Page 50 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
He held her gaze for a beat, and then they both started to laugh.
“Fine, fine!” she sang. “Becca said the PTO is going to host a bake sale starting tomorrow to promote the festival, and they need nautical baked goods. So this afternoon we’re going to bake somelighthouse cookies, and we’ll drop them off at one of the schools in the morning. We can get the supplies now and start baking when Piper gets home.”
He stopped at a red light and turned to face her. “You’re telling me that you want to make lighthouse cookies today so that the PTO can have a bake sale tomorrow?”
“That’s exactly right.” She gave him palms up. “What do you think?”
A ghost of a smile played on his lips. “Sure.”
Kaiah smiled to herself. She wasgoingto get him in that apron.
After picking up supplies at the grocery store, including two lighthouse-shaped cookie cutters, Kaiah got to work mixing the dough while Reid picked up Piper from school. By the time father and daughter arrived home, Kaiah had the oven preheated and the dough ready to shape.
“Miss Kaiah,” Piper announced as she scurried into the kitchen, “Daddy said we’re going to make cookies and I can help. I love making cookies. This is gonna be great!”
Reid set Piper’s backpack on a kitchen chair. “She’s a little excited.” His warm expression sent Kaiah’s pulse quickening.
Kaiah chuckled. “I can see that.”
She touched Piper’s shoulder. “Why don’t you wash your hands at the sink, and then you can help cut out the lighthouses?”
Piper climbed up on her stool and scrubbed her hands before moving her stool over to the counter. “I’m ready.”
Reid leaned on the doorframe while Kaiah showed Piper how to cut out the lighthouses and then set them on the cookie sheets.
“Aren’t you going to help, Daddy?” Piper asked him.
“Yeah, Reid.” Kaiah rested her hand on her hip and made a face. “Why arewedoing all the work?”
He held up his palms. “We only bought two cookie cutters, and there’s no room for me at the counter.” He pointed to the oven. “I’ll be in charge of putting the cookie sheets in the oven, setting the timer, and taking them out.”
Kaiah looked at Piper. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” Piper shook her head. “I think he needs to help us decorate too.”
“Good idea.” Kaiah and Piper shared a high five. Then she studied Reid again. “By any chance, do you have an apron?”
His eyebrows knitted together. “What?”
“Never mind,” she mumbled. She could let that dream go.
After cutting out the cookies and placing them on the baking sheets, Reid set the pans in the oven. Soon the scent of warm, buttery sugar cookies permeated the kitchen.
Once the first batch had cooled, Piper and Reid set to work decorating them with colorful icing and sprinkles.
Piper pointed to a rainbow-colored lighthouse. “Look! Isn’t it beautiful?”
Kaiah peeked over from where she rolled out more dough. “It’s perfect, Piper.”
“I agree.” Reid motioned toward his lighthouse, which was striped with black and white icing. “What about mine?”
“Kinda boring,” Kaiah teased.
Reid clucked his tongue. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m being honest,” Kaiah continued. “Piper’s is much more creative.”
Piper’s expression was somber. “Yeah. Yours just looks like the regular old lighthouse.”
