Sweet Talk Me (42 page)

Authors: Kieran Kramer

He pulled down a frying pan hanging over the sink, released it with a quick twirling motion through the air, then caught it right above the stovetop, and set it down on a burner. “I’m not used to sharing, Miz Greta.”

Big baby
. Which didn’t jibe with his knowing his way around a kitchen, but that was probably a fluke.

He flicked on the gas, and a bright blue flame appeared beneath the pan. Over his shoulder, he said, “This lighthouse is out of the way, and it’s big enough for just one person—me. Now in Casa Wilder, I fry up a steak the night before I start work on a movie set. I also give damsels in distress breaks if they cooperate, at least until morning. You’ll be packed and ready to go.”

He sprinkled salt in the pan. Then he unwrapped the steak—just held one end of the paper and let it roll out into the pan. It was probably the way women unwrapped themselves for him all the time.

The sizzling smell made Lacey hungry. She’d been going light lately to save her food money for Henry. Tonight she’d made him scrambled eggs, but there were only two left, so she’d saved them for tomorrow and had eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead.

“Well,” she huffed. “I can tell you think the sun comes up just to hear you crow, Mr. Wilder. But I’ve had enough of your talk. If you insist on staying, I’m going up. But don’t you
dare
smoke inside, leave the stovetop on, abandon dirty dishes in the sink, or walk around naked. I’m armed with a Colt .45, and I’m not afraid to use it.”

She turned on her heel, hoping he believed her lie about the gun. She wouldn’t tell him about the Heinz 57 sauce she’d found in the cupboard yesterday, either. He could eat his dad-blasted steak without it.

ALSO BY KIERAN KRAMER

T
HE
H
OUSE OF
B
RADY SERIES

Loving Lady Marcia

The Earl Is Mine

Say Yes to the Duke

T
HE
I
MPOSSIBLE
B
ACHELOR SERIES

When Harry Met Molly

Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right

Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage

If You Give a Girl a Viscount

KIERAN KRAMER’S NOVELS ARE:

“Delectable!”

—Julia Quinn, #1
New York Times
bestselling author

“Funny, sweet, sexy, smart … a delight.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Clever and engaging.”

—Library Journal

“Incandescently witty [and] completely captivating.”

—Booklist

“Delightful.”

—Julia London,
New York Times
bestselling author

“A wickedly witty treat!”

—Kathryn Caskie,
New York Times
bestselling author

“
Utterly charming.”

—Publishers Weekly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today
bestselling author
Kieran Kramer
currently writes fun contemporary romance for St. Martin’s Press. A former CIA employee, journalist, and English teacher, Kieran’s also a game show veteran, karaoke enthusiast, and general adventurer. She lives where she grew up—in the Lowcountry of South Carolina—with her family. Find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and at
www.kierankramerbooks.com
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

SWEET TALK ME

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

www.stmartins.com

eISBN: 9781466805545

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / April 2014

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.