“As far as I know, Simon is fine. I wanted to talk to you about his attitude though.”
She snorted.
Just like her son.
“And before you say this is somehow about me not understanding him because I’m the new guy, you need to know that Simon has been acting out and is pretty much annoying most of the team.”
She studied him in silence.
He wondered what she saw. Did she see the regular guy who’d rather be running down a field or hiding out in his home, reading history books and watching movies? Or did she see the confident, laughing playboy everyone thought him to be?
“Come with me.” She turned and walked into the back of her teahouse.
He followed her toward the sweet smells coming from a small kitchen. Entranced by the scent of vanilla and cinnamon, he took a big sniff. “What are you making?”
“Sticky buns, my version of cinnamon rolls. Hold on.” She took a few steps toward the doorway and shouted, “Nora, can you watch the front? I’m in a meeting.”
Nora laughed and said something he couldn’t make out but apparently Rebecca could.
She flushed and returned, putting the center island between them. He wondered if her husband had a hard time dealing with her moods, then thought the lucky guy probably didn’t much care. A woman who could bake and looked like her? A win-win…until she opened her mouth.
“Well?” She waited.
He just stared.
“What?”
“I’m trying to figure out how to say this without you getting offended. I would have called your husband, but Simon wouldn’t give me his number.”
Something that looked like pain flashed across her face. “My husband is dead. Now what did you want to talk about?”
Wow. Talk about stepping right into it. Might have been nice if the kid had explained his father was no longer alive when Mitch had mentioned the guy. “Sorry. Simon didn’t tell me.”
She sighed. “So what has my son done that brings the ‘Amazing Flash’ to my lowly shop?”
He ignored the heat on his face. “You know, if you’d heard the whole conversation, you might not be so quick to judge.”
“You’re here to talk about Simon?”
Fine. He wouldn’t explain himself to this sexy, stuck-up viper. Wait. Where had sexy come from? Rebecca Bragg was more girl-next-door…with a side of sexy. Damn her full mouth.
* * *
Any Given Snow Day
Also by Marie
CONTEMPORARY
* * *
WICKED WARRENS
Enjoying the Show
Closing the Deal
Raising the Bar
Making the Grade
Bending the Rules
* * *
THE MCCAULEY BROTHERS
The Troublemaker Next Door
How to Handle a Heartbreaker
Ruining Mr. Perfect
What to Do with a Bad Boy
* * *
BODY SHOP BAD BOYS
Test Drive
Roadside Assistance
Zero to Sixty
Collision Course
* * *
THE DONNIGANS
A Sure Thing
Just the Thing
The Only Thing
* * *
ALL I WANT FOR HALLOWEEN
* * *
THE KISSING GAME
* * *
THE WORKS
Bodywork
Working Out
Wetwork
* * *
VETERANS MOVERS
The Whole Package
Smooth Moves
Handle with Care
Delivered with a Kiss
* * *
GOOD TO GO
A Major Attraction
A Major Seduction
A Major Distraction
A Major Connection
* * *
BEST REVENGE
Served Cold
Served Hot
Served Sweet
* * *
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
* * *
POWERUP!
The Lost Locket
RetroCog
Whispered Words
Fortune’s Favor
Flight of Fancy
Silver Tongue
Killer Thoughts
* * *
WESTLAKE ENTERPRISES
To Hunt a Sainte
Storming His Heart
Love in Electric Blue
* * *
PARANORMAL
* * *
COUGAR FALLS
Rachel’s Totem
In Plain Sight
Foxy Lady
Outfoxed
A Matter of Pride
Right Wolf, Right Time
By the Tail
Prey & Prejudice
* * *
ETHEREAL FOES
Dragons’ Demon: A Dragon’s Dream
Duncan’s Descent: A Demon’s Desire
Havoc & Hell: A Dragon’s Prize
Dragon King: Not So Ordinary
* * *
CIRCE’S RECRUITS
Roane
Zack & Ace
Derrick
Hale
* * *
DAWN ENDEAVOR
Fallon’s Flame
Hayashi’s Hero
Julian’s Jeopardy
Gunnar’s Game
Grayson’s Gamble
* * *
CIRCE’S RECRUITS 2.0
Gideon
Alex
Elijah
Carter
* * *
MARK OF LYCOS
Enemy Red
Wolf Wanted
Jericho Junction
* * *
SCIFI
* * *
THE INSTINCT
A Civilized Mating
A Barbarian Bonding
A Warrior’s Claiming
* * *
TALSON TEMPTATIONS
Talon’s Wait
Talson’s Test
Talson’s Net
Talson’s Match
* * *
LIFE IN THE VRAIL
Lurin’s Surrender
Thief of Mardu
Engaging Gren
Seriana Found
* * *
CREATIONS
The Perfect Creation
Creation’s Control
Creating Chemistry
Caging the Beast
* * *
AND MORE (believe it or not)!
About the Author
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
* * *
And to subscribe to Marie’s Newsletter, click here.