Sweet Treat

  Copyright © 2020 by Loni Ree

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover Design By: Bookin It Designs

  Edited By: Kendra's Editing and Book Services

  Created with Vellum

  To my besties, The Loonies, thanks for keeping me going.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue One

  Epilogue Two

  About the Author

  Also by Loni Ree

  Prologue

  Megan

  “Wake up, Tricia. My mom just called about Grammy Lois.” I throw on the light and wake my roommate-slash-best friend after hanging up the phone. I need to explain the unexpected call to her. Tricia sits up and blinks rapidly while trying to comprehend my frantic words. I don’t even slow down as I babble on about the call. A customer found Grammy Lois, my mom’s sister, unconscious behind the counter of Sweet Beginnings Café late last night. The customers rushed her to Baylor County General, where doctors were able to save her life, but they weren’t able to prevent the stroke from causing significant injury to her brain. It’ll be weeks or even months before we know how much damage it caused, but Grammy Lois will probably never be the same again. Taking care of Grammy Lois’s business is going to fall on me for now. Sophie and Jason are away on vacation, and Mom has no idea how to run a café, so it looks like I’m about to do the one thing I’ve managed to avoid until now. I’m heading to hell, otherwise known as Sweetbriar, Colorado.

  Tricia starts coffee while I try to come to terms with all that we’ll have to do in a short amount of time. We’ll need to come up with a plan for our bakery, Sweet Treats, and figure out how long Tricia can manage it without me. I have no idea how long I’ll be needed in Sweetbriar. God, I hope this is a temporary trip to hell.

  After making plans for Sweet Treats, I start throwing clothes into a suitcase. I only pack the essentials since I don’t plan on staying any longer than absolutely necessary. Tricia stands at the doorway and chews on her nail. “I feel awful for your aunt, but I’m going to miss you so much. How will I survive with you here?”

  We’ve been best friends since grade school, but since her divorce from her cheating jerk ex-husband, Tricia and I have done everything together. This will be the longest we’ve been apart. “You’ll have to come to Sweetbriar and visit. Soon,” I offer, and she looks appalled.

  “You think you’ll be gone that long?” As tears build in her eyes, I hope I’m wrong, but the news from Mom didn’t sound promising. I have no idea how long it’ll take to determine if we’re selling Sweet Beginnings or just maintaining it until Grammy Lois is well enough to return to work. She’s owned the café-slash-bakery for thirty years, so the business is too important to make rash decisions.

  “Do you want me to take you to the airport?” Tricia sniffs, and I debate for a second. Is saving a few bucks on cab fare worth the risk to my life? Everyone knows Tricia is a horrible driver. In the end, I decide the extra few minutes with my friend will be worth the tiny risk of dying in a fiery car crash.

  Chapter One

  Harden

  I hear my sister-in-law’s ringtone, then her name flashes across the screen of my dashboard, and I debate ignoring the call. Knowing Libby, she’ll make my life hell if I attempt to avoid her. Being the second oldest of six brothers is a pain in the ass at times. At least I don’t have to deal with the holy hell my poor oldest brother, Mitchell, has to put up with daily. Since our parents died in a plane crash ten years ago, he’s been in charge of the family and the ranch. I’m the next in line and plan to stay a bachelor for life. Bryce comes after me, and so far, he hasn’t shown any interest in settling down, either. The three of us all work on our family’s large ranch in Sweetbriar, Colorado. Our next youngest brother is Devin, who has always been the peacemaker in the family, so it stands to reason that he ended up Sheriff of our small town. After Devin comes the twins, Sebastian and Justin. Both always swore they’d escape Sweetbriar, yet both are still living here. Seb is the principal of our local high school, and Justin runs the security operations for our ranch and several other ranches in the area. Mitchell is the only one of us to find a woman who’s strong enough to fit into the Mackenzie tribe.

  Libby keeps her two kids and the six Mackenzie brothers in line every day, all while helping run Sweet Stone Ranch. A call from her late on a Friday evening usually means she’s volunteered me to do some god-awful favor for a church member or family friend. She circles through all of us brothers, so I knew my time was coming.

  “All I’m doing this weekend is locking myself in my house and turning off all forms of communication. The answer is no.” I try to head her off before she even asks, but I know from past experience I have little hope of it working.

  “I don’t know if you heard, but Grammy Lois had a stroke last night. She isn’t doing great.” Libby sighs, and I wonder how this is going to ruin my weekend. I feel for the wonderful little lady who runs the town café, but I can’t imagine how I could be of any help.

  “Mr. Winchell told me about it when I stopped in to pick up my order at the hardware store,” I let her know before she clears her throat, and I prepare myself for the pain. There won’t be warm muffins or fancy coffee from the café anymore. Surely, that is suffering enough.

  “I promised Maggie Sue that one of us would pick up Grammy Lois’s niece from the airport tomorrow. She’s coming in from Naverton, Ohio, to take over at Sweet Beginnings while Grammy Lois recovers. I figured Fisher would be able to run up to Denver and get her, but the darn kid has already made plans. He caught Mitchell in a moment of weakness earlier in the week and got my husband to agree to let him have Saturday off to woo a girl.” I pull into my driveway as she continues down the list of my brothers and why they can’t pick up the girl.

