I wanted to say something. In the weeks she’d been here, it was obvious Daphne was up close and personal with self-doubt. At this moment, she seemed calm, collected, and confident. I wanted to point that out, but that would be weird, so I simply said, “Thank you. Really.”
Daphne nodded just as my brother Grant called from the other room. “Where the hell is Flynn?”
“You better get going.”
I left. Although I’d been surprised at her announcement that she could cook, I didn’t doubt Daphne was excellent at it. She wouldn’t have said as much if she weren’t. Although I didn’t know many things about her, Daphne either said nothing or told the truth.
Chapter Seven
Daphne
After three days of cooking and baking for the lodge guests, I felt better than I had in years. Mind you, the bar was so low on my well-being that it wasn’t hard to beat, but still. It felt good to feel useful, and it felt good to remember there were some things I could manage.
It said something that I felt that good despite how unnerved I was by the insanity of what had passed between Flynn and me during that stormy night. It was hard not to think about it. It was nearly impossible to forget when he was always around and always mouthwateringly handsome.
Take now, for example. Flynn was standing at the counter, picking up a piece of cheese Grant had sliced into giant chunks. When my eyes snagged on Flynn’s long fingers, I instantly recalled the feel of them. Inside me. My eyes, willful, disobedient and greedy, traced the flex of his forearm as he lifted the cheese to his mouth.
Yeah, forearms. I thought Flynn’s forearms were totally hot. That was how bad I had it. I purposely took a moment to study Grant’s forearms from where he stood beside Flynn. He drained a glass of water and set it down. The flex of his forearms did nothing for me.
“I think Daphne should do it,” Cat said as she skipped into the kitchen and slid across the floor in her socks to stop at Flynn’s side.
Flynn tweaked her ponytail with his free hand. “Daphne should do what?”
“Stay on as the full-time chef,” Cat said blithely as if that made perfect sense.
Nora, whom apparently Cat had been talking with before she came into the kitchen, followed her in. “I’m not having much luck with applicants. You’re kind of an asshole sometimes,” she said, resting a hand on her hip and narrowing her eyes at Flynn. “Diamond Creek isn’t that big, and word travels. Marley at the ski lodge told me that Harry heard from the last woman you hired that you told her she was too slow.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing when Nora’s eyes met mine as she winked. Grant snorted a laugh but offered no more.
“We all know you probably did, so don’t even bother arguing,” Nora added.
Flynn sighed. “I hope Harry didn’t hire her. They do a much faster business at the restaurant than we do. Tanya didn’t know how to hurry to save her life.”
“I’ll do it.” Those words just ran out of my mouth, entirely without my permission.
Flynn spun around, giving me an intent, searching look. “Aren’t you due to fly out at the end of this week?”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t have to go back.”
I was suddenly flustered under Flynn’s gaze, which felt like an X-ray into my soul. Maybe I hadn’t planned on blurting that out, and maybe it was crazy. But maybe it was also exactly what I needed.
“Okay, princess, you’re hired,” he said flatly.
Chapter Eight
Flynn
Daphne stared at me, pink tingeing her cheeks before she looked down at the pan in front of her and turned off the burner flame underneath it. When her auburn lashes swept up again, she lifted her chin slightly and a jolt of electricity sizzled down my spine. I’d just lost my mind.
Cat squealed, abruptly reminding me I wasn’t alone with Daphne. She had the strangest effect on me, causing me to instantly forget other people were nearby. I hadn’t laid a finger on her—hell, I hadn’t even gotten within a foot of her—since my temporary break from reality that night. It didn’t matter; nothing seemed to cool my ardor for her.
I stuffed another piece of cheese in my mouth and walked out of the kitchen with Grant trailing me.
“Good choice. Daphne’s the best cook we’ve ever had, and you don’t even yell at her.” I looked his way only to collide with the sly glint in his eyes and a teasing grin. “All you gotta do is keep your hands off her.”
About the Author
This story is a prequel to Crash Into You. You can find out more about J.H. Croix’s stories here: J.H. Croix Website
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!
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Easy Prom
Easy Prom
By Anna Edwards
An Easy Rumba prequel
Part of the Boudreaux World by Kristen Proby
Easy Prom
Copyright © 2020 by Anna Edwards.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Warning: This book contains sexually explicit scenes, adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers. This book is for sale to adults only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase.
Editing by Tracy Roelle.
Proofreading by Sheena Taylor.
Chapter One
I’m going to marry you one day because you’re mine.
Leo to Elise as toddlers
“Elise, Leo is here,” my mama shouts up the stairs to me. I’m in my bedroom putting the final touches to my appearance for the prom. Even though I’m eighteen, I’m not in my final year of high school yet. I had to repeat a year after…no I can’t think about that today. At almost nineteen years old, Leo’s now in the year above me—he’s my boyfriend, and we’ve known each other all our lives. He’s handsome, kind, intelligent, and the best dancer in the world. I can’t wait for tonight. We’ve been learning a routine together, and we’re going to perform it if we get the chance. I want to show everyone in his senior year how amazing he is.