Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

Oh, yeah, that really wouldn’t be a good idea. She grabbed hold of his hand without thinking and a shot of electricity ran through her, making her gasp.

As he pulled her up, she stumbled and fell into him. She rested against his chest, staring up at him, her heart pounding and for a crazy moment she thought he was going to kiss her. Then he quickly stepped back, letting go of her.

And that was as good as being thrown in a cold mountain lake. He wasn’t interested in her. And she needed to find a way to get past this weird attraction she felt towards him.

She made her way towards the door.

“Oh, and, Mia?”

She paused and looked back. “Yes?”

“My favorite is apple pie.”

“What?”

“My favorite dessert. It’s apple pie. You’re making everyone else’s, so I get a turn, right?”

“Um, right. Sure, apple pie. I can do that.” She forced herself out of the room before she made more of an idiot of herself. When she got to her room, she hastily shut the door then leaned back against it and slid down so her butt rested on the floor, her legs up against her chest.

His favorite was apple pie. Holy hell. Here she was, wondering if it was possible to self-combust because she was so turned on and he wanted to talk about apple pie.

She was so out of her depth.

“Something smells good, darlin’.”

She turned to see Tanner and Butch walking through the kitchen door. She pointed a finger at them. “Boots off.”

Alec might still intimidate the hell out of her. And West seemed to dislike her as much as ever, even after she’d made him a new batch of brownies after that first lot had ended up in the garbage, but she’d stopped being daunted by the other brothers.

Butch gave her his best puppy dog look. “But we’re just coming in for a minute,” he implored her.

“Take those boots off now or you don’t get in my house.” As soon as she said the words, she wished them back. She blushed bright red. It wasn’t her house. She might clean it, take care of it, feed the people who lived in it. But it wasn’t hers.

But neither man said anything to contradict her. And she knew she had to stand her ground with these guys, or they’d walk all over her. Not meanly, but they were definitely used to getting their own way.

Tanner and Butch walked back in, this time in just their socks with their jeans rolled up. She gave them an approving lock. Tanner leaned over her shoulder, sniffing. “What you got cooking there, darlin’?”

She moved to try and put some space between them, but he pressed closer. “Of course, nothing smells as good as you do. What do you call that scent you’re wearing?”

“Soap,” she said dryly. “Will you give me some space? I’ve got to get the cookies out of the oven.”

He backed off immediately, practically jumping for joy. “Butch! She’s got cookies.”

“Yes.” Butch raced over. “Please tell me you made chocolate chunk ones like last week.”

“The two of you are overgrown children, you know that, right?” She pulled out the tray and Tanner immediately reached for one and she slapped his hand away. “Get off, they have to cool and they’re for everyone. Now if you don’t have anything better to do, get!”

“Jeez, so grumpy. No one has to know if you give us one now. Go on,” Butch wheedled her.

“No. Go away.”

“Please.” Tanner gave her another puppy dog look. “We’re growing boys.”

“You’re that, all right. You keep eating like this and you’ll definitely be growing boys.” She patted his slim stomach.

“What are you trying to say? That I’m getting fat? Butch, she called me fat,” Tanner complained.

She rolled her eyes. “You know very well you’re not fat.”