“I like your cooking,” he observes.
I pause, turning to look at him.“When have you ever eaten anything I’ve made?”
He shrugs, pulling mugs from the cabinet.“Where do you think your missing lunches went from the fridge?”
My jaw drops.“You’re my lunch thief?”
His smile turns charming, completely unrepentant.“I always made up for it by buying you lunch as an apology.From your favorite restaurants no less.”
“I thought you were doing that to make me feel better!”I stare at him, torn between outrage and disbelief.“You were covering your tracks!”
“Smart, wasn’t I?”
I pick up a wooden spoon and point it at him.“You’re going to pay for that.”
He crosses to me in two strides, catching my hand and bringing it to his lips.He presses a kiss to my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine.“I’m looking forward to it.”
My face turns red.I pull my hand away before I can do something stupid like kiss him and ask, “What are you making?”
“Hot chocolate.”He returns to the stove, pouring milk into a saucepan.“With peppermint.I watched your mother make it this morning, and I’m trying to replicate it.”
Something warm blooms in my chest at the image of him paying attention to Mom’s cooking.“She crushes the candy canes really finely.Otherwise, they don’t melt properly.”
“I know.I was taking notes.”
We work in comfortable silence for a few minutes.I layer the meat, vegetables, and mashed potatoes into a baking dish while Alexander crushes candy canes.The kitchen fills with the scent of browning meat and peppermint, savory and sweet mixing together.
The shepherd’s pie goes into the oven, and I set the timer before washing my hands at the sink.When I turn around, Alexander is holding out a gingerbread cookie—one of the ones Mom made this morning before we left for Asheville.
“Want one?”he offers.
“My hands are still wet,” I say, reaching for the dish towel.
Without missing a beat, he brings the cookie to my lips.“Then I’ll feed you.”
My heart does a ridiculous flutter as I take a bite, the spiced sweetness of molasses and ginger melting on my tongue.But before I can finish chewing, Alexander leans down and bites the other half of the cookie still sticking out of my mouth.His lips brush mine as he takes it, and I freeze, my eyes going wide.He pulls back with a satisfied smile, chewing slowly while I stand there like an idiot, my face burning.
“Stop that,” I manage to say around the cookie crumbs.
“Stop what?”His thumb brushes across my cheek, wiping away stray crumbs, and the gentle touch makes my stomach flip.
“That.This.All of it.”I gesture vaguely between us, flustered.“You’re being?—”
“Charming?”he supplies helpfully.
“Alexander,” I give him a reproachful look.
“Sorry.”He leans down and kisses me, soft and sweet, his lips gentle against mine.I sigh against his mouth, my irritation melting away like sugar in hot water.When he pulls back, I’m left standing there feeling dazed and warm all over.He’s just not going to listen.I don’t know why I bother.
“I ran into a friend of yours today,” he says, reaching for something on the counter.“Avery Bloom?”
The name hits me like a splash of cold water.“Avery?Really?”
“She owns a bookshop on Main Street.The Winter Quill.She wanted to see you.Asked me to give you this.”He points towards a bag on the kitchen table.
I open it and see two books.Since I hate gardening, Avery wouldn’t send that to me, though it does look like it would suit my mom.I pause, considering.Did Alex—?It’s the other one.I take out the book, my fingers tracing over the familiar cover.Winter’s Promiseby A.J.Blackwood.The newest release.My smile broadens as I look down at the cover, something warm and knowing settling in my chest.
“What?”Alexander asks, watching my expression.
