Page 50 of Kiss Me

She shrugs and plants a kiss on my cheek. “I supposed you’re just going to have to trust me. Now …”

She points to the cookie cutters on the counter.

A grin splits my lips before I begin rolling out more of the cookie dough to prepare it for the cookie cutters, without protest.

Tania turns on her Christmas playlist again and we’re back to baking, singing, and dancing in the kitchen like this is a normal occurrence.

As I look over at the expression on Tania’s face, I know I’ve made the right call in asking for Dae’s help for tomorrow’s outing.

CHAPTER 13

Tania

“Why are we so far out?” I ask for the second time from the passenger seat of Taehyun’s rented SUV.

“Not one for surprises, huh?” he asks, giving me a sideways glance before returning his attention back to the road.

“It depends on what the surprise ends up being.”

“It’s not a damn surprise if I tell you beforehand.”

I push out a breath of frustration and fold my arms across my chest. “You said we could spend the day watching Christmas movies.”

“And I told you thatHookandDie Hardaren’t Christmas movies. Even I know that.”

I roll my eyes skyward. “First of all,” I shift in my seat to face him, “Hooktakes place during Christmas time, which very much makes it a Christmas movie. AndDie Hardis …”

“Is?” He draws out the question.

“A tradition.”

He snorts and shakes his head.

“It is,” I protest. “We watchedDie Hardevery year during this time of year. AndHook. I love that movie. Therefore, they’re both Christmas movies.”

He holds up a hand as if in surrender. “If you say so.” He shrugs. “We can watch them when we get back.”

“And where is that from?”

He gives me a sly grin, and I know by the expression he’s not going to tell me. Taehyun laughs at the pout I make.

“Just remember how stubborn you’re being now once we arrive.”

“Whatever,” I mumble and turn away from him as if ignoring him. I guess the answer to his question is no, I don’t think I like surprises.

Unfortunately, Taehyun proves himself right when about thirty minutes later, we turn down a long, windy, snowy pathway. I can see why he’s rented a four-wheel drive SUV for today’s outing.

I want to ask him once again where we’re going, but then the road opens up. A few small, wooden cabins come into view. But it’s the scenery behind them that captures my attention.

Mountains upon mountains covered in beautiful, pure snow as far as the eye can see. And while the area is forested, there’s a perfect pathway that I would love to rip on with my board.

“We’re here,” Taehyun says as he brings the car to a stop in front of the first cabin. He’s out of the car before I can ask him where ‘here’ is.

I allow him to take my hand to help me out of the SUV. We start toward the front door, but I stop him.

“Wait, should I bring my crutch? Just in case someone’s inside?” I look around. No one’s around but you never know who’ll show up.

“You don’t need it out here,” he promises.

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