Page 25 of A Mustang River Christmas

“It’s been my pleasure,” he said.

And he meant that. Not in a way that only spoke to sex, but in an all-encompassing sort of way. She had given his daughter something that meant a lot to her, and she had given something back to him, again, not just sex. And he was genuinely feeling some kind of joy that he never thought he could feel again.

A kind of satisfaction he hadn’t imagined he was allowed anymore.

A pink bike with ribbons on the handles.

The very thought made him laugh.

Chapter Seven

They were coming to the end of the gingerbread project, with the jubilee almost set to begin. She couldn’t wait to see all of the entries that would be brought in by people in the community. Mayor Addison Carey had been in and out of the resort a few times, her excitement over everything infectious.

But for Laney, watching Pike work was what really made all of this feel so... special. He was so skilled, everything he touched became something magical.

She knew what that was. That particular sort of magic that a particular chef might have. The thing that elevated you above those around you. That made you just slightly better than people around you, that made you the best, instead of just another person in your field.

He had that with flavor, with the attention to detail, with the precision and artistry that went into the gingerbread house. He managed to replicate the siding of the resort, a board and batten design with gingerbread, and little precise lines of royal icing. The tile on the roof, round and spirited, with unique looking snowflakes piped onto several of them, intricate and perfect.

The windows were stunning, it was difficult to believe they were made from sugar.

And the little candy details that added brightness were whimsical and delicious looking.

She had worked with a lot of high-level chefs, but because pastry and dessert weren’t her forte, she hadn’t worked as closely with somebody who was so brilliant in that field before, and it was a gift to watch him work.

It was also a gift to go to bed with him at night. Those hands were creative and precise there too.

She could only give thanks.

Now it was the night before the gingerbread jubilee, and the kitchen was quiet. They had just a few details left to refresh, and then everything would be ready to go.

She had told Pike that he didn’t need to come over tonight—she always told him that, because she was so aware of how much extra work he was doing right now—but, of course, he was on his way, and her stomach was fluttering.

The lobby was dark, though one of the newer employees was minding the front desk around the corner, and, of course, guests could come downstairs at any time of night.

They often did, and Laney couldn’t say she blamed them. She enjoyed sitting out there in the quiet stillness, the space in the room making it feel easier to breathe.

Though she always had to be mindful that when she and Pike were working down here, they weren’t necessarily alone.

She took a picture of the gingerbread house, and looked at the photo, because sometimes that helped identify things she didn’t notice while just standing there looking at something.

“Taking a picture of my masterpiece for posterity?”

She turned around, and her heart nearly burst.

She’d thought he was handsome for months. She’d enjoyed talking to him, bantering with him, but the chance that she’d gotten over the last couple of weeks to know the real man underneath that charming smile had really changed things for her.

Had made those feelings deepen in intensity.

It was so interesting yesterday when he’d been talking about rock bottom.

And what you were left with in the end.

She’d always found family in her kitchens, but she’d also moved with her career ambitions. Her one attempt at settling down had been so disastrous, she had decided she wasn’t going to try again. But she was. She was doing it here. With the people that she was hiring to work with her, with the Grayson family, and... with Pike.

She couldn’t imagine him being just a fling. Which felt ridiculous after such a short amount of time, but it was true.

He felt like more.