How was it possible to be more stressed the second day in charge than the first?

She’d overseen several Sunday brunches before and they had gone smoothly. Today, however, was a complete disaster.

The spring flu was going around town, leaving her short staffed. The delivery of fresh home-grown, organic eggs hadn’t been on time that morning since the truck bringing them had gotten a flat tire. The eggs were delivered two hours into the breakfast rush.

She’d ended up having to cook, since Valerie had called in, her voice so low and rough it had been hard for Sara to understand her. She couldn’t have a chef getting customers sick, so she’d had to put on the apron and help Damion, the sous chef on duty. She’d messaged the other sous chef, Liz, to see if she could come in, but so far, hadn’t heard back from her.

Three of her waitstaff had called in and Katie, the hostess, was out as well.

If everyone could have just waited until tomorrow, things would have been easier. Monday through Saturday they had cut the hours back and were only open from three until ten in the evening. This would allow Parker’s workers to do most of their work in the morning. And Sara would be present for every hammer swing.

She knew her uncle was a stickler and didn’t want to disappoint him by missing something that wasn’t done right. Not that she didn’t trust Parker. But trusting the workers he’d hired was a completely different matter.

She had learned from her pseudo-management position at the restaurant for the past two years that some employees needed constant encouragement and supervision.

When Sunday brunch was finally over, and the orders started slowing, she felt the layer of kitchen sweat on her skin and desperately wished for a shower before Parker showed up.

Just as she made her way to the office, Parker walked in.

“You look tired already.” He walked down the hallway and wrapped his arms around her. “You smell like bacon.” He chuckled into her hair.

“There’s probably a layer of bacon grease on my skin.” She tugged him into her uncle’s office, shut the door, and pushed him against it, her mouth covering his before he had a chance to respond.

“I’m sweaty, tired, and horny,” she said between kisses. “I can’t take a long break, but how about you come over to my place after I get off?”

He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. “Sounds wonderful. What time?”

She thought about it and groaned. “Midnight.”

He nodded. “Toby’s at the vet for the next few days. Why don’t I plan on staying? That way I can fulfill my promise to hold you all night long.”

She felt her insides melt and smiled. “Deal.” She leaned up and kissed him again just as there was a light knock on the door.

Rolling her eyes, she called out. “I’ll be out in a moment.”

“There are a few things I need to see to here, before we start tomorrow.” He brushed away a strand of her hair that had fallen out of the loose bun.

“You know your way around.” She pulled back, rolled her shoulders, and opened the door. “See you tonight,” she said before disappearing down the hallway again.

She didn’t have a lot of time to think about Parker or tonight. She caught Riley twice trying to play bartender. Her cousin skipped classes most weekdays and tried to work. Her father kicked her out time and time again.

But since Iian was gone, Sara and Riley made an agreement that as long as she wasn’t serving alcoholic drinks, she could spend time on the weekend behind the bar, with Connie as chaperone.

Besides, she could use the help. She had even called in her other cousins. Jacob was busing tables and Conner was waiting tables.

She glimpsed Parker a few times going over measurements in the kitchen and in the dining area. She wanted to have more time with him but was too busy to spare a second.

She did see Parker talking with Riley and watched their interaction for just a moment. Riley, for her part, was totally infatuated with Parker. Parker, however, looked at Riley like she was a younger sister.

She didn’t see Parker leave since the dinner rush was in full swing. Once again, it seemed the entire town came out for what was to be the last Sunday dinner before the remodel began.

She was a little disturbed to see Aiden and his parents arrive for dinner.

Liz had come in just before the dinner rush to help out in the kitchen, so now Sara was on the floor, with no way to avoid them.

“Evening, Sheriff Brogan, Mrs. Brogan.” She pasted a smile on her lips and tried to avoid eye contact with Aiden. “Does everyone know what they want?”

“Sara,” Aiden said, trying to get her attention. She avoided him.

“How about you, Mrs. Brogan? What would you like tonight?” She turned to Aiden’s mother.

“I’ll have steak tonight.” She turned to her husband.