  Finally, I interrupt her, “So, no one can pick her up? That’s what this is all about?”

  “Well, I was hoping you could. You just told me you don’t have any plans except ignoring everyone.” I can envision her evil smile as she expertly traps me.

  “When do I have to get her?” I give in with a sigh, knowing it’s no use fighting the inevitable. I wonder if I’ll ever have a wife who can trap me as easily as Libby has learned to trap all of us.

  Walking through the door of the main house, I see my niece, Allie, in the living room. “Hey, any idea where I can find Fisher?” I ask, walking through the doorway.

  Libby’s miniature looks up from her cross-stitch then smirks and replies, “You need boobs and a killer ass for him to respond to you, but he’s in his room trying to beg Misty Rylan to go to the movies with him.”

  Shaking my head, I let her know, “He’d better respond to my boobless, normal-assed self,” as I head for his bedroom.

  I hear the pleading ten feet from his door. Doesn’t he know begging this early in a relationship is a bad sign? Sheesh. I knock and wait. “Go away,” the little jerk yells, and I pound harder.

  “Open the door, now.” After a couple seconds of rustling, Fisher opens the door and tries to look innocent

  “Uncle Harden. What?” He looks up with his eyebrows raised as I glare down at the little shit.

  “I have to pick up Grammy Lois’s niece tomorrow because of your plans, and you’re still begging the girl. You little shit. You owe me two weeks of grass cutting next spring. And another thing, stop acting like the town wuss.” I see him open his mouth to argue, but he thinks better as my eyes narrow.

  “What did you come here for, Uncle Harden?” he calls as I walk away.

  “I can’t even freaking remember. You pissed me off so bad, it’s completely gone from my mind.” I rub my head and decide I need a quiet night to recover from my family.

  “You know, they say your mind’s the first thing to go.” My asshole brother smirks as I walk past him in the hall.

  “So are you your balls when your wife wears them around her neck,” I snap back and flip the jerk off while walking past.

  He laughs and warns, “I’m going to take great pleasure in watching you fall one day. Your time is coming, little brother.”

  Shaking my head, I keep walking and ignore him. I’ve managed to stay single for thirty-seven years. I’ve given up finding a woman who’ll make me consider changing my status any time soon.

  I’m dozing off when the phone rings. I debate ignoring it but see it’s Fisher so I answer. “You’re already on my shit list.”

  “I should be your favorite now. Misty is going to the movies with Tony. I can pick up Grammy Lois’s niece tomorrow.” Since Fisher sounds upset, I don’t celebrate un til we hang up the phone. Hell yes, I’ll get my quiet weekend after all.

  Chapter Two

  Harden

  Monday morning, taking a deep breath, I prepare myself before walking into the main house. After a nice quiet weekend, I dread the first seconds of chaos. It’s a typical weekday morning; the sound of Libby and Ms. Shelly, the housekeeper, shouting out orders echoes through the house while all the Mackenzies try their best to ignore the two of them.

  When Fisher sees me, his eyes light up and he turns to laugh. “Man, you gave up a sweet favor, Uncle Harden.” Mitchell’s eyes narrow over his son’s head as he looks at me and shrugs while waiting for Fisher to finish. “Grammy Lois’s niece is hot.” The teenager fans himself before continuing. “Crazy as hell but one hot model.”

  “Fisher Mitchell Mackenzie! Do not talk about a woman that way,” Libby yells as my brother tries to hold back his laughter.

  After taking several deep breaths, Mitchell attempts a serious expression while asking his son, “What makes you say she’s crazy?”

  “Mostly the attitude, oh, and the leopard skin shorts, in January, in Colorado.” My nephew shrugs then raises his eyebrows. “But I’m not complaining. Those shorts were very short.” He holds his hands down to his upper thighs, signaling the length of the girl’s shorts before continuing. “I got a good view the whole way home. Oof.” Fisher doesn’t see his mom coming until she smacks him on the back of the head.

  “I think we’ll need to check this out for ourselves. Don’t you agree, Harden and Devin?” My youngest brother Justin cuts in. “I’m kinda partial to almost non-existent shorts.” He ducks out of the room when Libby heads in his direction with her hand raised.

  “Oh my God, this is going to be bigger news that the robbery at the Super-V last year,” Ms. Shelly gasps behind Libby, and I smirk as I look at Devin in his Sheriff’s uniform.

  “You might be a little busy when the residents start calling to report the stranger with hooker shorts running down Main Street. Oof.” I’m Libby’s next victim when she smacks the back of my head before I finish commenting.

  “Anybody else want to make fun of this poor girl? I’m ready to deck the next jerk to open his mouth,” Libby hisses, and all the Mackenzie men wisely keep our mouths shut.

  I drive by the café several times throughout the following week, trying to catch sight of the niece, but so far, I’m not having any luck. On Wednesday, I’m sitting at the stoplight right outside the café when I get a glimpse of the finest ass I’ve ever seen bent over the display of pastries. Before I can blink and get a closer look, horns start blaring behind me because the light has turned green. For the rest of the night, visions of the perfect round bottom run through my mind on a continuous loop, and I wonder what is wrong with me. I never obsess about females. Obviously, I’m in need of some time off to recharge.

