Page 11 of Biker Under My Tree

“Triple shot, huh?” I laughed and took a sip, savoring the warmth. “Is Cheryl trying to make sure I don’t sleep for a week?”

Bones leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. “Pretty sure you’re not going to sleep much anyway with the twenty-five dozen cookies Cheryl has on order for Sunday.”

I wrinkled my nose and tried to laugh it off. “I can do it.” I took another sip for good measure, trying to hide my nerves behind my coffee cup. “Probably a good thing she did give me a triple shot. I was just about to start on the dough.”

“Three hundred, Snow?” His voice was full of skepticism and a little bit of amusement.

I gave a casual shrug and hoped my face didn’t show my inner panic. “It’s only three hundred cookies, Bones. No big deal.” It wouldn’t be a big deal if I had Kelsi here to help me.

“Plus her usual order on top of that, right?”

I nodded and motioned over to my stack of order slips on the table in the corner of the kitchen. Boxes, labels, and packing materials cluttered almost every inch of the surface as evidence of the non-stop holiday rush.

“That’s a pretty big stack.” He raised an eyebrow and eyed the mountain of orders.

“Yeah,” I admitted, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. I forced myself to flash a confident smile. “But I’ve got it under control.”

Bones gave me a look, the kind that saw right through my bravado. “And you’re going to do all that by yourself?”

“Totally,” I said and tried to sound nonchalant. “Not worried at all.”

“And then do deliveries, too?”

“Yup!” I chirped, more chipper than I felt. I didn’t have a plan yet; I’d just been telling myself I’d figure it out as I went, maybe hit the road with boxes of cookies whenever I could catch a spare minute. But I’d worked myself through crazier holiday seasons before, right? I could do this.

Probably.

Bones watched me for a moment, and his gaze softened as he took in the organized chaos of my kitchen. “Well, if anyone can handle it, it’s you,” he said. “I should probably get out of your hair, though.”

“Thanks again for the coffee,” I replied and gave him a genuine smile this time.

“If you need anything,” he said, his voice a bit lower, “I’m just across the driveway.”

“Sounds good,” I said lightly, though the offer gave me a flutter I tried to ignore. I didn’t plan on needing help again, but the fact that he offered? Yeah, it did something to me.

Bones opened the door, but before leaving, he glanced back with his eyes soft and intent. “Just… ask, okay?”

I laughed a little too brightly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He stepped out, and as he crossed the driveway, he glanced back over his shoulder. I lifted my hand in a little wave, which he returned with a nod before he disappeared into the garage.

I shut the door and exhaled. Bones was a distraction I didn’t need right now, no matter how damn good he looked in thatleather jacket. Shaking myself out of it, I turned back to the kitchen and took a deep breath. Time to make dough for twenty-five dozen cookies.

Here we go.

Chapter Nine

Bones

The light was still burning bright from her kitchen.

It was half past eleven, and there she was, still bustling around like there was a fire under her. I watched Snow through the window, moving from counter to counter, arms full of flour, sugar, and who knows what else. She’d pull a tray out of the oven, set it aside, and slide another one in, and barely stopped to breathe.

I took a slow sip of whiskey and leaned against the counter with my eyes fixed on her. I’d left the garage an hour ago, cleaned up, and got ready to call it a night. But then I noticed her light was still on.

She’d told me she wouldn’t need help. Said she had a “plan.” But I knew better. The only way Snow was going to get through the next couple of weeks was if she somehow managed to clone herself.

Or if she let me help.

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