“It’s still a pie.” And it wasn’t really a log, but she refused to debate that because no part of that story reflected well on her.

“Yes, I see that.”

“Pumpkin.” He could probably see that, too, but maybe if she pointed it out, he’d stop talking about cake.

“Right. The traditional apology pie flavor.” He nodded before closing the lid again. “Much appreciated.”

Right as she made up her mind to drop off the pie and bolt, he stepped back in the doorway and gestured for her to come inside. That struck her as friendly but unnecessary. They weren’t friends. She really didn’t have any of those. Had learned the hard way not to.

“Maddie?”

The sound of her name in his deep, rich voice made her blink. Yeah, she hadn’t been expecting the low rumble or the way it made everything inside her tighten in anticipation.

She didn’t move. Well, she didn’t until he held the door open with his elbow while balancing the box in his hands and lifting his eyebrow in question at her. She took the no-handed move as a challenge.

Game on.

She slid just inside the door and stopped. Leaned her back against the wall and let her gaze roam over the room. From the overstuffed couch and leather ottoman in the center of the open room, to the kitchen area stretched along the far wall, to the ladder leading up to what she knew from her check of the place held a loft bedroom.

Last time she was in the cabin she’d had exactly three minutes to look around before he walked in and she hid. Now she noticed the place had a cozy, warm feel to it. Not updated but very lived-in with the frayed material on the couch’s armrest and missing handle on one of the kitchen cabinet doors.

“I really was trying to watch over this house.” The words slipped out before her brain cells kicked in.

“When you broke in?”

“We agreed it was my version of neighborhood watch.”

“I think we both know that’s not true.” He walked past her to the kitchen and set the box down on the narrow island. He balanced his hands on the counter on either side of it, as if weighing whether he should dive in or not. “I remember what you said to me when you jumped on my back.”

He stared at the box but she was pretty sure he was talking to her. “You misunderstood.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t blink. “I haven’t told you what I heard yet.”

“Right.” She really wished he would let the whole mess from last night go, but she doubted that was going to happen, so might as well sit down.