Page 23 of Frozen Flames

He suggests a restaurant that has good steak, potatoes, and sauté vegetables, and despite my own warnings, I can’t help agreeing to the idea.

By the time the food arrives and we finish eating, I’m laughing as he recounts stupid stunts he used to pull with his friends. Before going too far down memory lane, though, I steer the topic to baking.

“You know what I’m craving right now? Cookies.”

“After this meal, really, Claire?”

“Hey…I have a sweet tooth sometimes, okay?”

He snorts. “Alright, let’s do it.”

I ask him to put on some music in the background. Then I bring the ingredients and baking tools needed to the table, and we set off to make a batch.

“Do you have plans with Gemma tonight?” I ask him as I put the solid ingredients into a large bowl.

“No…not that I know of. Do you have plans?”

“Not really, no. Perhaps spend time with my sister and my mom. Or read.”

“Your sister’s younger?”

I nod. “How did you know?”

He shrugs, passing me two eggs, then the vanilla extract. “Just a hunch.”

“She’s seventeen.” I start whisking the batter after pushing a tendril of hair behind my ear. “I guess, weirdly, I still view her as my baby sister.”

“I get that.”

“I’m very close to them…my mom and my sister,” I can’t help but add.

He looks away at the mention of my family, and I wonder if I’ve struck a nerve. I hear him talking on the phone often to whom I assume is his brother, and sometimes with his parents throughout the day.

“You and your brother are pretty close, I presume?”

“Yeah, definitely,” he mutters. “I don’t know what I’d do without him, honestly.”

I set my hand on top of his. “I’m sure you won’t have to find out.”

He stares at my hand as if I slapped his. I pull away and clear my throat, adding chocolate chips to the batter.

I’m such an idiot sometimes.

“So historical romance books, that’s your thing?” he inquires, and I’m relieved he didn’t remind me not to touch his hand.

I smile and nod. “Yes.”

“Ah.” He smirks. “The romantic type.”

I sigh. “Who doesn’t want love and respect andromancein their relationship?”

“Who doesn’t indeed? We all love chocolate and flowers,” he chimes in, no doubt mocking me.

“I love baked goods, and some flowers.” I shrug. “You’re missing the point, Harvey. Romance is about more than that.”

“Why don’t you enlighten me?”

“Alright.” I inhale deeply, noticing the way he watches my lips. “It’s about the little gestures done for each other…daily.”

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