had been sucked out of my lungs. Did she regret our kiss? Was she getting back with Rob?

“You doing okay, Maya?” I asked as Chewie wiggled to get into Maya’s arms.

She held out her hands, and Chewie jumped to her.

“Geez. I thought we shared something special.” I glanced at Chewie.

“No, Cash. We did. It’s just—”

I chuckled. “I was talking about Chewie.”

Maya chuckled and rolled her eyes before nuzzling the orange furball. “Of course you were.”

“Seriously, though. Do you want to go somewhere to talk? Maybe over breakfast? I just finished up for the day, so my schedule is clear.”

Her brows shot up. “It’s not even nine o’clock in the morning.”

“The next batch of houseguests requested an early arrival, so I got up at four and just finished up prepping for their stay.”

A flicker of something darted through her gaze before she glanced over my shoulder again.

“Yeah, let’s get some breakfast. I think we have an audience otherwise.” She held up a finger. “But let me grab one thing.”

I nodded and climbed back in the Jeep, setting Chewie on the passenger seat. Within a minute or two, Maya came bounding out with an oversized, stuffed chipmunk.

Laughter spilled through the air as she opened the door, lifted Chewie from the seat, and set her and the stuffed animal on her lap.

“So, I take it that word got around?” I chuckled a bit more.

“Yes, this was from Abby at the coffee shop. So I’m sure the entire Main Street knows about me being stuck in a wall.”

I grinned and shook my head. “So much for discreetness. Just be glad I got you out before Jack showed up.”

She giggled and scratched Chewie’s ear, who in return let her minuscule tongue hang out panting. “What’s up between you and Jack?”

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