  Word travels throughout town that the café will open up again on Friday. Devin and Justin plan to meet me at my office in the ranch’s main barn for us to go and scope out the changes at Sweet Beginnings Café. We haven’t heard much news about Grammy Lois, except that she isn’t going to be back at the café for a long time, if ever.

  “It’s after ten. The morning rush should be over unless everyone else in town has the same idea as us,” Justin grumbles as Devin drives toward town. Keeping secrets in this town is impossible; knowing everyone is a part of living here. We need to meet our new neighbor and welcome her.

  “Son-of-a-bitch. Watch where you’re going,” Devin snaps as I plow into him when he stops suddenly right in the café door. I’m looking back at the iridescent letters painted in the window and miss my six-foot-five brother standing still in front of me.

  “Holy shit. Who’s calling dibs on her first?” We both follow Justin’s stare, and I feel the breath freeze in my chest as I finally see the owner of the most perfect ass I’ve ever seen. She really does have a sassy attitude. Hip cocked to the side, she glares at me from behind her round coke bottle glasses while I stare mutely at the most beautiful heart-shaped face I’ve ever seen. Bright red curls fan around her shoulders and flow down her back. Her gray eyes narrow when we stand frozen in the door like idiots.

  My brain disconnects from my mouth as my heart flips over in my chest, causing me to bark, “What the hell is that get-up you’re wearing?” Her mouth drops open in shock, and I hear my brothers’ snickers behind me.

  She sputters for a second before pointing at the door. “Get out. What I wear is none of your business, and if the way I dress offends you, don’t come back.” The patrons sitting at a back table turn around and attempt to appear as if they’re ignoring us, but their attention is focused on the scene we’re creating.

  Luckily, Devin’s mouth and brain are working in sync, and he walks forward in an attempt to ease the tension. “We came by to meet you. Our nephew picked you up at the airport the other day. Devin Mackenzie.” Then he holds out his hand to her, and I barely resist knocking his hand away before their palms touch.

  “Megan Lennox. I’ll be running the café for a while.” She glares at me then turns to smile at Justin, and the urge to growl barrels through me. What the hell is happening to me?

  When Justin shakes her hand, I feel the need to get away before doing something stupid, so I walk over to look at the selection of treats in the bakery case. Behind me, I hear them discussing Grammy Lois’s condition while I feign interest in the pastries. Finally, Justin decides I’ve been tortured enough and sweetly asks Megan, “We don’t have much time. Can we get three coffees and cinnamon rolls to go?”

  After Justin finishes paying for our stuff, Devin and I grab the coffees from Megan, and I can’t resist running my mouth again when I take my cup from her. “Surely, you aren’t going to try to run this place all by yourself?”

  “No, Mr. Stick His Nose Where It Doesn’t Belong. I don’t plan on running it alone. I’m looking for high school- or college-aged kids to help out after school and on weekends, plus Marie Randall is going to work a few hours every morning while her kids are at mother’s day out.” She huffs then shoves the bags of cinnamons rolls into my hand.

  As we turn to leave, Megan calls out to us, “Oh, wait. I just realized something. Can you hold on one second? I promised Libby I would send a coconut cake home with any family member who happened to drop by.” When she rushes off to the back of the bakery, I shake my head. Libby’s already stirring up something. I’m just not sure what it is yet.

  “Wow. That girl is hot. If neither of you is calling dibs, I want her,” Justin, the braver of my dumbass brothers, smirks.

  I turn and glare. “She’s off limits to all of us. That girl doesn’t fit in around here. Did you see that get-up she has on? High-heeled leopard-skinned boots and white leather shorts. She can’t get away with that crap in Sweetbriar.” As I see both of my brothers’ eyes expanding, I tell myself to shut the hell up, but the whole brain-to-mouth disconnect means I don’t listen to my own advice.

  I squeeze my eyes shut from regret as her voice comes from behind me. “Here’s that cake. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I turn to take the cake and want to kick my own ass when all the sparkle is missing from her eyes.

  “What do we owe you for the cake?” Devin asks before I can find the words, but she gives a weak smile and points at the door.

  “It’s on the house.”

  “You were quite the A number one jerk,” Justin growls as we get in the truck, but I’m too busy trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with me to worry about him.

  Chapter Three

  Megan

  What a jerk. Drop dead gorgeous. The most handsome freaking man I’ve ever seen. A total jerk. My luck just sucks lately. When I looked up and saw the three perfect specimens of mankind standing in the doorway, I thought for sure I’d died and gone to bad virgin heaven. Instead, the hottest jerk on the planet had to make fun of me and crush my heart. I hope he gets frostbite from his frozen heart. My girly bits are still tingling from being close to him, and I can see a behavior modification session over our taste in men is necessary. We need an asshole-free cleanse, and soon, because my heart seems to be following closely behind this insanity. I need to nip this in the bud before I get into real trouble.

 

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