Page 23 of Promise Me This Christmas
“To be honest, I’d be checking out if it wasn’t Christmas,” Gibson said.“I’m sure every decent hotel, and bed and breakfast, in Marietta is full.”
Amy wanted to groan.What was going on here?So many things seemed to be going wrong.At first, they were minor problems, like the overbaked cookies.But now this.Why did that mouse have to pick Gibson’s bathtub?She was sure any of her other guests would have been more understanding.
*
When Larkin suggestedwalking the short distance to the chocolate shop that evening, Carson readily agreed.He’d been surprised to learn all the guests at the B & B had signed up for the event, except Kris.The Kettles and Gibson had already left, the Kettles in their upscale sedan, Gibson on foot.
The moon was just a thin crescent, but most houses had festive Christmas lights, which, in addition to the streetlamps, provided more than adequate illumination for walking.The air was crisp and cold, scented lightly with woodsmoke and faint notes of Christmas baking.Carson wanted badly to take Larkin’s hand.But she had both of them buried deep in the pockets of her puffy red coat.He wondered if she would have preferred staying back with her grandmother.
“Your grandmother seems to be doing a little matchmaking,” he commented.
Larkin gave a dry laugh.“You think?I’m sorry.Making chocolate, or doing anything in a kitchen, is probably not your idea of a good time.”
Anything he got to do with Larkin would be his idea of a good time.But Carson played it cool.“I’m not a bad cook.If it can be made on a barbecue or a cast-iron frying pan, I’m golden.”
“I don’t think we’ll be using either of those tonight.If you want to beg off—”
He didn’t, but he suspected she did.“If we’re going to be friends again, this is a good place to start, don’t you think?”He paused at the storefront for Copper Mountain Chocolates.The front window display was a chocolate lover’s paradise.The feature was a huge cornucopia overflowing with assorted artisanal molded chocolates, each of which looked like a mini piece of art.
“Can you imagine what that cornucopia must cost?”Larkin asked, in awe.“It would make a terrific centerpiece for Christmas dinner.”
“My brothers and I would probably destroy it.”
A gust of wind reminded them that they were still outside.Carson opened the door, and they were greeted with the delicious aromas of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla, and also a tall dark-haired man wearing a copper apron over jeans and a black T-shirt.
“Hi, I’m Austin.Are you here for the chocolate-making class?”
“We are.Carson Wilcox and Larkin Carrillo.”
“Got you on our list,” Austin said, checking their names off with a felt pen.“Head on to the back where you can wash your hands and put on your aprons.Sage is almost ready to start.”
The cooking classes were held in the back of the chocolate shop in the large kitchen area.Carson assumed Sage was the woman at the front of the room with red hair in a thick braid, and a copper-colored apron over her tall, slender frame.When he met her gaze, the woman smiled at him and waved him forward.
“Come on in, everyone.There’s a sink for washing your hands at the back, and we should have enough aprons for everyone.You’ll see we have eight cooking stations, so we’ll need two people at each station.Gibson and Janice, you’ve both come as singles so do you mind sharing?Beside the ingredients, each cooking station should have a hot plate, a marble slab, small pot and glass bowl, and finally a thermometer, which we’ll use for tempering our chocolate.”
“Why do we want the chocolate to have tempers?”Carson couldn’t resist asking.
Larkin rolled her eyes, but she also laughed.
They claimed the station next to Marjorie and Peter Kettles.Larkin placed her crossover bag on one of the stools at the station, then followed him to the back of the room to wash their hands.
Carson hesitated before slipping the apron over his head.
“Not macho enough for you?”Larkin teased.
She’d called it.“I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Oh, come on.Be a good sport.”She took the apron and slung it around his neck, standing on her toes to reach.
“Like roping a calf,” he quipped.
“That’s not so bad, right?”
“Just don’t take any pictures.My brothers would never let me hear the end of it.”His spirit was buoyed when Larkin laughed.Was it his imagination or was Larkin actually starting to enjoy herself?
They returned to their station, and Carson looked over the equipment, feeling a little lost.“Hey, where’s the cast-iron skillet?You’re going to have to cover for me, Lark.”
“I’ve got you,” she promised.Then she bumped his hip to get his attention and said quietly, “Do you see Gibson?He’s actually talking to the woman Sage partnered him with.”
