Page 82 of A Love Like Christmas Time
At first, it doesn't move an inch. Then, I gently tap the narrow side against the counter, watching the upper part of the cookie drop from the form.
“Well, that kind of works,” I mumble and do it again.
Slowly but surely and with a lot of patience, the future cookie drops out of the form. Finally, it lands on the counter, and my eyes widen.
“Oh my God, that’s pretty.” I stare at it in awe. It’s just as detailed as the form, every bauble, every crease of the star on top clearly visible, thanks to the flour.
“Get it on the baking tray,” Caleb instructs. “I bet it’s going to be a bitch to get out once the butter softens, so let’s knock them out.”
“Okay, chef!”
I glance up at him, seeing that Jenna is now sitting on his shoulder.
“Oh my God, that’s adorable.” I giggle and lift my hand to stroke her forehead with my finger. “How is she not falling down?”
“Her claws in my shirt and skin, presumably,” he says, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Come on, let’s do this.”
Chapter 31
Lauren
This is the second time I’ve woken up in Caleb’s arms, and I’m afraid I’m becoming addicted.
By the time we’d actually gotten some Speculoos cookies out of our endeavor, it was almost midnight. We gave up on the wooden form and ultimately used regular cookie cutters. They tasted amazing, and that’s the most important part.
A yawn interrupted each and every of my sentences, and he totally offered to sleep on the couch again. But after spending the night on it myself, waking up with aches in muscles I wasn’t even aware I had, there was no way I’d make him go through that again. Now he’s in my bed, his arm under my head, the other one snaking around my hip, his breath brushing against the top of my head.
Carefully, I turn around and watch him sleep.
There's no perpetual scowl on his face. He looks peaceful. Relaxed. I could watch him sleeping for hours if it wouldn’t make me feel like such a creep. Carefully, I swipe a curl away from his face.
I can hear the soft pitter-patter of cat paws on the wooden floor, growing louder as they approach. Apparently, it’s time for breakfast. Carefully, I lift his arm and slip out of his hold, careful not to wake him as I pull the blanket back over him.
“Where are you going?” he mumbles, voice hoarse from sleep, blinking one eye open. God, the way he’s lying there, hisbare arm over the blanket, watching me with tired eyes hooded from sleep—that’s just illegally sexy.
“Feeding the beasts,” I whisper, scooping up Taytay as she tries to climb onto the bed. “Go back to sleep.”
“Give me a moment to wake up and I’ll be right there,” he whispers, then buries his face in my pillow and lets out a deep, content sigh.
I can’t tear my eyes away from him. My heart is full, a gently warmth spreading in my chest as I watch him drift off again.
He’s adorable when he’s still half asleep.
Carrying both cats so they can’t sprint back to wake Caleb by climbing all over him, I trudge downstairs.
Right. The Christmas tree.
My whole face lights up, and giddiness buzzes in my stomach like a swarm of bees. It might not be Christmas morning yet, but seeing the tree up is enough to ignite my anticipation.
By the time I have the cat food prepared and set down, I hear Caleb slowly coming down the stairs.
Without a word, I pull another mug out of my cupboard and get a coffee going for him too. His face lights up with a sleepy smile as I hand him his mug.
I pull him with me to sit down by the window. It has stopped snowing. A few scattered cotton candy clouds are in the sky, and the first rays of sun are reflecting on snow crystals, sparkling as the world slowly wakes up.
“What a view,” he mumbles, and I can only nod as I take a sip of my coffee. Then I meet his eyes in the reflection and realize he’s not even looking outside. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I giggle into my mug.
“You’re such a charmer,” I say sheepishly, leaning my head against his shoulder. “How long do you think we’ll be snowed in?”
