Page 28 of A Sudden Romance

He dropped the sled rope and brushed snow from his face, his stomach bubbling with laughter just as she threw a third snowball. He ducked.

“You gonna fight me or what?” Laughing, she jammed her gloved hands on her hips, crinkling up her long teal coat.

“You’re sure about that?” He spoke breathlessly, more carefree than he’d ever been around her as he bent, packed snow in his palm, and started running toward her.

She took off screaming, her coat hood sliding off before she hid behind a mature blue spruce.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He ran to catch up, and her white knit hat peeked from behind the tree before she threw another snowball.

He hurled his snowball at her before escaping behind the nearest tree.

They went back and forth, hiding behind the trees as they tossed snowballs until she suggested they go sledding.

“Someone is backing out of the tree cutting, I see.”

She punched his shoulder as they hiked toward the sledding hill, an expansive open space with minimal trees spread apart from each other. “If I remember, you’re the one who chickened out first.”

She was breathless the higher they climbed. She’d insisted on tugging the sled, and he’d let her. It seemed she was proving a point of doing things on her own because her family constantly tried to do things for her. “If a mess is the reason we can’t cut trees today, we have house cleaning coming on Tuesday.”

“Okay, you’ll have your chance to cut the trees on Monday.”

“Speaking of next week...” She turned to him at the top of the hill and stared at their footprints. “Have you decided what you’re going to cook for Grey?”

A chill shivered through him. How could he...? What could he...? He shivered at the pressure of cooking for someone who’d judge his food. It hadn’t done any good when he typed the man’s name into the internet and discovered more about his financial worth.

Of course, Iris was comfortable with rich people, so she assumed he’d feel confident about anything. Grey was also her brother, Nate’s friend. She’d said Grey had been at The Peak on a friends-and-family day during a past reunion. But Sabastian had missed the festivities that time, staying at his house battling the flu.

As long as this whole thing didn’t bring Grey and Iris together, he was sort of fine giving it a try.

“Sabastian?” Her voice sliced through his thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m not sure what I’ll cook. After all, how can I cook for a famous chef and food taster?”

“I can’t believe you’d say that. Everything you make is wonderful.”

“Thanks.” He wanted to pull her into his arms for an embrace. Instead, he kicked a lump of snow. “I’m glad someone believes in my skill.”

“You should too.” She turned her whole body to face him, and he gave her his full attention when her lips parted.

“You’re an artist. Think of your cooking as a work of art—edible art.” Holding the sled with one hand, she moved her other hand as if drawing something as she emphasized her point. “When you’re creating your masterpiece in the kitchen, your creativity always takes it to the next level.”

He couldn’t help grinning, fascinated by the passion brightening her eyes as she spoke of the five senses in food through textures, flavors, colors, and aromas—even hearing as things sizzled and simmered. She was so creative and intelligent. “They’re your building blocks, and they all play a role in a successful dish. Feed him oatmeal for lunch.”

“If I want to be disqualified.” They’d requested a three-course meal.

“I’d eat your oatmeal any time of day.” Her hair peeked out of her hat, and his hands itched to touch a tress and tuck it right back. “However, when in doubt, just make anything with lemon.”

Each time he saw lemons, he thought of her because she loved lemon-flavored food. After her practical example, how could he not cook something that reminded him of her?

“Lemon it is.” Without his thinking, his gaze dropped to her moist full lips. Did she use the lemon lip balm Serafina sent? His heart started racing, and warmth sluiced through his veins.

Iris looked at him then, her gaze roaming his face. “Ready to go sledding?”

Had she sensed the direction of his lusty thoughts? Heat seared his neck. Then he glanced at the trail and put out his hand for her to give him her phone. “You sled, and I’ll take your photo.”

“Speaking of which.” She retrieved her phone from her pocket, eating up the space between them, and stepped on tiptoes to lean into him. Her cool cheek touched his as she angled the camera in front of them.

“Smile.” The whisper of her voice and the softness of her cheek rubbing against his all came with a connection of awareness that awakened every nerve in his body and made him feel things he’d never felt before.

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