He stepped up and took one of the pastries with a nod, that slow smile making her heartbeat hitch.
Rich and a few of the other men were already partaking of the pastries, standing in a loose semi-circle around her. They’d seen her with the platter and had come out of the woodwork. Most of them had confectioner’s sugar on their chins already as they gobbled down the pastries, and Cassandra couldn’t help but be amused by them. It amazed her how grown men could turn into little boys when tempted with a sweet treat.
“So, what do you think?” she asked when Rich reached for a second pastry.
“Fantastic, Cassandra, as always.” He bit off a large chunk and smiled.
“Come on, you know by now, I need specifics.” She rolled her eyes as they all grinned.
Cody stepped closer and took another pastry, though he didn’t eat it right away. Instead, he held her gaze as he licked his lips, and her blood seemed to catch fire.
“I like the mixture of fruit. Apple and pear, right? With maybe a hint of citrus? Was it lemon?” His smile sent strange tingles down her spine, though his words were innocuous.
“Lime, actually.” Was that her voice? She sounded hoarse all of a sudden. Cassandra cleared her throat, trying to project calm as the men looked at her strangely.
Rich took the platter from her hands. “Come on, boys, we still have work to do.”
The hands followed the platter back into the barn, right behind Rich. She barely noticed their departure as Cody stayed behind, watching her. He took a slow, sensuous bite out of the pastry in his hand, holding her gaze all the while. Cassandra’s mouth went dry. He even chewed and swallowed sexily. The man was far too potent and altogether hot.
“The pastry is delicious, Miss Cassie. Light, flaky and sweet. Tastes good with the filling, but there’s something missing, I think.” Her brows drew together at those words, bringing her attention back to her work. “Here, try it.” He held out the pastry to her, holding it as if he expected her to eat from his hand. She hesitated, and he grinned. “I promise, I don’t have any communicable diseases. And besides, this is the only one left. You need to taste it to see what I mean.”
Raising one brow skeptically, she leaned in and took a small bite of his pastry, jarred by the intimacy of the act. She’d never been this close to Cody, though she’d dreamed of being close to him many a night in her lonely bed.
Flavor exploded on her tongue. She tasted the pastry, the sugar, the tart apple and pear with the hint of lime. It was good. But Cody was right. Something was missing.
“Darn it, you’re right.” She looked up at him. “What do you think it is?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Strawberry? Just a touch, maybe. You’re the chef.”
“Strawberry.” A grin spread over her face. “I’m going to try that. Thanks, Cody.”
He nodded as the silence stretched. Tension rose between them as he seemed to study her in detail.
“You have powdered sugar on your face,” he said. She licked her lips, brought up short when Cody moved even closer. “Allow me.” He bent, shocking her into immobility as his tongue brushed over her cheek near the corner of her lips. When she didn’t move, he grew bolder, running his tongue over the seam of her lips with heart-stopping slowness until she yielded, opening her mouth to him.
Cody’s arms came around her, holding her close to his sun-kissed body. His shirt hung open, and her hands played over his muscular chest, delighting in the feel of him, the sheer power of the man.
He kissed like a dream. In fact, she’d dreamed of his kisses—and more—ever since she’d first seen him. He was so ruggedly handsome with those mysterious dark eyes. She’d been attracted to him from the outset, but he’d never come this close. She’d believed he wasn’t interested, but apparently, she’d been wrong.
Only the honk of a truck horn in the distance made them finally break apart. Cody raised his head, looking down at her with heat in his gaze. That fire stunned her and made her abdomen clench in want. She was attracted to this man like no man she’d ever met before.
“You taste even better than your pastries, Cassie. I’ve been wondering about that for a while now.”
Nobody shortened her name like that. She usually didn’t like it, but from Cody, it felt like