Page 17 of Once Upon a Holidate
Wynn motioned to one of the stools at the island. “I just need to pull together a salad and dinner will be ready.”
As she spoke, she put a tray of rolls into the oven and set the timer, then pulled a corkscrew out of a drawer and handed it to him.
“I made a stew.” She pointed to the Crock-Pot on the counter. “It’s really easy. I prep everything the night before, then toss it into the pot before I leave for work. When I get home ten hours later, the meal is ready.”
He opened the wine, then poured. “You sound like you’re strongly hinting at something.”
“I am. A Crock-Pot would be good for you. Better than takeout. Plus all the recipes make a lot of food, so you could fill your freezer and have easy dinners later.”
He handed her a glass. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re a caretaker. It’s nice.”
“I’m not. I’m just saying—”
“I’m never going to use a Crock-Pot, Wynn. Or bake.”
Amusement danced in her pretty brown eyes. “You’re saying I should stop trying to convince you?”
“You can try all you want, but you’re destined for disappointment.”
“Fine.” She touched her glass to his. “I’ll say it again. You’re such a guy.”
“I am.”
For a second their gazes locked. Something flashed between them—something with a little sizzle and promise. Or maybe that was wishful thinking on his part.
Once again he wanted to bury his hands in her curly hair, only this time the image had a little more detail to it. He didn’t just want to feel the softness of the curl, he wanted to cup her head and draw her close and kiss her until...
She turned away. “I should start on that salad.”
He carried the wine bottle over to the table, then returned to his seat at the island.
“How do you do it all?” he asked. “You got Hunter off to school, went to work yourself, were at my house by three, unpacked everything, washed it, and here you are, making dinner.”
She waved away the compliment. “I was happy to help. As for the rest of it, that’s a regular day. I’ll admit when Hunter was younger, there were times when I didn’t think I could keep it all together, but now it’s much easier. He takes care of a lot of things himself. Sometimes he even does his own laundry.”
“Impressive.”
“I want him to be a good boyfriend and husband with a reasonable set of skills.” She grinned. “I never want to catch my future daughter-in-law looking at me with a ‘what were you thinking’ expression.”
“That’s a long-term plan.”
“I know, but time goes quickly. You have to know that with Joylyn being married and pregnant.”
As she spoke, she pulled out ingredients for salad and put them on the counter.
“It did happen quickly,” he admitted.
Just then Hunter ran into the kitchen. “I’m right on time, Mom.”
She glanced at Garrick. “He has a way of going down to the minute.”
Hunter hurried over to the sink where he washed his hands. “Why be early for chores?”
“We are a work in progress,” Wynn murmured.
