Wynter snorted, nearly choking on the water she’d taken a sip of. “I amnothot and bothered.”
Her friend wagged a finger around her face. “You’re blushing. What are you thinking about?”
Morgan nodded. “She’s right. Youarea little pink.” Her expression was contrite over picking sides, but her eyes sparkled with proof she felt otherwise.
Wynter stifled a groan and covered her face, but the damage was already done. There was no use hiding it. Her friends could sniff out anything. “I might have… kissed him.”
Both women went still, all except their slackened jaws. Eyes bugged out, and Rose leaned over the table with a hushed voice. “Please tell me this is about Marcus.” She slid her eyes to Morgan, who had yet to change her expression. “The one who got away.”
“You mean the one she got away from.” Morgan shot her a pointed look, apparently in shock over what Wynter had revealed.
Wynter sighed. She wasn’t going to hear the end of this. She should have known this was how it would go. Her friends were going to read far too much into this.
Even though they were likely right.
They didn’t have to know any of that.
“How was it?” Rose hissed, all smiles. “You can’t drop a bomb like that and not give us the details. I have to know. We have to know.”
Morgan merely nodded.
Wynter could have told them that it was amazing and everything she’d known it could be. But she also understood her friends well enough to know they’d run with that confession and tell her she should go for it. Clearing her throat, she offered a small smile. “It was good. Better than good. But it’s not something that’s capable of changing my mind.” She stared pointedly at each of them. They’d all been over this. Nothing was going to keep her from moving back to California for the job she loved. Well, maybe not loved. The job she liked.
Morgan pouted and cut a look at Rose, who scowled.
“Why not?” Rose huffed. “You’re clearly in love with him.”
Wynter snorted. “Love? Hardly. Do I like him? Of course I do. We were best friends for years. Am I attracted to him? Well,duh. Just look at the guy. But love?” She shook her head. “Nope. Honestly, I think all the kiss proved was that we could have some fun while I’m here. And I’ll be careful. I won’t let my emotions get the better of me like I did last time. We’ll stay friends.”
Rose lifted a brow, folding her arms as she leaned back. “Friends,” she said dryly. “That’s what you want?”
No. Not really.
But Wynter knew better. She understood her limits, and falling for someone only to lose them was not something she’d be able to handle. She could pretend she was strong enough for it, but the truth of the matter was the opposite. Nodding, she forced a smile. “Yes. That is what I want.”
Rose glanced at Morgan, who shrugged. Then she sighed. “Okay.” She didn’t sound convinced at all. “Whatever you say.”
“They’re called hot chocolate bombs.”
Wynter shot Marcus an incredulous look. “I never took you for the kind of guy who wanted to make desserts. Jason must be rubbing off on you.”
Marcus laughed. His eyes sparkled with mirth she hadn’t seen in a long time. Across the room at the table, Grams was carefully pouring melted chocolate into half-ball molds. There was a smile playing on her lips as well. As if she knew what was going on between the couple.
But that wasn’t possible, was it?
Wynter bumped her shoulder into Marcus, craving any sort of contact she could get without it being a blatant PDA. Then she moved to the table with her crushed candy canes, hot cocoa mix, and sprinkles.
Grams looked up at her and smiled warmly. “These are about ready to go into the freezer to set. Then we can fill them up with what you’ve got there.”
Wynter nodded and accepted the mold from her grandmother. As she walked away, Grams called over to Marcus.
“There’s a loose shelf in the barn and a workbench that could use some work if you’re up for it.”
Wynter shared a look with Marcus. He’d take any excuse he could get to come visit. And the fact that he’d started to thoroughly enjoy the maintenance work he’d been assigned was a cherry on top.
He winked at Wynter, and her heart stumbled. If Grams saw it, she’d definitely say something. She hadn’t exactly been subtle when it came to what she thought about Marcus.
Wynter’s cheeks heated to abnormal levels, and she had to duck her head to prevent Grams from witnessing her reaction. This whole sneaking around thing was going to be more difficult than Wynter thought it would be. And yet they had to keep it up.
