Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

She scooped her panties off the floor and headed up the stairs as I went into her kitchen. The timer had stopped beeping—must have been automatic—so I put on the oven mitts she’d left sitting on the island and took out a sheet of cookies.

The warm, sweet scent filled the room. I wanted to grab one and bite into it, but of course they were too hot to eat.

My head was starting to come back to reality. But it wasn’t regret that filled me. I wanted her to come down so I could touch her again. Get another taste of her mouth.

She appeared in her tank top and skirt with her long hair loose around her shoulders and a flush in her cheeks.

I liked that I’d done that to her.

“Hi,” she said.

I approached and slipped my hands around her waist. Leaning in, I brushed a soft kiss against her lips. “Hi.”

She wound her arms around my neck. “That was, um…”

“So good,” I growled.

“That’s an understatement. Thanks for getting the cookies.”

“Is this what you do on your day off?”

She shrugged. “Sometimes. I like to experiment and I don’t always have time, especially when the bakery is busy.”

“They smell incredible.” I leaned in to her neck and inhaled. “Almost as good as you.”

She giggled. “You smell good too.”

I leaned back and raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure I don’t.”

“No, you really do.” She dropped her hands and took a quick breath. “Okay, before I lose my mind and start taking my clothes off again, do you want some coffee?”

Taking our clothes off sounded great, actually, but I didn’t push. “Sure. But only if I get one of those cookies.”

“I’m warning you, they’re experimental. I have no idea if they’re good.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

She started the coffee maker and slid all the cookies onto a wire rack. They were dark and chocolatey looking with little flecks on the top.

“What are they?” I asked.

“Grain-free chocolate coconut cookies. They’re made with almond flour and sweetened with maple syrup, so they’re a little different than my usual.”

I picked one up with the tips of my fingers. It wasn’t too hot. I took a bite and groaned. It was unreal. Crisp edges with a rich, fudgey middle, and the flakes of coconut added the perfect contrasting texture.

“These are amazing.”

“Yeah? I hoped they’d be good.” She picked up a cookie, took a bite, and chewed slowly. “Oh yeah. That’s not bad.”

“Not bad?” I resisted the urge to shove the rest in my mouth and start devouring another one. “They’re incredible.”

She put the rest of her cookie down. “Thank you. I’m glad you were here to taste test.”

I set the rest of mine on the counter. Suddenly I wasn’t nearly as interested in chocolate coconut cookies as I was in the irresistible woman in front of me.

What was it about her that made me so insatiable?

I didn’t stop to ponder. Instead, I pulled her close and kissed her, tasting the chocolate on her tongue.