Free To Win Her Love by Mackenzie Crowne Page B

bowl then plucked a spoon from the dish strainer on the counter. He ladled up a healthy portion before returning to the table, an arched brow winged Gracie’s way.
    Embarrassed heat flushed her cheeks. God, she’d been sitting there like a dummy, yogurt in one hand and the phone in the other, as the dispatcher waited. She clenched her teeth. Setting aside the yogurt, she slapped the phone to her ear.
    He took things into his own hands, literally, by snatching the phone from her fingers.
    “Hey!”
    Mischief twinkled in his eyes even as he tilted his lips in an innocent smile. “Cancel that order. She’s got a ride.” He pressed a thumb to the screen then held out the phone.
    She snatched it back. “What happened to the truce you mentioned?”
    “What?” In a wholly male move, he lifted a leg over the back of the chair beside hers and dropped to sit. He pointed toward the window with his spoon. “I’m doing you a favor. Have you looked outside? It’s snowing.”
    She glanced out the window and found he was right. Heavy flakes floated past the pane.
    He spooned up a mouthful of soup, groaning and dipping the spoon for another taste. “By the way, you might want to exchange your skirt for some slacks.” He sat back, rocking the chair on two legs, and cocked his head to peer down at her feet. “And the hot footwear for something a little more practical.”
    “Hot footwear?”
    He let the chair legs drop to the floor, winked, and dove the spoon back into his soup. “Slushy snow and sex on heels aren’t a good combination.”
    She jerked straight and glanced down at her favorite Michael Kor knockoffs. Her gaze flew to Mary. The housekeeper’s eyes were owl wide.
    Sex on heels ?
    Was he flirting with her? The possibility increased her heart rate to manic. She shot him a sidelong glance. He slurped a spoonful of soup. No, he wasn’t flirting. Not with her. He couldn’t be. They didn’t particularly like one another. Besides, Mary was sitting right there, listening intently, but his teasing sure felt that way.
    Her panicked gaze flew to the window. “Maybe I should reschedule my appointments.”
    Silent laughter sparkled beneath thick lashes as he looked up from his bowl. “Nah. It’s only flurries. You’ll be fine.” He scraped along the bottom of the bowl and slipped the spoon into his mouth. His eyelids drooped to half-mast and he moaned as if savoring the last bite he’d ever experience.
    Goose bumps broke out and she swallowed.
    He sat back with a satisfied sigh and graced the housekeeper with a dimpled smile. “That was incredible, Miss Mary. Marry me and I’ll set you up in the world’s finest kitchen.”
    Mary colored prettily but pinned him with knowing eyes. “You’re a bold one to be sure, but I’ve lived too many years to be swept away by a charming smile and a set of brawny shoulders.”
    Deep and masculine, his laughter permeated the feminine confines of the housekeeper’s domain. Mary stood. Shaking her head, her smile remained as she carried both his and her bowls to the sink.
    He eyed the yogurt cup. “You going to eat that or are you finished?”
    Gracie didn’t think she could swallow another bite. Nodding wanly, she stood when he did. He grabbed his coat as she slipped into hers and gathered her laptop and purse.
    “I should be back by five, Mary.”
    “Take your time, child. I promised the girls a chocolate tea party this afternoon. Hot cocoa for a snowy afternoon. I’m thinking a batch of cookies would go nicely.”
    Jake paused in shrugging into his jacket. “Chocolate chip?”
    Mary rolled her eyes. “As if the girls would eat any other kind.”
    He jammed his arms into the sleeves. “Any chance you’ll consider making that a double batch?”
    She turned from the sink, a dishrag hanging from her fingers. Her eyes glittered with calculation. “I might. If you’ll consider passing by the train station and delivering Gracie to her appointments in the city.”
    He dipped