Page 34 of Love in the Details

“We’ll give you sixty minutes to complete your design. Remember, we’re looking based on creativity and…” He turned to his wife and asked, “What were the other things?”

“Really, Dad? All we have to do is slide you some extra licorice and our score goes up,” one of the twins said.

Feigning anger, Mr. McBride said, “Go!” He pushed the button on the oven that began counting down the time. Hands reached in and grabbed several bowls, and the groups dispersed to the tables set up in the corner, except for Molly and the young kid with her, who stood at the other end of the counter.Kassidy set up their house on the island counter where they’d been leaning for most of the bantering session.

“Okay, are you ready for this?” Kassidy asked, rubbing her hands together.

“You weren’t kidding when you said it’s a competition.” He could be as competitive as the rest of them, and he turned to her for direction. “Any ideas on what we should do?”

“What about a rustic cabin with some wonderland scene out front?”

Dustin looked down at the small section of cardboard for them to decorate. “You think we can get all that onto this small square?” he asked, pointing it out.

“Yep. That’s plenty of space.” She turned to look at the bowls along the counter. “Will you grab the stick pretzels, the powdered sugar, and the gumdrops?” She was already pulling bowls over toward their small house.

Taking a large scoop of the thick frosting, she slathered it onto the side of the house by the time he came back with the requested items.

“You’re not starting with the roof?” he asked, setting the bowls down.

“That goes on last. Otherwise, it ends up being bumped a hundred times. Okay, start sticking those pretzel pieces into the side here.” She pointed to the section she’d just frosted as she worked on the next side.

Dustin did as he was told, and it was nice to not be the one ordering people around for a minute. As he placed them one on top of another, he was surprised to see that it was looking like a cabin in the woods, the pretzels forming the logs.

“I’ve never thought of doing it like that.”

“Let me guess, you did the Necco roof and then added a few gummy trees around the exterior?” She chuckled, turning her focus back to the house.

Dustin laughed as he recalled the few times he’d done this, her description matching his creations perfectly.

In between adding pieces of candy and bits of coconut to wherever Kassidy instructed, Dustin watched her, taking in the movements of her lips, the concentration she paid to the house, and he felt attraction grow within him. After being around her and her family, how was he going to be able to go back to LA and pretend like his life before had been meaningful?

Kassidy had been right when she’d talked about using the people already underneath him. He needed to stop being the solution for these people and have them come up with their own, instead of allowing them to bring him problems day in and day out.

Could he have a life like this? One with family and laughter, with banter and people who would be there through the hard times?

He’d been working solo for so long that the thought of teamwork did something to help ease that stress.

Mr. McBride began counting down once the timer reached five minutes, breaking away from the football game he was engrossed in long enough to announce it. Mrs. McBride made sure to keep things filled up, seeming to enjoy this as much as the kids did.

Kassidy was busy finally getting to the roof, adding fruity candy in neat rows, when Dustin looked up and said, “Thank you.”

She paused, looking at him startled. “For what?”

“For inviting me here.” He thought about expounding, but he left it at that. There were so many emotions running through him that he wasn’t sure he’d know how to put it all into words.

She grinned, her whole face lighting up as she concentrated again on the roof.

“Ten, nine, eight,” her dad called out.

“Grab candy and start pushing it into the frosting,” she said, giving a little squeal as she moved along the roofline.

“Three, two, one! Hands up and step away. The judges will come around and check out your creations and then deliberate to decide the winner.” Mr. McBride’s grin looked like he loved this role.

As her parents started at the other end of the room, Dustin stared down at their creation. “Wow, this looks like it should be entered for some kind of town competition, don’t you think?”

Kassidy chuckled, checking on her parents before she adjusted one of the candies on the roof. “I don’t know about that, but it was fun. What do you think?”

“I have to say that I doubted you on creating a whole scene in such a small space, but it looks like you’re an expert in dealing with miniature ornaments and sculptures.”

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