“Same,” Robert added.

“Sara,” Aiden tried again.

“What would you like to order, Aiden.” She turned to him, all business.

He sighed loudly, then placed his order.

She took a moment before putting in their orders to be thankful Aiden wasn’t an ass. At least he wasn’t a stalker or an angry ex.

The truth was, sex with him had never really… worked.

Every time they’d moved past kissing, things became awkward. Almost as if they were both virgins, fumbling in the dark.

It was one of the reasons being with Parker was important to her. She had to know she wasn’t the reason. That she could have good sex, hot sex. Sex like they have in the movies. And tonight she was going to prove to herself that she could.

After the open sign was switched off there was prep work needed for tomorrow morning when Parker and his crew would start working. When she locked up, she was sweaty and getting low on energy. She grabbed a soda from behind the bar for the drive home.

When she pulled up and parked in her spot, she had less than half an hour before Parker would arrive.

Her first order of business was a shower. Washing the layer of workday grime off had never felt better.

After the shower, she pulled her hair back in a long braid, dabbled on a little makeup, and pulled on the sexiest thing she could find, which included a sheer top over a camisole along with a pair of black leggings.

She was just putting on the finishing touches with lip gloss when she heard a knock at her door. Double-checking the mirror before opening the door, she smiled at the face full of flowers she met on the other side.

“They’re beautiful.” She inhaled their sweet scent, then smiled at the man behind them. The fact that Parker looked as nervous as she felt caused her to relax slightly.

“Come on in.” She stood back as he entered. He set a small bag down just inside her door and glanced around the small one-room cabin.

“So, this is what these cabins look like on the inside.”

“Each one is different.” She walked over to the small kitchenette area and put the flowers into a vase, then pulled out a bottle of wine and held it up. “Want a glass?”

“Sure.” He looked at the large painting hanging above the fireplace. “One of your aunt’s pieces?”

She glanced over at the beautiful painting her aunt had done for this cottage.

“Yes, my mother hired her initially to do pieces for each of the cabins. This is the blue cabin, so she used blue for the painting.” She smiled. “Each cabin has its own color.”

“Is that why the doors are all different colors?”

“Yes.” She handed him his glass. “My father helped remodel each cabin.” She motioned towards the sofa. Her feet were killing her, and she desperately wished to get horizontal soon. “They’ve made a few updates over the years but kept the color theme. It helps us know which cabins are rented and makes it easier for returning guests to request their favorite cabin.” She smiled and patted the spot directly next to her.

“Are they all this size?” he asked, sitting beside her.

“No, the next one over, the red one, is the largest.” She tucked her legs up under herself and rolled her shoulders as the wine started helping her relax. “It’s a two-bedroom place. We reserve that for families. There are two that size, three with one bedroom, and the rest are around this size, more like a studio apartment. They each have their own kitchenettes.” Her words began to slur slightly, and a few large yawns escaped her. “When guests are here, breakfast is delivered every morning by Sara’s Nook, and lunch by the Golden Oar. Dinner is usually at the main house, but guests can order from the restaurant if they want to stay in.”

“Your family has thought of everything.” He set his wine glass down after taking a sip. Then he took her half-empty glass and set it down as well.

“Sara.” He pulled her close. “I wanted to go slow.” The first kiss was soft and warm, and relaxed her even further.

“Hmm,” she said against his lips. It felt so good to be in his arms.

“Sara?” he asked, his voice soft next to her skin. He ran his lips down her neck as his hands played over the material of her leggings, slowly traveling up her legs.

“Hmm,” she said between yawns. She heard him chuckle and opened her eyes to look up at him when he pulled back.

“You’re exhausted.” It was a statement not a question.

“Is it that obvious?” She tried to pull him back to her.

He leaned in and kissed her quickly, then stood up. She gasped slightly when he scooped her up into his arms, carried her across the room, and laid her gently on the bed.

“Let’s try this.” He kicked off his shoes before lying beside her. “Ten-minute power nap.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

She snuggled into his chest and after feeling his heart beat next to her ear, relaxed even more.

