Page 17 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
“You’re very welcome,” he replies, walking over to the counter where he left his coat.
While he slips it on, I yawn as exhaustion hits me hard. Now that the bakery is clean, my body realizes it’s been up since four this morning and is ready for bed. “Sorry,” I mutter, trying to cover up my second yawn.
“You’re tired. I’ll let you get upstairs to bed,” he replies, zipping his coat. I follow him as he makes his way to the front entrance, which is still unlocked from our arrival earlier. That’s one of the beautiful things about Snowflake Falls. It’s incredibly safe, and while I know I should have locked up behind us, I feltcomfortable leaving it unlocked, but only because we were right here.
“Thanks for your help tonight.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, stepping out onto the sidewalk, hands shoved in his pockets. Just before he turns to head to where he parked his vehicle, he asks, “Hey, Easy-Bake?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to have dinner with me?”
My heart starts to pound a little harder in my chest. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he replies casually, but I can tell he seems to be relieved. “Can I call or text you?”
I nod, fighting not to smile.
“Do you have the same number?” he asks, his brown eyes shining a little brighter under the streetlights.
“I do.”
He nods and flashes a grin. “I’ll reach out.”
Drawing my bottom lip between my teeth, I nod, feeling giddy like a schoolgirl when the boy you have a crush on talks to you. “All right.”
“Have a good night, Easy-Bake.”
“You too. Drive safe.”
He heads down the sidewalk and rounds the corner, and my eyes follow him as far as they can before he disappears. On his ass, of course. It is one of his best assets.
Closing and securing the door, I turn the lights off and make my way to the back stairwell that leads to my apartment. With a ridiculous smile on my face, I wonder if I’ll get any sleep tonight. Something tells me my thoughts and dreams will be consumed by a certain man with a disarming smile and an ass that makes me want to drop to my knees and beg for mercy.
I still don’t exactly know what this dinner invitation means. Is it just two friends catching up, or does it hold a little more meaning?
My mind says one thing, but my heart is hoping for the other.
I suppose time will tell.
SIX
Burk
“Take a quick lunch break,”my cousin hollers at me after I load what feels like the thousandth tree so far today. “Gram made some chicken noodles and mashed potatoes up at the house. Take the UTV.”
“I was gonna go in a bit and help a friend take her tree home,” I tell him, earning me a look that tells me he’s going to want more details.
“You can do both. Gram is waiting for you with some food, and then she’s gonna run to visit Gramps. Run up and eat and then you can still take the tree when you need to.”
I nod and wave, letting him know I heard him loud and clear. Pulling my work gloves off, I make my way to the UTV parked beside the big barn. Once I hop inside, I fire up the engine and take off toward the old farmhouse I’m currently staying in, my stomach growling from hunger.
Parking beside Gram’s SUV, I turn off the machine and make my way into the garage. I take off my boots so I don’t track snowinside the house before heading to the kitchen. “There you are,” Gram says with a smile as I enter.
“I heard you made lunch,” I say, leaning in and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I only have a minute.”
She spins around and grabs a bowl. “I sure did, and you need to take a few minutes to eat. I know today is one of the busiest days of the year, so I wanted to do something for you all before I left for the hospital.”
