Page 4 of Cookies & Kisses

I look down at my hand and finally notice that my vanilla ice cream is dripping all down the cone and over my fingers. “Yep. Just lost in thought. Thanks for looking out, Rosco.”

He nods and smiles, then moves on to the next customer in line. I grab a few napkins from his stand and try to mop up the sticky mess, taking a few bites of the ice cream to prevent any further disaster.

“Having some trouble there?”

I look up to see the exact reason for my distraction—Madeleine. Standing there in a fitted white t-shirt and jeans, she looks like the girl next door...with perfect legs and a million-dollar smile.

“I’m fine,” I grunt.

“Looks like it.” She puts her hands in her pocket and glances around. “So, all of this for a fountain?”

My hand is finally clean, and I throw the napkin and soggy ice cream cone into the nearby trash can. “It’s a pretty big deal.”

“What was there before the fountain?”

“Nothing.”

She presses her lips together, as if trying to keep from laughing. “And having a fountain is worth a festival because…”

“Because it’s a central hub for the town.” I cross my arms over my chest. If there’s anything I get defensive over, it’s Brookhaven. “Families gather here in the evenings while the kids play. Shopowners take their lunches here. It’s become a social center.”

She nods and takes in her surroundings again. “I guess growing up in bigger cities has made me lose out on a feeling of community.”

“I guess so.”

She watches the crowd for a few minutes. Maybe she’ll leave.

“Are you here alone?” I ask.

Or maybe I’ll say something to keep her here.

She looks back at me. Her blue eyes are so striking, I have to remind myself to focus on the conversation.

“No, my parents are over there.” She points at an elderly couple sitting on a bench, eating a caramel apple together. “They wanted to sit down, and I saw you and…” Her voice trails off, and she bites her lip, looking off into the distance. “Sorry. Maybe this is weird.”

I feel a pang of guilt. She’s new here, and seeing her parents’ age explains why they probably aren’t able to show her around. So she wanted to talk to me.

It shouldn’t fill me with warmth, but it does.

“Do you want me to show you around?” I ask.

What? Why did I say that?

Because beautiful girls make me do stupid things, that’s why.

Her face lights with joy. “I’d love that.”

I lead her over to the next stand, where Martha is serving fresh pineapple and strawberry smoothies.

“I’m looking forward to my first day,” Madeleine comments.

I nod but don’t say anything.

“And your test,” she says with a grin, taking a sip of her smoothie through the straw. It’s hard to focus on her words when she swallows and licks her lips.

Concentrate, Mason.I narrow my eyes at her. “This is serious. I need to believe you have the skills necessary to work in my kitchen.”

“Oh, trust me. I can tell you’re serious.” Her expression is anything but serious, but I refuse to give in.

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