Page 44 of A Taste of Christmas Magic

I can dream that big!

“Jessica and I are baking cookies one night this coming week for the Maye open house and my students. The last day before break I give them a holiday party and share a special compilation of holiday-themed poems or sudden fiction that they’ve found or written over the semester.”

“You can take the book to her when you bake cookies; does that work?” Again, he flicked a cool gaze toward Jessica, but Chloe felt the temperature rise when his dark gaze broodily settled back on her.

Her tummy flipped. Again. It was like every fantasy she’d ever had—Rustin’s attention on a December night bathed in golden Christmas lights and music. Holiday happiness surrounded them.

“I thought we could walk around the market a little, Chloe,” Rustin said. “I’ve wrapped up cooking for tonight.”

“Of course. I didn’t think you’d be able to get away.” Chloehappy-hoppedin place.

“That’s the advantage of being the boss.”

“You want to join us, Jessica?” Chloe asked, half hoping Jessica would decline but also wanting her to say yes, so the uncomfortable rift that she felt between them and the suspicion of Rustin would have a chance to heal.

“No. I’ve got a few things to do,” Jessica replied.

Disappointment crashed through Chloe. “Do you need help?”

“I got it.” She looked at both Rustin and Chloe, her gaze penetrating, yet inscrutable. “When do you want to bake the cookies?”

“We usually do it on Wednesday in case something goes wrong; so we have another night.”

“Nothing ever goes wrong with my cookies, Chloe. Not ever.”

“That’s tempting fate,” Rustin remarked.

“I feel like tempting fate,” Jessica shot back. “Let’s shoot for Thursday night this year, Chloe,” Jessica said, “but bring the book to me on Wednesday so I can take a look, maybe choose a different recipe for the Maye open house.”

Jessica smiled and walked off, doing her signature handwave over her head. as she strode away.

“Do you think she’ll try to poison me?”

Chloe brushed her finger along the back of Rustin’s hand and was thrilled when he peeled off her glove and, holding her gaze, kissed the pad of each finger.

“I’ll be your official taste tester,” she promised breathlessly. Maybe theyweredating.

Please let us be dating!

“She could want to take us both out. A two-fer.” He sucked her thumb into his mouth. “I want to be alone with you.”

“I want that too.”

He smiled. “You’re not supposed to make it that easy for me, Chloe.”

“I am easy,” she said. “You’ve always been the one, Rustin. Always.”

His eyes looked dark, even in the vintage-inspired gas streetlights that stood vigil along Main Street.

He pulled her in for a hug, and she hoped he’d kiss her but instead, he just held her, his chin resting on her head.

“You warm me through and through. I was so cold, angry, driven. You calm me. I feel so content.”

“That’s not romantic. I’m supposed to make you burn up with crazy passion,” she objected.

She felt his chest rumble as if he were trying to suppress a laugh.

“There is that,” he said. “But lust I’ve had. Contentment? Calm? Never. My whole life has been a struggle, a fight to survive, to win, to achieve. I was angry for so many years. Always running hot. Fury. Intensity. It feels so good to be able to relax, to enjoy the moment. I have a home, an apartment above The Wild Side that I’m not afraid will be taken away. I haven’t fixed it up yet, but it’s mine. Lucas has his. No one can throw us out. I don’t always have to be flexed, geared to battle the next problem.”

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