Frazzled as I was, I caught his gaze. “In your dreams, Timber.”
Jack released my wrist and grinned. “Likewise, Evergreen.”
Heat rose to my cheeks as I rubbed my wrist to get his touch off me, but it was no use. My skin tingled from his forceful grip, and I couldn’t shake him. Goosebumps had come alive all over me, and the sensation made me realize this was what Jack did to me. He created havoc within my body, caused my mind to second-guess what I truly wanted, and tempted me to learn more about him. Especially his sexual capabilities.
Oh! God. Gross, Noelle! Get your damn mind out of the gutter and off Jack.
“It fits! It fits perfectly!” Faith exclaimed with joy as she ran back to us, and I pushed away from Jack.
Faith came in wearing a red overcoat that was tied at the front in a bow. There was a crimson hood with a white fuzzy lining along the edge and two white fluffy pom-poms. She was too darn cute. I wanted to squeeze her cheeks and have her impersonate this lovable character all year round.
“Great, kiddo.” Jack clapped his hands together and glanced around. “Now for the makeup. Where’d it go?”
Jack grabbed the box, placed it over his head and spun around in a circle. Back and forth he went, acting like he wassearching for the cosmetics while Faith giggled at him. She jumped up several times to get the cardboard off his head.
“Mr. Timber! Mr. Timber! The makeup isn’t in there,” Faith squealed in glee and hit the tip of the box, only for it to fall to the ground. “It’s on the table, silly.”
My daughter’s laughter was infectious, and I could tell Jack had a hard time containing a grin. The foundation he wore on his painted face made it easier for his smile to spread.
“Oh. There it is.” Jack’s lips formed an unimpressed straight line. “How did I miss it?”
“That’s okay.” Faith shrugged with a smile and turned to me. “Mommy. Can I wear makeup?”
I smiled. “Of course you can, sweetheart.”
“On that note...” Jack put his hands on my back and pushed me toward another room. “It’s time for Mommy to go.”
“Hey!” I exclaimed in dismay and sidestepped away. “I’d want to stay.”
Jack froze with his arms crossed in front of his chest, and he pointed out of the room with an indifferent expression on his face. He was in full character again while the real Jack took a back seat. The damn killjoy was back.
“Absolutely not.” Jack pretended to yawn and glanced down at his wrist at a nonexistent watch. “Time to go get some me time.”
“Go, Mommy...” Faith took my hand and led me further away. “I’ll be okay.”
It wasn’t Faith I was concerned about. I was worried about leaving Jack in this ill-tempered costumeto spend more time alone with my daughter. I feared these additional moments to bond and form a relationship that I didn’t want him to ruin with all his goddamn grumpiness.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled hesitantly.
“Oh...” Jack waved a hand at me and made a disgusted face. “Go run yourself a nice bubble bath.”
I glared, unimpressed. “I hate baths.”
“Good. That makes two of us. I prefer to be dirty.” Jack mouthed at me when Faith had her back turned. “Go.”
“Fine. I’ll go.” I pointed directly at Jack. “But I’ll be back soon, and you better take care of her.”
“Trust the process. I’ll make her into a sensation in no time.” Jack playfully winked at Faith. “Right, kiddo?”
“You betcha!” Faith winked back.
Faith let go of my hand, and she skipped back to Jack. She tried to cling to his leg, but he brought out his crabby personality and froze up when she hugged him. I laughed as I left the room and headed to the kitchen stove with an itch to bake something for the two of them to enjoy.
I preheated the oven and washed my hands. The warmth of the stove heated the room while I opened a package of Pillsbury gingerbread cookie dough I got out of the refrigerator. I grabbed my rolling pin and spread out the unbaked mix until it was smooth to the touch.
I used the different shaped gingerbread man cookie cutters one by one to create individual treats to eat. After all the dough was cut, I laid each man out on a greased cookie sheet and heard the oven ding. It was time to bake.
While the gingerbread cookies baked, I made the frosting from scratch. I placed the sweet icing into piping bags,with each color getting its own. Once the timer finished and the gingerbread was done, I let them cool down for ten minutes before the fun part.
