Playing With You by Cheyenne McCray Page A

a woman kissed me. Just once. I woke up thinking ‘what did I do?’”
    Something flared in Deena’s eyes. “And?”
    Ricki swallowed. “I wondered for a long time why I did that and wondered if I liked it.”
    “Did you?” Deena asked, looking like she was on the edge of her seat.
    Ricki glanced away for a moment and shrugged. “I realized it was just the alcohol and the fact that I was young.”
    Deena shook her head. “You liked it because women get it. Men are just jerks.”
    For the first time, Ricki wondered if Deena was not just a man hater, but was she bi? Or even a lesbian? Some of her best friends were gay. It wasn’t Ricki’s thing, but if Deena was a lesbian, Ricki might be able to hook her up with her friends who could fill her in on the local scene.
    Uncomfortable with the conversation, Ricki changed the subject and soon they were talking about the most well-known of Prescott’s older families, namely the Johnsons and the McBrides.
    It was ten by the time Ricki felt like the two margaritas she’d had earlier were a distant memory. “I’ve got to get baking early in the morning.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m out way past my curfew.”
    “This was fun.” They both stood as Deena spoke. “We need to do this again, soon.”
    “I had a terrific time.” Ricki nodded. “Maybe we can have another girls’ night out next week.”
    Deena grinned. “It’s a date.”
     

Chapter 13
     
    Saturday morning Ricki was working in the bakery and had just finished making a fresh pot of coffee. She’d been distracted, once again thinking about Garrett, and had forgotten to put the freshly ground coffee into the filter before brewing. She’d ended up with a nice pot of hot water that she’d had to discard.
    He hadn’t called her since he’d dropped in at the bakery earlier in the week, and tomorrow was Easter. She felt like a schoolgirl waiting for the phone to ring and it hadn’t. He also hadn’t stopped by in the morning for his usual scone and coffee.
    Had he gone out of town? Or had he decided he didn’t want to see her and was trying to let her down easy?
    The thought of Garrett not wanting to see her again made her chest ache and she shook her head. Her longtime crush on the man had developed into something more and she feared she was going to end up getting her heart broken. That’s all there was to it.
    Still she planned on making cookies for Garrett’s family later this afternoon so that they’d be fresh come tomorrow. Honestly, Garrett didn’t strike her as the type of man who would ask her out then decide not to take her. Even if he wanted to break off any start to a relationship, he’d still plan on taking her to the family outing.
    She wiped down the large thermos that she’d just spilled coffee on. She really needed to get her mind back on her job.
    Would Deena be in today like she had been all week? Ricki found herself looking forward to seeing her friend. It was a nice break to her day.
    Garrett would be a really nice break to the day.
    Ricki slipped into the back to grab a tray of pastries that were ready to be put on display. Before she could get to the tray, she heard the bells jangling at the front door. She put on a smile and headed back out to the front and stopped in her tracks.
    Garrett. He looked so sexy in his off-white western shirt, straw Stetson, Wranglers, and scuffed brown leather boots. His blue eyes seemed to burn as he studied her, his expression unreadable.
    She felt a now familiar flip-flop in her belly when he looked at her. He had a way of studying her that made her feel like he wanted to cart her away and make love to her.
    If he wanted her right this minute, she’d be more than ready. She imagined him taking her up against the wall and—
    Her thoughts broke off as he raised an eyebrow, as if he could hear what was going on in her mind. Her face warmed.
    “Hi, Garrett.” She swallowed and offered him a smile. “Missed seeing you