Free Kate's Kisses (Sweet Treats Bakery) by Mary Manners Page A

we’re about to find out.”
    The bell over the shop door jangled as Logan stepped inside. His gaze found Kate, and when he smiled, heat flared in her belly. To her utter dismay, her insides melted into a puddle of hot paraffin. She felt paralyzed as his gaze wavered between her and Mattie.
    “Hello, Mattie.” His deep voice was as smooth as warm caramel.
    “Logan.” Mattie’s gaze held his as she drew an apron from the box beneath the counter and tied it around her waist. Kate knew by the way her sister twisted and re-twisted the apron strings that Logan’s sudden appearance had Mattie just as nervous, but Mattie seemed to dismiss the anxiety as she turned toward the stairs that led to the storage room. She waggled her fingers at Kate. “It’s…well…you two have a nice little chat. I’ll…be upstairs.”
    “Wait!” Kate sputtered. “I need—”
    “You’ll figure it out.” Mattie nodded curtly, and then started a hasty retreat up the stairs. “Stock’s waiting.”
    Kate smelled the clean scent of Logan. Soap mingled with aftershave so familiar that it hurt. He turned to her, his eyes like two smooth stones beneath a tumble of dark hair. “Hi, Katie.”
    “You’re gone nearly four years, and that’s all you have to say?” Tears burned her eyes, and she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to drench him in a pan of simmering chocolate or throw her arms around him and smother him with kisses. No one had called her Katie in years. In fact, no one ever called her Katie…except him. “Wh-what do you want, Logan?”
    His gaze held hers for the longest moment, and then he motioned to the tray of sweet cherry kisses she’d just finished preparing. “I’ll take a couple of those...for starters.”
     
    ****
     
    Kate looked as good as he remembered—even better, if that was possible. He watched her delicate fingers gently remove a half-dozen chocolate-cherry kisses from the baking sheet where chocolate had hardened into a smooth puddle beneath. Her fingers trembled with the effort, and he stifled the urge to help her. From the startled look in those pretty green eyes, she’d probably slap his hand.
    Her long, delicate fingers were bare of jewelry. The detail registered with a hint of satisfaction. Then a sudden thought twisted his gut—maybe she just didn’t wear rings while she baked. He checked her neck to see if she kept one on a delicate silver chain like she once had with his high school ring, before he’d surprised her one warm starlit night with a princess cut solitaire.
    No—he found nothing but the collar of her floral blouse peeking over the strap of a baby-blue apron…and a glimpse of smooth, ivory skin lightly dusted with freckles.
    “Nice place you have here.” He leaned over the counter to peer at her. Waves of cinnamon hair that she’d gathered into a thick ponytail curled down her back to kiss her waist. He’d always loved her hair…had spent hours stroking the smooth curls as they sat together exchanging plans for their future. Regret gnawed at him. None of those plans had worked out. “Business has really taken off, huh?”
    Kate’s head snapped up. “There’s no need to sound so surprised.”
    He took a step back and raised both hands. “No disrespect intended, Katie. I’m just…happy for you.”
    “Are you?” Her green eyes pierced him. “And quit calling me Katie. You lost that—” she hesitated and then enunciated, “— privilege when you ran away four years ago.”
    “Ran away?” The words were a dagger straight to his heart. He took the small white box she’d filled with cherries and then secured with a length of twine woven into a neat bow. The sweet scent of chocolate wafted from inside. “Now wait a minute.”
    “That’ll be five dollars.” Kate stepped over to the register and held out an open palm. “Cash, debit, or charge?”
    “Look, Katie, we need to talk.” The aroma of dark chocolate mingled with vanilla latte. He eyed the espresso machine