Page 66 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
“Wow,” he mutters, releasing his hold on my hair.
When I stand up and wipe my mouth, he pulls me into his strong arms and gingerly runs his hand over my head. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” I confirm, gazing up at him through my eyelashes. “I liked it.”
He presses his lips to mine in a firm, chaste kiss. “I did too. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I believe it was mutually enjoyable.”
He snorts and grins. “Do you need to do anything else or are you done for the night?”
“I’m done,” I confirm. Everything downstairs can wait until tomorrow morning.
“Good,” he replies, picking me up and heading for the door. He flicks the lock before stalking toward my bedroom. “It’s almost bedtime, but first,” he says, kissing my neck as we move. “First, we need to shower.”
Even though theholidays are my most favorite time of the year, in my line of work, they can also be overwhelming and stressful. I’ve reached my max on outside orders and even added a few extras to my calendar because I felt bad for telling people no before Christmas. Between helping my sister with wedding plans and working all day and into the evening at the bakery, I’ve barely been able to spend quality time with Burk. Sure, he’s come over and helped me clean the bakery and prepare for the next day, and I’ve even stolen some time to go over to his grandpa’s woodshop and help make my sister’s arch, but it feels so rushed. We fall into bed together at the end of the day, only to get up before the sun and start the process all over again.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, which means this is my final night to complete customer orders. Burk is with his grandma, preparing for his grandpa’s release from the rehab center. I’m super excited for them all, especially Dale. His goal was to get his strength back enough to be home for Christmas, and he’ll do it. He’s supposed to be released tomorrow morning.
I’m using my free time to finish my sister’s wedding cake. It’s a small chocolate cake with eggnog buttercream frosting. Apparently, John had one of my cupcakes last week and decided it would make the perfect wedding cake for them to share at the reception. I have to agree. It’s a decadent combination of rich mocha chocolate and holiday-infused frosting.
I check my phone for the umpteenth time and push it aside when I don’t see any notifications. I know Burk is busy with family, but he said he’d text me when he was on his way back to Snowflake Falls. It’s getting late, and to be honest, I would have thought he’d be back by now. They have a big day tomorrow when he’s released, so I assumed they’d want to get back and get some rest.
Knowing there’s nothing left for me to do tonight, I carefully transport my sister’s final cake to the fridge, where it’ll be kept until Christmas. Just as I close the door and exhale the breath I was holding, I hear a distant knock on the entrance. Turning, I move in the direction of the noise and step into the front side of the bakery.
Under the streetlights, I see Burk standing on the other side of the door, a wide smile on his face. Moving toward him, I release the lock on the door and pull it open. “What are you doing? I thought you were going to text me.”
He steps inside the bakery, gently shaking his head and sending flakes of fresh snow falling to the floor. “I wanted to surprise you. These are for you.” He extends his hand, holding up the gorgeous bouquet of red roses.
I slip my nose into the blooms and inhale the sweet floral scent. “They’re gorgeous, thank you,” I proclaim, offering a wide smile.
Burk presses his lips to mine. “That’s not the only surprise. Can you take a walk with me?”
I glance back toward the kitchen area and mentally run through what I have out and left to clean. Realizing there isn’t much left, I reply, “I need to put the leftover frosting in the fridge, but that’s about it.”
His eyes turn molten instantly. “Frosting, huh?”
A giggle slides easily from my lips as I shake my head. “Sorry, no can do. I need what’s left for cupcakes in the morning.”
Together, we walk into the kitchen. The moment he crosses the threshold, he stops. “Wow.”
I turn and follow his line of sight. It’s the first time I really take in the scene. I have a large shelving unit I use for custom orders, and it’s completely full. Not to mention the far counter is stacked and the fridge is packed. Cakes, cupcakes, pies, specialty breads, cookies, and everything in between. I’ve had a busy few days, as evident by the amount of white pastry boxes containing my baked goods.
“This is my busiest time of year,” I tell him, moving to the cabinet and retrieving a vase. I don’t receive flowers often, but it has happened on occasion. After arranging the roses in the vase and adding water, I place the fragrant blooms on the counter near the cash register.
“All done?” Burk asks, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Nodding, I move to the container of frosting and place it in the fridge. “Done.”
“Come on,” he says, extending his hand.
I place mine in his willingly. “What do I need?” I ask when I realize he’s not leading me upstairs.
“Coat, gloves, and hat.”
I give him a quick look of wonder before moving to the back door to retrieve my winterwear. After slipping it all on, I go ahead and stuff my feet into my snow boots because something tells me I’m going to need those too. When I’m ready to stepoutside, I turn my attention to the man who makes my heartbeat quicken and my panties a little damp. “Ready.”
He flashes a quick grin and reaches for my hand.
