Page 22 of Most Likely to Fear Love

“Oh yes. Turns out their star competitor had food poisoning, and they needed a last-minute replacement. The guy takes one look at me and decides I’ll do.”

“But you’d never done anything like that before, right?”

“Never. But my friends thought it was hilarious, so they egged me on. Next thing I know, I’m standing in front of a massive log, holding an axe I had no idea how to use properly. By the end of it, I’d managed to chip away maybe an inch of wood, while the other guys had practically turned their logs into toothpicks. But you know what? The crowd loved it. They gave me a participation trophy and everything.”

“I love that for you!”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Okay, I’m dressed. Back to the kitchen, right?”

“That’s right.” I pushed to my feet, walking into my own kitchen.

“I’m here. What am I meant to be doing?”

“Put the kettle on the stove.”

“Yes, sir.”

I was pretty sure she hadn’t done that on purpose, but I’d gone from slightly twitchy to rock hard in a fucking nanosecond. I had to lean against the counter for a few moments to steady myself before putting the kettle on the stove.

“Harle?”

“Sorry. Got a bit distracted. Let me know when the kettle is boiled.”

“Okay.”

There was a long moment of quiet, with just the sound of Cassidy’s breathing coming across the line and the sound of the kettle whistling in the background.

“Done.”

“Alright, now I want you to make some hot chocolate.” I grabbed a mug from the cupboard.

“Hot chocolate?” Cassidy’s voice held a note of surprise. “I don’t think I’ve had that since I was a kid.”

“Perfect time to remedy that, then. I’m making some for myself too.”

I heard the soft clink of a mug being set on the counter, followed by the rustle of what I assumed was Cassidy rummaging through her cupboards. “I’m not sure I even have any.”

“Check the back of your pantry. There’s always a forgotten tin of cocoa powder hiding somewhere.”

A moment passed, then a triumphant, “Found it!”

I grinned, stirring the chocolatey mixture in my own mug. “Told you. Now, make it nice and creamy. None of that watered-down shit.”

Cassidy giggled. “I kinda like being bossed around,” she teased.

You fucking bet my brain just short circuited. All the more because I was almost certain she didn’t have any clue as to the effect she was having on me.

We chatted idly as we prepared our drinks, the routine somehow more intimate for being shared over the phone. When I heard her take her first sip, followed by a contented sigh, I said, “Okay, now for the final step. Take your mug and get settled in bed.”

“In bed?” Her voice held a hint of hesitation.

“I’m not about to ask you to have phone sex, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I kinda was…”

“I wouldn’t do that, Cass.”

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