A Royal Mess. Jill Shalvis

and ripped into the chocolate. “Look, I know she cooks a little strangely.”

      “She lied about knowing how to feed a large group.”

      “She never claimed to know how to do that.”

      Sally’s mouth dropped open. “You’re telling me you hired without asking? Damn, Tim.”

      “She’s trying hard, and that counts. And anyway, she’s only going to be here a few days, just enough to earn her way to New Mexico.”

      “So you’re really not going to tell her everything she touches in that kitchen turns to lead in our guts?” She sighed theatrically. “It’s going to be a long few days. Damn it, someone front me a five and hand over the chocolate.”

      Tim waited until her first bite, then nudged her away from the others. “I need you to go to the grocery store today.” He spoke cautiously, because sure as the sun came up every morning, coaxing Sally into doing this was going to cost him.

      “No way.”

      “If you do, I’ll…”

      “You’ll what?” She cocked a hip and crossed her arms, shooting him the universal irritated-sister-to-idiot-brother look. “Let me date Josh?”

      “Is that what you call what you were doing with him?” She just lifted that brow of hers, making him sigh. “Do you really like him?”

      “I like how he fills out his jeans, and that’s all that matters right now.”

      Tim cringed. “I don’t want to hear this.”

      “Then don’t ask.”

      “Please? Go fill up the refrigerator?”

      “Because your new cook can’t be trusted with your truck?”

      “Because she’s just learning the ropes, I don’t want to dump that chore on her right now.”

      “But you have no problem dumping it on me.” She rolled her eyes, swore beneath her breath. “Fine. But I’m going out with Josh on Friday night.”

      “What if he doesn’t ask?”

      “Oh, he’ll ask.” She took another bite of her chocolate bar.

      So did Tim. “You being smart?” he asked.

      “I know how to have safe sex, if that’s what you’re asking. You made sure of that when you gave me the birds and bees talk, remember? I make him wear a party hat.”

      Tim groaned.

      “Would you rather I use the word condom? Or better yet, multipack?”

      Tim shut his eyes and covered his ears, making Sally laugh as she dug into her chocolate.

      For a long moment there was no sound in the barn except the rustling of paper as everyone continued to fill their empty bellies.

      “I’ll make a store run,” Seth promised. “Tomorrow I’ll sell something more substantial.”

      “Like Jelly Bellys?” Josh asked hopefully.

      Seth laughed. “Maybe.”

      Then the barn door opened.

      With the sun pouring in, Tim couldn’t immediately see much, except a very memorable silhouette of a body in jeans and a T-shirt. A real woman’s body—lush breasts, curved hips, long legs. How had he ever mistaken her for a jailbait juvenile delinquent?

      She stepped closer, eyes locked on their hands, and what they were eating. When it registered, she went still. “Well.”

      There was a wealth of things in that well, with hurt leading the pack. Damn it. “Oh, this?” He looked at the chocolate in his hands. “It’s…a morning ritual.” He stepped on Sally’s foot as she was about to open her big, fat mouth. “Eating chocolate together before we head out for the day.” He nodded and smiled. “Yep, we do it every morning.”

      Seth, Pete, Ryan and Red’s heads all bobbed up and down in collective agreement.

      “Yessiree,” said Seth.

      “Yeppers,” echoed Red and Ryan.

      “Perfect dessert to your breakfast,” Red added.

      Natalia visibly brightened, her smile becoming full. “Really?”

      Tim’s gaze lowered to her lips, and allowed himself to imagine she tasted as good as she looked. “Really.” She looked so different today. She looked real. And he wanted, quite suddenly, to bury his face in the skin in the crook of her neck and inhale like a bloodhound.

      “But,” she continued in a sweet, soft chastising voice, “you should have just said you were still hungry.” She smiled. “Never mind. I’ll cook more at lunch.”

      “M-more?” Seth glanced in horror at Tim.

      “Oh, yes.” She laughed and headed out. “Can’t have you going hungry!”

      “Can’t have that,” Sally said through her teeth, and shot Tim a look to kill.