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Her chest rose. This was the bit she loved. Predicting what people might enjoy, or what they needed in that moment. Some might say it was silly – but who wanted to be a grownup when it came to tasty titbits?

‘I’ve created an amaretti and almond option, made with rich dark chocolate chips from Madagascar, known for the citrus and berry notes.’

She’d shaped them like Christmas baubles, and she might have added a sprinkle of edible rose-gold glitter. She eased off a piece and held it to his nose, watching his eyelids close softly as he inhaled the aromas.

‘Yes, I think I’m getting some of that,’ he said carefully. ‘The nuts and the sweetness, mixed with something bitter and almost … heady?’

‘Like getting drunk on chocolate,’ she replied gleefully. ‘And you haven’t even tasted it yet. Smell this one.’ She held another flavour to his nose, loving the way the end of it twitched like a rabbit’s, and waited so he could guess.

‘Christmas pudding,’ he said instantly, his face lifting into a smile. ‘Unmistakeable.’

‘Yes! I bought a homemade, matured pudding from the deli in the village and mixed it into the cookie dough, adding local hazelnuts for extra bite, and fresh cinnamon and nutmeg.’ Of course, she’d decorated them by dipping one half in Swiss white chocolate and adding tiny sprigs of fondant holly, because she was all in for the cuteness.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. ‘You know, back when I didn’t eat healthily, I had no respect for food. I wolfed it down without tasting it or caring whether I was full. I definitely didn’t pause to smell or appreciate it. Maybe this is about balance too. Treats like these deserve to be valued. Do you … think I have a perfect match?’

She opened her mouth then closed it again, feeling not unlike Wanderer the goldfish. He’s talking about cookies. Pull yourself together.

Noémi cleared her throat and pointed to the plate she’d created with Shay in mind. A little healthier, but oh so quirky. She loved that he was already smiling. The cookies were shaped like carrots, with an orange frosting made from thick Greek yoghurt to be a touch more virtuous. She’d iced on eyes and a cheeky smile, and she now couldn’t wait to hear what he thought of the taste – because it wasn’t her usual sort of recipe.

‘I feel kind of guilty eating something with cute eyeballs.’

‘Then close yours, and allow me,’ she offered, not least because there was something intimate about seeing him with his eyes closed, trusting and unguarded. Would he let her put food to those beautiful, rosy lips? And why was the thought so exhilarating? It was just cooked cookie dough. And yet …

Shay obeyed her polite request, his mouth opening in a way that was teasingly slow. His tongue rested on his bottom lip. The tongue that had just moved deliciously with hers. Those lips that she wanted to kiss again. Focus. She lifted a mini carrot-shaped cookie to his lips and placed it between them.

It was probably rude to stare when people were eating, or to fantasize about all sorts of things as you watched the sweep of their tongue. To see the ecstasy on their face and to feel the thrill of it shoot through you. To listen intently for the gentle moan you knew they would make as their taste buds were won over by baked goodness.

‘Ginger,’ he said quietly, when he’d fully tasted his first mouthful.

‘You’re good,’ she replied, pleased the spice had come through and smug in a good way that it matched the blind date with a book he’d unintentionally selected. ‘Anything else?’

He licked his lips again. Oh God.

‘Erm. Cookie?’

She giggled. ‘Carrots.’

His eyes shot open.

‘It works in carrot cake, and it’s far more acceptable than avocado. I’ve used oats as a source of protein, homemade applesauce for natural sweetness, and grated carrot for a beta-carotene boost.’

He groaned again. ‘You’ve no idea how sexy you sound. Talk me through those cardiovascular benefits.’

She rolled her eyes and gave him a playful nudge.

‘My heart’s already doing a Zumba workout in there. That cookie is something else. Worth every lick of temptation. You should think about entering more awards now that you’re baking again.’

Should she? Though like many things, it was early days.

‘And please say you’ll let me choose a match for you. May I?’

Noémi nodded more furiously than she’d meant to, one of the pencils falling out of her bun, sending the whole thing wonky. Shay reached over and pulled out the other pencil, a glint in his eyes as her dark hair tumbled to her shoulders.

It was so old-school romance that her insides bounced with the joy of it.

‘I’ve wanted to do that for ages. I mean, I love the hot librarian bun. But this.’ His almost lustful gaze said the rest.

His hand moved to the tray of cookies, hovering above as though waiting to sense something. He really did have lovely hands. Slim but strong and a little rugged. Mmm. She almost couldn’t wait to see them get gooey as he selected her treat.