Imperfectly Delicious (Imperfect Series #6) - Mary Frame Page 0,17

likes you!” His smiling face meets mine and then falters only slightly at my expression. I must appear less intimidating than normal.

“His name is Spike and he’s one of our newest babies. Here.” He thrusts him at me.

I have no choice. I take the cat, holding him awkwardly in front of me. His body curls around my hand, hind legs latching onto my forearm while he ferociously attacks my fingers with little nubby teeth.

The instructor laughs. “Aw. I think he’s teething. Here. Hold him close.” He pushes him against my chest and then moves on to the person next to me.

I watch the kitten nibble on my finger for a moment before glancing up to see where Scarlett is.

Our gazes lock across the room. Recognition rolls over her like a bleaching wave, her mouth drops, and her features whiten, eyes wide. Her gaze makes a sharp dart toward the door.

Already planning to flee, are we? Not this time.

I press my lips together when they threaten to curve up.

Before she can bolt, I stalk in her direction, stopping at the edge of her mat, blocking any possible escape. “Scarlett.”

Her mouth pops open. She’s not wearing lipstick this time.

Not that she needs it, her lips are soft pink and I wonder if that color appears anywhere else on her body. Fighting the desire tightening my stomach, I step a little closer.

“We need to talk.”

Chapter Six

I think every woman should have a blowtorch.

–Julia Child

Scarlett

He’s holding a kitten.

A young gray cat with fluffy fur sticking out everywhere. The kitten is attacking his finger with his little chomp chomp chompers and Guy…he doesn’t really notice.

It’s quite the study in contrasts, Guy standing there staring at me like the overlord of Hell seeking to torture one of the eternally damned, while a cute little furball gnaws on him with the most adorable look of intensity on his tiny face.

I strangle back laughter.

Guy’s head tilts, watching me with hooded eyes.

I can’t think straight with a handsome man standing in front of me holding a kitten. He’s wearing workout clothes, but to call them just workout clothes is an insult to shoulders everywhere. The shirt outlines his broad chest and lean waist, and those sweatpants….

But what stops me and effectively kills the emerging laughter are his lips.

I still remember them. Warm and strong and assured, and his tongue—gah, the memories fly through my mind, scrambling my brain.

That’s it. I’m broken. My brain is broken.

It’s the only explanation for what pops out of my mouth.

“You kissed me.” The words emerge like an accusation.

“You kissed me back. Actually.” His eyes search mine. “You kissed me first. But you said it was my fault right before you did it.” He considers me carefully, the evil scowl has disappeared, replaced with amusement that makes his eyes glint with evil hellfire.

I did do that and say that, dang it.

“It’s not my fault you could charm the dogs off a meat truck.”

His gaze warms by a single degree—the only indication my words had any small effect on him—and then his eyes flick to my mouth.

Maybe more than a small effect.

I nip that thought right in the bud. He’s everything I don’t want. Controlling, arrogant, a complete jerk. I don’t go for jerks, not anymore. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt that says, “I went to jerk-land and all I got was this stupid t-shirt.”

“You’re the food truck owner,” he says.

“Um . . .” Dang it. Caught out, times two.

“Don’t try to deny it, I came here because I knew you’d be here.”

“Are you stalking me now?”

“I wouldn’t have to if you’d stop avoiding me.”

Movement to the side distracts us both.

“Hi! Nice to see you again.” Bethany waves a little sheepishly.

Awkward silence. They’re both staring at me.

I find my tongue. “Bethany, this is, uh, Guy Chapman.”

She nods. “Yeah, I know.”

One of Guy’s eyebrows lifts in a sardonic arch. “Mildred?” he asks her.

She flushes. “Oh, ha, ha, right. Well you know, I can’t give out the name of a friend to a virtual stranger. That way lies murder. Even if it is at a charity event and even if I did hire you to cater. It’s always people you know, you know? And I didn’t know you knew each other already…. But if that’s the case,” her gaze flicks back and forth between the two of us. “Why did you ask me what her name was the other night if you know each other already?”

“It’s been a while since we were formally introduced,” I explain