Hensley had never cooked. Not that I had asked her to. But it was nice to have a hot breakfast.
“You ready for the bake-off?”
Merrie scowled. It was adorable.
No, it’s not.
“If we get kicked off, it’ll be your fault.” She jabbed her fork at me. “You need to tap into your hidden Christmas cheer and participate this time. I bet the challenge is much more difficult since we’re further into the competition.” Merrie ate the last bite of her breakfast.
“I’ll clean up, then I’m going to grab a shower and then off to the bake-off! This may be the last time I have a shower in a while!” she quipped.
I took her plate from her. “I’ll do the dishes.”
“Look at you being wholesome.”
I scrubbed the pans and cleaned the kitchen while the shower ran down the hall. I needed to take a shower too.
Part of me wanted to join Merrie.
That is not going to end well.
I mean it could…
No. It’s best if you are just kicked out of the bake-off. Then you can just leave Merrie alone.
Kringle was sitting outside of the guest bedroom door when I walked down the hall. I motioned for him to come follow me. But he pawed at the door and whined.
Just as I reached to grab his collar, the door opened, and there stood Merrie in nothing but a small towel. It was winter, and she was usually covered up, the time I surprised her in her shop notwithstanding. Her hair was plastered to her head, and droplets of water dripped down her chest to the cleavage barely held in place by the towel.
I wanted her tits in my mouth. I swallowed.
“I was just trying to keep him from bothering you.”
“You can come in, Kringle,” she told the dog, opening the door wider. “Not you.” She stuck her tongue out at me.
“Too bad.”
34
Merrie
You’re sending mixed signals to Matt, I warned myself.
Earlier, the horny part of me had wanted to fulfill a very hot and steamy Christmas fantasy with him in the bathroom. The rational part of me was also on board with that idea.
The rational part of you also thought the Christmas tree ornament shop was a good idea.
But it probably would have turned into a disaster. I cringed, thinking about how Matt would have recoiled if I had actually tried to come on to him.
Especially since he was probably already annoyed you commandeered his kitchen and made a mess.
Not that he used the kitchen. It had felt weirdly satisfying to feed him, though.
You have issues; also, you don’t even like him. He’s going to ruin your bake-off chances, and then you’ll remember what a cad he really is.
“Welcome to another episode ofThe Great Christmas Bake-Off,” Anastasia announced.
I held my breath as she called our team and a team who had made a mint and juniper jelly roll cake to the front. “Matt and Merrie, you all are the fan favorites again this week.”
