“Hi,” he says, and with that one word, he’s beautiful. Flour dusts his dark hair, his pink —for Valentine’s Day, I’m assuming— flannel rolled up to show those forearms, eyes warm and happy. “You look amazing.”
I glance down at my dark jeans and pink sweater with a giant heart on the front that says, “Be Mine”. “I look like I always do. I think.”
“Exactly.” He steps closer, his voice dropping. He lowers his head, my heart speeding, and his lips brush over my cheek. “Amazing.”
My face heats. “You’re dangerous, Henry Hunter.”
“Only to your resolve to keep me at arm’s length, Dr. Monroe.” His grin is completely and utterly wicked. Panty wetting and dropping. Unfair some might say.
He continues holding out his hand. I swallow before slipping mine into his, so warm and comforting. “Come on. Mark’s been asking about you all week. I think he wants to adopt you as his official taste-tester.”
Inside, the bakery is transformed. Strings of lights crisscross the ceiling— both plain and tiny red hearts, and the tables are set up for the baking competition. The air smells like sugarand cinnamon and chocolate, and there must be thirty people crammed into the quaint space.
“Willa!” Mark waves from behind the counter. “Perfect timing. We need a judge for the final round.”
“Oh, I don’t think I could… I mean I’m not?—”
“Too late. You’re volunteered.” Mark grins. “Besides, someone needs to keep Henry honest. He’s got a competitive streak.”
“I do not,” Henry protests, but his eyes are twinkling and clearly Ben’s little slip that he’s never won at Hungry Hungry Hippos against his dad is true.
Liam, another baker I recognize from my morning visits, nudges Mark. “He totally does. Last year he made a three-tier wedding cake just to prove he could.”
“It was for practice,” Henry mutters and shrugs, but I can see the smile tugging at his lips.
“Okay, everyone!” Mark claps his hands. “For our grand finale, we’re doing something special. Couples desserts! We need volunteers to pair up and create something that represents partnership and love.”
“Oh no.” I start backing toward the door. “I can’t bake. I burn toast!”
“Perfect.” Mark grabs my arm. “You can partner with Henry. He needs someone to keep him from overthinking everything.”
“Mark—” Henry starts, but Mark’s already shoving us toward a workstation.
“One hour. Make something that screams ‘we’re perfect together.’ Go!”
Henry and I stare at each other across the flour-dusted counter.
“You really can’t bake?” he asks.
“I made brownies once. The fire department had to come. What do you think?”
He laughs, and the sound wraps around me like warmth. “Okay. You’re on decoration duty. I’ll handle the actual baking.”
“What are we making?”
His eyes lock with mine. “Trust me?”
I should say no. I should maintain those well-formed boundaries. But instead, I nod. “Yeah. I trust you, Henry.”
His smile could light up the entire town.
Chapter 10
Henry
Having Willa in my space,in my element, is doing things to my brain. She’s leaning over the counter, watching me measure ingredients with fascinated eyes, and I keep getting distracted by the way she bites her lip when she’s concentrating.
“So, what’s the plan?” she asks.
