Country Heat (King Creek Cowboys Book 1) by Cheyenne McCray Page A

actual song.” She smiled as she examined the first pancake. “Doesn’t mean I’m on key.”
    Carter gave a low laugh. “I’d say you do a very good humming job.”
    Her face grew hot as “hum job” popped into her mind. She tried to cover her hesitation by shooting him a smile and saying, “I’m flattered.”
    He chuckled. “You must have been out of bed early. I think you were here before the men got to work. The kitchen light was already shining when I went outside.”
    “You don’t run a kitchen and show up after the guests.” She looked from the pancakes to Carter. “Or cowboys in this case.”
    He had the same look of amusement as he’d had yesterday when he’d startled her. “I have to admit it surprised me.”
    “Why?” She flipped a pancake.
    He shrugged. “Past experience.”
    “Hmmm...” She shook her head as she turned over the next five pancakes. “No comment needed on that one.”
    He braced his hand on the counter, next to the buffet dome that would soon house scrambled eggs. The sausage patties were already made and beneath the buffet farthest away from her.
    He tapped his fingers lightly on the countertop. “Feel free to comment on anything.”
    “The fact that you even mentioned any cooks who might not have had food ready on time, says it all.” Even if she was feeling like crap, she would have gotten her butt down to the kitchen and done her job. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what she’d done throughout her career since graduating from the culinary arts school.
    “What do you have planned today?” She glanced at him. “Roping and riding?”
    He smiled. “Something like that.”
    “My grandparents had a farm, but they didn’t have horses.” A wistful feeling crept over her like fingers stroking her skin. She missed them like crazy. “I always wished they did, but Grandpa said horses need a lot of attention and it’s not fair to them if they can’t get their proper exercise and care.”
    “Your grandpa was right.” Carter shifted against the countertop. “Have you ever been on a horse?”
    She shook her head. “No. But I’ve always wanted to.”
    “We’ll make it happen.” He pushed away from the counter. “How about a week from tomorrow?”
    She glanced at him in surprise. “You’re taking me for a ride?”
    “I know just the horse for you.” He cocked his head. “Pack a lunch and I’ll show you the operation and the property.”
    “Can’t pass that up.” She started using the spatula to move the pancakes from the griddle to the platter beneath the dome. “That would be a Sunday.”
    He nodded. “Yep.”
    “Sure. I’d enjoy that very much.” The moment the words left her mouth, thoughts flashed through her mind that made her pause.
    Her. Carter. Alone.
    Not a good idea.
    A groan threatened to spill out. It was too late now to back out without looking like a jerk.
    She did her best to smile naturally as she scrambled the eggs. “Any special requests for lunch when we go for a ride?”
    He looked thoughtful. “Snickerdoodles. They’re my favorite cookies.”
    “I wouldn’t have pictured you as a snickerdoodle man.” She laughed as she made sure the eggs were done in the giant pan. “More like an oatmeal chocolate chip kind of guy.”
    He grinned. “My grandma baked a lot of great cookies, but snickerdoodles have always been at the top of my list.”
    “I have a killer recipe.” She mentally went through her list of recipes. “I make a variation called a ‘toffeedoodle.’”
    “Sounds like something I’d enjoy.” His expression was sooo damned sexy. It should have been a shootable offense for a man to look that good, that lickable. She could just picture herself licking him like one of the beaters she used to make his birthday cake.
    Stop it. She had to pull herself back together. She turned back to the eggs and frowned at herself. The eggs were going to burn if she wasn’t careful and didn’t pay attention to what she was