Page 46 of Sweets and Sycamores
“Come in,” she said with a smile, opening the door wide.
Dominic entered and placed a tray with chocolate brownies and a baguette on the kitchen isle.
“For the soup.” He pointed at the bread.
His eyes roamed over her, stopping at her legs, then moving up to her face, her pinned hair. In turn, Allie was fascinated by the black button-up shirt that stretched over his upper arms, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the dark branches on his forearm.
“Thanks,” she muttered on instinct.
Dominic’s hair was loose but tame, and the black ink of his tattoo was so much richer under the warm and dim light.
Allie set the table and poured two tall glasses of lemonade, topping them off with fresh mint leaves.
“Fine,” Dominic spoke all of a sudden, confusing her. “You can help me with my mission here in Sycamore Falls.” Allie grinned and clapped her hands. “But only if you promise to come to me if you have trouble controlling your power,” he added, his intense green gaze burning her with a smooth fire. “Just don’t get another book.”
Chapter 18
IMPERFECT THINGS HAVE A BEAUTY OF THEIR OWN
Allie had agreed to Dominic’s terms last night. She hoped to manage the fire on her own now that the seal was broken, but it made more sense to ask someone with Dom’s experience wielding elemental magic rather than reading about it in a book.
Throughout the rest of dinner, Allie had told him about Pearls Fields and a bit about Petra. They spent a nice evening together, with her doing most of the talking and him doing most of the grunting.
This morning, she woke up feeling free and refreshed, that newly discovered light humming in her chest. Being in control, knowing that her fire wouldn’t act without her permission anymore, made Allie’s heart somersault with joy.
With this newfound confidence and the fuel of two cups of coffee on an empty stomach, Allie entered the kitchen, hands on her hips, and made a loud demand.
“Let me help you.”
“I thought that was decided last night,” Dominic mumbled. He bent over the table, piping bag in his hands, decorating apple cider cupcakes.
“Not that. Here.” She waved her hands around, but his attention was on the buttercream swirls. “I want moreresponsibility at the bakery, especially with the wedding coming up. I’m less of a fire risk now, and I promise to let you know if I feel something is off.” That made him stop with the decorating pipe midair. “It’s not even me helping you, it’s me doing my job,” she insisted.
Dominic straightened and focused his green gaze on her. His bun was in perfect morning condition, and he wore a black T-shirt under his apron that allowed Allie to gawk at his tattoo. He looked between her and the table a couple of times before he spoke.
“Come here.”
Allie held back the urge to skip across the kitchen. Dominic wordlessly taught her how to hold the bag by positioning his hands on it and pointing the thing at her.
“Squeeze lightly until you learn the pressure.” In a swift move that Allie might have missed if she blinked, he drew a perfect swirl on top of a cupcake. “Try it.”
She took the piping bag and held it over a fresh cupcake. Her first attempt was a failure, as she hadn’t moved fast enough, and the buttercream dripped in a big splotch.
“Quicker,” Dominic told her as he stuffed the pitiful cupcake in his mouth.
The cream didn’t drip the second time, but the swirl was tilted and uneven.
“You eat this one.” He replaced it with another cupcake, then came to stand next to her, taking hold of the bag over Allie’s hands as if he did this every morning. Dominic’s skin was warm over her fingers, and his leathery cedarwood scent filled her senses.
Allie stared at his profile, but his attention was dedicated to the pastry, positioning the icing bag in the correct spot to start the buttercream swirl.
Was she jealous of a cupcake?
Allie forced her eyes away from Dominic’s handsome face. They decorated this cupcake together, and she tried to memorize every move and the pressure he held over the piping bag. An impossible task, given her attention to said pressure wasnotabout the bag.
“Try again,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. She wished she had his poise. But then again, he was just teaching her to decorate cupcakes. That was it.
This time, the swirl of frosting stood on top of the cupcake, more symmetrical than before. It wasn’t as perfect as Dominic’s, but it was better than the other ones.
