Forever in Love by W. Lynn Chantale Page A

was visible.
    “Oh. Busy work,” she answered sliding the cookie sheet on a cooling rack. “You had all this stuff and I couldn’t sit still.”
    “I should leave,” Jeff said.
    Buck scowled at him. “Yes, I think that’s best.”
    “Take this with you.” Bonnie quickly wrapped what appeared to be pasties and added a couple of pies to it. “All of this can be frozen and reheated later.”
    Jeff grinned. “Thanks. You saved me a few days of eating out. I’ll take the pies to work. The guys there love sweets.”
    Bonnie nodded and loaded everything in a large paper bag. Buck stepped in her way when she went to hand Jeff the bag. He held her gaze a moment, then removed the package from her fingers.
    “Wait here.” He turned to Jeff. “I’ll walk you out.”
    Door locked, Buck toed off his boots and yanked off his socks. He padded back to the kitchen, tugging his shirt from his jeans. In those few shorts moments, she had everything in containers or freezer bags. He leaned on the door frame. “You want to explain why you’re up, entertaining my neighbor at three in the morning?”
    “I couldn’t sit still and I cook when I’m worried.” She tilted her head to the side, and he noticed a smear of flour on her cheek and ear.
    “And you’re not even dressed properly.”
    Her eyes widened, but she did glance at her clothes.
    “Do you want to explain that?”
    “I thought it would be better to wear one of your shirts over my shorts and bra than answer the door like that.” She settled her hands on her hips and tossed back her hair. “Are you jealous?”
    He moved farther into the room, noting the quick rise and fall of her breasts and the way her teeth pulled at her lower lip. “And if I am?”
    A flash of humor light her eyes. “Seriously?” She shook her head, stood in front of him and rested her palms on his chest. “Jeff stopped in to return your hammer and I shoved a pasty on him.”
    Buck shackled her wrists, tugged her closer. She stumbled forward. “At three in the morning?”
    She met and held his gaze. “You are the only man who holds my heart. Why would I do anything to jeopardize that?”
    Heart hammering at her admission, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her against his body. A quick inhalation was her only response, but she slid her hands up and locked her fingers behind his head. “What was that?”
    “I love you Buck, I have for a very long time.” She rose on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss. “And maybe inviting him in wasn’t the brightest idea, but he was a perfect gentleman.”
    “I don’t see how he could be, when you’re dressed to seduce.”
    Bonnie chuckled. “Right. Cutoffs and your shirt.”
    He slipped a hand down her spine to grab a handful of her luscious behind. Sure enough between the smooth cotton of his shirt was the heavier material of denim. He dragged the hem of her top up until he could trace the frayed cuff below the swell of her ass. “Like I said, dressed to seduce.”
    She studied him a moment. “You’re really upset with me.”
    He inclined his head. That momentary stab of jealousy didn’t sit well with him and that aside, she needed to be careful. “You have a crazy wannabe thug after you and you let anybody in.”
    She stiffened in his arms. “You said I was safe here. Are you telling me I’m not?”
    “He doesn’t know where I live.”
    “Then what’s the problem?”
    That was a good question. They’d spent a lot of time together and she’d spent the night on numerous occasions, but seeing her with someone else just annoyed him, especially after their earlier exchange left him on edge.
    “You don’t trust me,” she said.
    He was silent.
    She shoved away from him. “I don’t believe this. I thought we had more than that, Buck. You’re the only one I ever trusted with anything and everything. And I don’t deserve the same respect.” She stalked out the kitchen and down the hall.
    Buck followed her and