Page 42 of Unwrapping Romance

Rolling my eyes, I looked at Ellie, who stood there staring up at me.

“Let’s go pay for these things and go home.”

“I want the elf!” She threw a tantrum, and I didn’t know what to do. Pulling out my phone, I googled Elf on the Shelf.

“Fine.” I grabbed it and threw it in the cart. “Come on, Ellie.”

Between her tantrum and the damn Christmas music playing loudly in the store, I was about to lose my mind.

I told Ellie it was time for a nap when we got home. So, I took her to her room and made her get on the bed. Covering her with a blanket, I kissed her forehead.

“Go to sleep for a while.”

“When I wake up, can we make those cookies?” she asked.

“Sure.” I smiled.

Walking into the kitchen, I poured myself a glass of wine and took a large sip before putting away the groceries. Grabbing the box with the elf in it, I stared at it.

“You are creepy,” I said.

Grabbing my laptop, I took it to the couch and researched that elf more.

An hour had passed, and I heard little footsteps coming down the stairs. Ellie ran over and hugged me.

“Can we make the cookies?” she asked.

“Yeah. Come on.” I picked her up and carried her to the kitchen, setting her on the island. I searched the cabinets for a cookie sheet and found one. I helped Ellie place the cookie dough on the sheet and then popped it in the oven, setting the timer according to the instructions.

“Now, we wait.” I smiled, taking her from the island and setting her on the floor.

“I want to play with my toys,” she whined.

“Where’s your doll?” I asked.

“Upstairs on my bed.”

“Why don’t you go get her and bring her down?”

“Okay.” She ran out of the kitchen.

I heard the front door open, and when I walked into the foyer, I saw Jack setting his briefcase down.

“You’re home already?”

“Morgan is coming over,” he said. “Where’s Ellie?”

“Upstairs getting her doll.”

“What’s that smell?” he asked, walking into the kitchen.

“Cookies.” I bit down on my bottom lip.

He opened the oven and then looked back at me.

“Christmas cookies? Really, Sierra?”

“She wanted them and was throwing a fit. What did you want me to do?”

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