Valhalla Cupcakes by Cassidy Cayman Page B

repeated to herself.
    She was a modern woman who could have sex with any cursed Viking who came her way, if that was what she wanted to do. A thump outside in the hall made her jump, thinking he was already awake. She wrapped her robe around herself and peeked into the hall.
    It was empty, so she took a deep breath and strode to his room like a general about to face a battle. How badly would she lose this fight? She knocked on the door, shaking her head at her ridiculousness.
    When there was no answer, irritation flared in her, knowing beyond a doubt that he was awake and trying to get her to come into the room. Damn it, but he was clever. He probably had the sheet adjusted exactly right so she’d see every mouthwatering inch of him. She closed her eyes and swung open the door.
    “Morning, Audrey,” he said.
    She opened her eyes to see he sat on the edge of his bed, no less mouthwatering for having a t-shirt and his Thor boxers on.
    “You finally out of the shower?” he asked, innocently standing and moving past her without even a glancing touch.
    So he was going to be cool about it, was he? Good, she decided. That was helpful. Disappointing, but helpful. She could be cool, too, except she definitely felt disappointed and had to struggle to keep her face neutral. Hadn’t he been affected at all? Apparently not.
    “Uh, did you sleep okay?” she asked perversely. Why not just let him get his shower and be done with it? She could have had a batch of cupcakes done by now. “After you tried to slip out on me?” she reminded him, crossing her arms. Wow, way to be cool, Audrey.
    He smiled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. And I slept very well, thank you.” He leaned over and ran his finger down the side of her face, all the way to where her robe closed across her cleavage. “I missed you when you were gone, though.”
    “Oh, well, I— it was a little crowded. I mean, not in a bad way, just—”
    He smiled harder, as if he was trying not to laugh. “It’s not a big deal.”
    She recalled the thump outside the bathroom door, and the fact that he was already awake and somewhat dressed.
    “You were listening!” she cried, certain she was fuschia from embarrassment.
    “I wasn’t listening, I merely overheard.” He stepped closer. “If that’s how you really feel, I’ll have to work harder next time to change your mind. No man wants to be thought of as not a big deal.” He tipped her chin back and leaned down.
    She wanted the kiss. She wanted it more than she wanted to keep living at that moment.
    “No kissing,” she said, hating herself and the look of rejection in his eyes. Why did he look so sad? “At least during business hours. We have to get the cupcakes done,” she explained. “If today’s anything like yesterday, I need to make more to be prepared.”
    “Okay,” he said. “I can wait until tonight.” His expression turned lecherous and she swallowed hard.
    “We’ll see,” she squeaked, hurrying out the door and down the hall to her own room to finish getting dressed.
    “You can’t resist me, Audrey,” he called.
    Oh, he was maddening. More so because he was right, damn him. She wasn’t sure how she was going to make it through another frustration riddled day of being in the same house with him. She prayed it was as busy as the day before, not only because she needed that money, but to keep her mind and hands occupied.
    She resolved to finally give the dreaded ‘no touching’ order, certain her willpower would dissolve if she allowed him to keep randomly stroking her arm or running his fingers down her cheek, or pulling her by her hips to brush up close to him. With an animal noise of exasperation at herself, she yanked on her clothes and ran downstairs, already half an hour behind schedule because of her unruly hormones.
    In the kitchen, she found him already lining up the bowls the way he’d seen her do yesterday, and her spoons and other implements were neatly set out