Free Keeping Her Guilty Secret (Forever Yours Trilogy) by Anna James Page A

she asked hopefully.
    He flashed a wolfish grin. “Darlin’, I already know how to cook.”
    Her husky laugh had a bolt of desire zinging through him. He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again.
    “Food, Max, you can help me cook the food.”
    His eyebrow winged up.
    She grinned. “No, really, it’ll be fun. Besides, I’m making my chocolate lovers’ cake for dessert and I wanted to try a new little twist. I could use a taste tester.”
    “Now you’re talking. What time should I be here?”
    “Is nine o’clock too early? It’ll take almost three hours for the lamb to cook and we’ll have to make the cake first. Ashley and Reed have to leave by three so I need to have dinner on the table no later than one-thirty.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “It’s a date then.”
    He nodded, then crushed her lips with his again.
    “You two really need to get a room.”
    He released her and glowered as Reed moved past him. “I should probably go.”
    “Yeah,” she said.
    He gave her one last kiss, then turned to leave. The sound of female laughter and wolf whistling floated out the open door and made him smile.
    Nicole went inside and glared at her sisters. “Oh, just shut up.”
    Kate smirked. “That was one hell of a kiss.”
    She flashed a satisfied smile. Oh yes, it was. “Good night, you two. Pleasant dreams.”
    More laughter and wolf whistles followed her as she headed up the stairs.
    Her cell phone buzzed. Maybe it was Max? She grabbed it from her purse, eager to read the new text message.
    Tick-tock, tick-tock. Time is running out, Nicole. I hope you enjoyed your dinner at The Capital Grille. I want my money and I want it soon or your boyfriend finds out what sort of girl you really are.
    Her knees buckled and she gripped the railing for support. One thing was certain. She had to get Carlo out of her life once and for all. But how?

Chapter 11
    Nicole stood in the kitchen on Sunday morning setting out the ingredients for the chocolate cake when Max came through the door. She gave him a tentative smile. “Hey there. I didn’t hear you come in.”
    “Kate left just as I arrived. She said I’d find you in here. Wow, it smells really good already.”
    “I decided to put the lamb in the slow cooker. That way we don’t have to rush. Ready to start on the cake?”
    Heat blazed in his smoky blue eyes. “Not yet. Come here.”
    A shiver ran down her spine as her gaze locked with his. The man just oozed sex appeal. One smoldering look from him sent her hormones into overdrive and got her hot and bothered in seconds.
    She moved toward him, her eyes never leaving his.
    He gazed at her for a moment and then frowned. “You didn’t sleep well last night.”
    No, she hadn’t. Barely a wink since she’d gotten the text from Carlo the night before last, and she still hadn’t come up with a plan to get rid of him without him divulging her secret.
    His thumb caressed her cheek and the tenderness in his eyes had a lump forming at the back of her throat.
    “You’ve got too much on your plate. Maybe you should think about giving something up.”
    She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
    “Promise me you’ll find time to get some rest.”
    She nodded. “I will.”
    His arms wrapped around her and he flashed a sexy smile. “Now, where was I?”
    He gave her what she liked to call a full-body kiss, the kind where every inch of her pressed intimately against every inch of him and his lips and tongue tangled deliciously with hers. It was the kind of kiss that swept you off your feet, left you breathless and wide-eyed, and just a bit muzzy in the head when it was over.
    He winked at her. “Now, I’m ready.”
    It took her a few moments to gather herself, then she tossed him an apron and walked back behind the island, making a concerted effort to banish Carlo from her mind, at least for today.
    “What do I need this for?” Max asked. “I’m just the taste