Page 22 of Theirs to Treasure

“You were kind of in a fog,” Sam explained.

Josie looked down and couldn’t miss the erection pressed against Sam’s jeans. Sam grinned sheepishly at her. “Yeah, you definitely have a certain effect on me, Baby.”

“Do you want to…?” she asked tentatively.

“It’s past your bedtime.” Sam motioned to the clock beside her bed, and Josie saw it was eight-forty-five.

“I’m hoping that you’ll dream of me. I would have left already, but I need you to come lock the door.” He’d already found her Hello Kitty nightshirt. He easily slipped it on her, and she followed him to the door. He stopped before opening it.

“No more avoiding my calls.” Josie shivered at his authoritative voice.

“I promise.”

He kissed her hard, then left. Josie locked the door.

He was right, she did dream of him.

Chapter 9

Chance was waiting at Sweet Dreams Desserts when it opened at six a.m. His conversation with Betty the night before had convinced him that he needed to take the red-eye home. He would just have to finish his business via teleconference. He wanted Josie and Sam to hit it off, but he didn’t want them to do it without him. Anyway, when the hell had Sam met Josie? He’d planned to introduce the two of them.

But Chance had to chuckle. Leave it to Sam. He might be injured, but that man had always attracted the ladies. He was still smiling when he saw Elise and Josie behind the display counter. He also took note that he wasn’t the only single man waiting at the door. Josie had managed to gain a few admirers here in Fate Harbor. Elise gave him a wink when she saw him. It was good to know that he had the inside track as far as she was concerned.

Chance stepped back and let everyone else go first. He wanted to make sure that he had as much time to talk to Zee as possible. She looked tired, and he wondered just how late she and Sam had stayed up last night. He knew that they’d left Betty and Butch’s around six-thirty, because that’s when he’d gotten Betty’s call. He’d also heard from Betty about the ungodly schedule she kept, getting up at two o’clock in the morning so she could start the baking process before the doors opened. He was going to have to see about getting her some additional help.

Just as he got to the front of the line, she zipped to the back, leaving Elise to help him. Elise gave him a sheepish grin, and that just made him chuckle again. Nope, none of this was going to be easy, but easy wasn’t fun.

“I think I make your boss nervous.”

“I think that’s a good sign, Chance. All the others she handles just fine. You she hides from. What can I get you?”

“How about some coffee and a cinnamon roll?” he answered.

“To go?”

“Oh no, I want to enjoy the ambience.” Elise rang him up, and he sat down at one of five little tables sitting near the front of the Sweet Dreams Desserts, each topped with a little vase holding flowers. Chance positioned his chair so he could see out the window while watching the entrance to the kitchen. When Zee came back out, she had a smudge of flour on her face. She looked edible.

“Hey, friend, do you have time for a break?” Chance called across the store. Josie started, seeing Chance still there. He watched as she looked around the bakery and saw that it was empty, so she reluctantly went to sit with Chance. He knew that his presence unnerved her. She still hadn’t figured out exactly how to classify him because of all of his flirting, which was fine by him. He didn’t want to be considered just a friend.

As soon as she sat down, he gripped her hand and twined their fingers together. She audibly gasped looking down at their hands. Chance was confused, until he saw her unconsciously undulate her small fingers around his larger ones. Then he saw the significance of the symbolism. He brought their clasped hands up to his mouth and inserted his tongue in a crevice where their fingers met, and he heard her softly moan. Zee was a sensual woman, and he was a hell of a lucky man. He’d bet his last dollar that Sam had been a luckier man last night.

“Can I take you out to an early dinner tonight?” he asked softly.

“I might have plans,” she answered just as quietly.

“Sam?” He watched as she nodded her head.

“Come over to our house. All three of us can have dinner together.” Chance watched as her brows drew together in confusion. Betty had told him that Josie hadn’t caught on to her hints. She said that Sam had understood within two minutes of his arrival.

“We’re all friends, and we’re all adults. I would love to cook you dinner. Sam can pick you up, and I’ll have dinner ready by the time you two get to the house. Just don’t get too caught up in any extracurricular activities, Zee, because I want to save that for dessert.” Chance laughed out loud as Josie’s eyes almost popped out of her head.

“You can’t possibly mean…” Chance watched as her gorgeous skin flushed. “I mean, I don’t understand,” she gasped.

“Oh, Zee! By your stunned reaction, I think you understand me just fine. I am saying, I want you to think of Sam and I having you for dessert.” Josie yanked her hand away from his and hid it in her lap, but Chance took note of the fact that she didn’t leave the table.

“What happened last night? Did you and Sam make love?”

“That’s none of your business,” she said with quiet dignity.