Betzy nudged Duke with her arm and whispered conspiratorially. “What shape should we do this time?”
Duke shrugged. “How about question marks since no one knows what’s real or fake around here?”
James flung the warm ropes of candy one by one. “Duke, Betzy, Zander,” he mumbled as he went.
Betzy toyed with the warm candy while glancing at the kids clustered up to the guys.
“Okay,” Lilly hissed. “It’s ready. Go give it to her.”
“Yeah,” Link cheered. “Do it.”
Betzy watched as Sawyer’s face warmed beneath the groups’ collective gaze. He was prying something off the counter top. Then, with the fairly large piece of artwork in both hands, he stepped around the kids and made his way to her.
“For you, Betzy Boo,” he said with a wink. It was a nickname he’d given her back in grade school; she’d nearly forgotten all about it.
The trio had shaped candy sticks into a large heart with an arrow through it.
“Is that because you love her?” Lilly asked through a toothy grin.
The clatter died down. The mumbling and laughing too. Betzy could have sworn the stereo system tapped down a notch in the quiet beat as well.
“What was that?” Grandma Lo asked from behind the lens.
“I asked if he picked a heart because he loves Betzy,” Lilly hollered.
Betzy’s heart thumped out of rhythm.
All eyes shot to Sawyer as they awaited his response. Betzy couldn’t imagine what he might say back to that.
Sawyer glanced from one person to the next before he turned to look at her. His eyes narrowed as he held her gaze, and a rush of heat swelled deep in her chest.
“Yes,” he said at last.
A ripple of goosebumps rushed up her arms.
“Let’s get everyone to say cheese,” Grandma blurted.
Betzy slipped a wobbly hand beneath one half of the candy-shaped heart and moved in closer to Sawyer, heart pounding in double rhythm. Sure, he’d said it to please Lilly and the crowd. But he’d said it just the same.
“Uh, oh,” James said through a smile. “Isn’t that mistletoe up there?”
“Looks like you two have to kiss,” Camila added.
Betzy scanned nearly the entire kitchen before looking over her other shoulder where Duke stood, dangling a sprig of mistletoe over her head.
“Yay!” Lilly cheered while jumping up and down. “Now you get to kiss her.”
Link’s reaction was a little different. The kid groaned and slapped a hand to his forehead. “Oh no, just get it over with.”
“Will you make sure Zander doesn’t try and steal the heart we made?” Sawyer asked Lilly while motioning to the piece on the countertop.
Anticipation rushed through Betzy in a warm, tingly wave. Heaven help her. Just what kind of new age therapy would she need to get Sawyer out of her head after this?
Sawyer searched her face for a moment more before locking his eyes on hers. And suddenly, a wide, triumphant-looking grin spread over his face, one that readbrace yourself.
He started by placing a solid hand at the center of Betzy’s back. Then, without further warning, he dipped her back, using his leg for support until he hovered over her. It all happened so quickly she nearly lost her breath.
Whistles and cheers broke out over the kitchen.