“This isn’t what I planned,” she said between yawns.

“Neither of us did. But sometimes you just need to go with it.” He yawned himself and she smiled.

“So, we’re really going to snuggle first?”

“Shh.” He ran his hand through her hair. “I’m enjoying myself.”

She drifted off to sleep more easily than she had in a long time.

* * *

Parker woke with a slight jolt. The dream hadn’t been anything new, but the feeling of a woman in his arms had.

Then he smiled when he remembered who that woman was. Since the cabin was still dark, he tried to free an arm to check his watch and see how long they had clocked out.

When he moved, she snuggled tighter against him, causing him to smile. He finally found his watch and groaned. They had less than an hour before his alarm was set to go off. He had been more tired than he’d known.

Making a decision to let her sleep, he tried to disengage himself from her, but her eyes flew open and she sat straight up.

“What?” she said, looking around the room.

“Easy.” He chuckled. “I was just going to let you sleep some more.

“What time is it?” she said once she relaxed back.

“Quarter till five.”

She groaned. “Ten-minute power nap?” She rolled over and wrapped her arms around him. “You’re not going anywhere.” She pushed her body against his.

“I’m not?” he asked playfully.

Then her mouth was on his as her hands tugged on his shirt. He leaned up as she pulled the shirt over his head, then straddled his hips as their lips melted together again.

His fingers dug into her hips, holding her to him as she moved over him. She brushed her fingertips over his bare skin, sending goosebumps over every spot she touched.

When his hands moved up, taking her soft tank top with them, she arched. Sitting up, he tugged her shirt over her head, then leaned back and looked at her perfect skin.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said under his breath as he took in every part of her. He wished for more light to see her better but didn’t want to interrupt the moment. Instead, he took what he could.

“Parker,” she moaned, her fingers digging into his hair as he traveled down the column of her neck. She arched back, giving him more access.

When his lips skimmed just above her silky bra, a moan escaped her lips, making his cock grow even harder.

“Sara, I’m trying to go slow.”

“Don’t go slow,” she said, moving over him and reaching for his jeans. Her fingers fumbled as she tugged the material off his hips.

He bucked and tugged with her, laughing as her fingers brushed the tender spot of his hips.

“Oh, a hidden surprise,” she said, doing it again.

He gripped her fingers, stilling them. “Later,” he warned. “Paybacks.” He twisted, flipping over until she was underneath him, pulling her hands over her head.

His eyes ran over her. Her hair was flowing around her face as she smiled up at him. She was a little breathless, and so was he.

When he leaned in for the kiss this time, he allowed everything he’d dreamed of since laying eyes on her to surface.

His hands yanked down her leggings until he found her skin underneath. Hot, wet, ready for him. When his fingers dipped in, she jolted under him and cried out with pleasure.

“Yes,” he growled. “Beg for me.” He moved beside her, his mouth tugging down the rest of the lace that covered her skin until he was able to take the rosy peak into his mouth.

Her fingers dug into his scalp as his hands continued to run over her. When he dipped lower and covered her pussy with his mouth, she cried out again.

“God, you taste like honey,” he said against her skin. “Wrap your legs around me.”

She did as he asked, and he took his fill of her, pushing her to the very edge.

Then he moved up, quickly slid a condom on, and took her the rest of the way.

This time he woke when the alarm beside the bed went off.

Sara groaned and rolled away from him, but he quickly pulled her back, missing her warmth and softness.

“Not yet,” he said into her hair. “Just another moment.” He placed a kiss on her lips.

“I can’t be late. The new contractor might be a dick about it.”

He laughed. “Tell me about it. I’m sure my client will have a few choice words if I’m late. But I just need one more moment.” He kissed her again, then rolled with her until they stood next to the bed. “Shower?” He started walking towards the bathroom.

“Shower.” She tugged off the shirt she’d pulled on, then reached in and turned on the shower.

“It takes a moment for the water to get…” She screamed when he pulled her under the cold spray as he laughed.

“How do you expect to wake up if you don’t get your blood flowing?” He kissed her until her resolve turned into desire.