Page 54 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Faith
Embarrassment warmed her face. “You don’t have to sound so surprised. I can follow directions on a recipe card just as well as the next person.”
The gold flecks in his eyes glittered with amusement. “Which is why we had to scrape a burnt layer off the rolls.”
Isabelle grimaced. “Don’t remind me. I blame you for distracting me.”
“Based upon the teasing already doled out”—Zach ate a bite of the sweet pudding—“I have a feeling you’re going to be reminded of our slipup for years to come.”
“Thanks for that.” She could feel his eyes on her, studying her.
“For the most part, you’ve looked relaxed tonight, Blondie. I like it.”
Ha. Looks were deceiving because ever since he’d asked hisBecause?earlier, she’d been an internal mess. That pesky voice that got her into trouble where Zach was concerned had answered in her mind that it was because she couldn’t stand the thought of him being someone else’s boyfriend, fake or real. She couldn’t explain that to herself, much less to him. Just as she couldn’t explain why she’d teased him with the kissing booth threat. Where had that even come from? Probably because of Sophie having put kissing into her mind with the lipstick talk.
“I relax,” she assured.
She’d certainly done so during his sewing lesson where he’d come off with the goofiest comments about his skills, and again when they’d shared hot cocoa with her mother, and even when he’d searched the yard to try to find Bobbin to dress the poor cat.
“Prove it,” he challenged. “Come to the On-the-Square Christmas Festival with me on Saturday night.”
“I’m working and so are you, remember?” At his questioning look, she clarified. “If you were serious about volunteering, then you’re helping me with kid activities.”
“I think I prefer the kissing booth.”
“You would,” she accused, but couldn’t help smiling.
“Our volunteer stint runs all afternoon and into the night?”
“No, but I’m also volunteering at the church booth. Mom and I are sharing a shift and we’ll be selling baked goodies.”
“Will there be any of this?” He took another bite and slowly pulled the spoon from his mouth. “If so, I’ll take the whole lot. Name your price.”
Pleased he liked the pudding, she shook her head. “No pudding, but there will be banana bread.”
He looked thoughtful. “That you made?”
“No. Sorry.” Why did she have the urge to offer to make pudding for him? “Sophie made the bread. She makes several varieties. They’re all great, but my favorite is her chocolate chips and pecan. It’s so good heated up with just a dab of butter.”
“Sounds good and that’s saying a lot with how full my belly is.” He smiled and put his spoon in his empty dessert dish. “Sarah has me helping with an early shift at the Quilts of Valor booth, but if you’ll save me one, I’ll pay for it when I’m done.”
Isabelle frowned. “You asked me to go with you to the festival after you’d already promised to help Sarah?”
“I wasn’t going to bail on Sarah, if that’s what you’re thinking. She signed me up for an hour. If you’d said yes, you could have hung out with me at the booth until I finished. I’d make sure you had a good time.”
A good time at the military-quilt booth? Not even Zach could pull that one off.
Isabelle picked up her glass of sweet tea and took a sip of the cool liquid. Placing the glass back on the table, she then wiped the condensation from her hands with her napkin. “No thank you, but you’ll likely see Sophie. She oversees the booth and spends most of the festival there since Cole’s tied up with being Santa in the parade.”
“You could give her a break so she can watch him in the parade,” he suggested.
“Not me, but someone will.” She didn’t like his expression and became even more annoyed when she felt the need to explain.
She wanted to scream for him to not look so judgmental that she wasn’t more like her sister and Sarah. They did their thing, and she did hers. There was nothing wrong with that. She could be, and was, an upstanding community member in all sorts of other ways.
“I’m volunteering at the church bake sale with Mom, remember?”
“I remember.” Apparently wanting another bite, he picked the spoon back up and scraped it around the bowl, managing to capture a little of the pudding clinging to the sides. “Will you get a break?”
“I… I’ll stay as long as I’m needed.”
