Page 64 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“Why? I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.” I grin and take a sip of the coffee. As soon as it hits my tongue, I freeze.
He put gingerbread syrup in it for me.
I stare at him, shocked and a little touched.
“I got you a bottle a few weeks ago,” he admits shyly, slowly coming closer.
“What?” I stammer and watch him opening the drawer to my left.
I can’t believe it. He actually did. Even the same brand as I bring over.
“Weeks ago?” My head snaps to him. “Weeks? And you made me carry that two-kilogram monstrosity around this whole time?”
“I sure did.” He shrugs and bites the inside of his cheek to hide a grin. “I’m pretty sure you did something to piss me off.”
“How mean.” I shake my head, trying to put all the disappointment I can into my eyes. But I can’t even stay mad at him, because he steals a quick kiss before returning to the rolled-out dough, holding a bowl with a mixture that smells like cinnamon.
“Do you always have to get up this early?” I ask him. He glances up and slowly quirks his eyebrow at me. “Right. Of course you do. You have a café to run. Duh.” I take another sip of my perfectly prepared coffee. “Speaking of running things, I’m helping out Amanda this afternoon. I’ll probably pop in for lunch, if that’s okay?”
He cocks his head. “Why wouldn’t it be okay?”
“I don’t know.” I set down the plate, swallowing down the last bit of pastry and hiding my red cheeks behind my hands. “What if the whole town realizes what happened between us last night if they see us together?” His eyebrows furrow together, confused. “I’m just saying, when Nic and Henry got together, she had that freshly fucked glow about her.”
My eyes widen. “Oh my god. Am I glowing?” I reach for a spoon and turn it around, trying to see my reflection in it.
“Do you seriously think me eating you out is going to turn you into Tinkerbell?” He sounds amused. He dusts the last bit of cinnamon mixture over the dough and sets the bowl aside, cleaning his hand on his apron as he makes his way over to me.
“I see myself more as Ray fromThe Princess and the Frog.I’ll take a Tinkerbell.” I lower the spoon and arch my eyebrow at him.
“You can come in for lunch.”
He nudges my legs apart, steps between them and puts his hands on the counter on either side of me. “I don’t care. Everyone is in everyone’s business in this town. It’s only a matter of time until they realize we’re together.”
I snake my hands around his neck and lace my fingers at the back of his neck.
“We’re together?” I bite my lip, but can’t contain the grin they tug into.
“If you want us to be together.”
“Then we’re together.” I let go of my lip and smile so widely that it threatens to split my face in two.
“Just don’t break my heart. If you break up with me, they’re all going to be on my side.”
“Not going to happen,” I whisper, running my thumb over the nape of his neck. “But also, I’m very lovable. Give it half a year and I’ll win them over. You better don’t break my heart either.”
“I promise,” he whispers and slides his arms around my back, caging me against him. For a moment we stay like this. The only sounds are the clock over the back door ticking and the soft hum of an oven.
“I don’t want to go back to L.A. tomorrow,” I whisper against his neck, exhaling a deep sigh. What terrible timing this whole thing is.
“I don’t want you to go,” he whispers and tightens his hug.
“I promise I’ll come back.” His whole body tenses. “For good. Pinky promise.”
“Okay.” He lets go of me and holds up his pinky. Smiling, I link it with mine. “Who will be taking care of your cats?”
“Kieran.”
