Page 28 of Sleigh Rides With St. Nick

"I hope that's not going to be a problem."

He shook his head."I only eat them when they're in season, they're just disappointing otherwise."

"True.I always think I'm going to enjoy other fruits just as much in winter, but they're never as good."

He set down a bushel of tomatoes and pulled open a drawer, getting out a heavy-looking pan.He moved with the confidence of someone who knew his way around the kitchen, and it was nice to be able to watch him, especially when the muscles in his arms flexed.

My dress wasn't the perfect choice for a date, but it was better than the elf costume, and I was certainly grateful Nick was no longer wearing the Santa suit.He'd looked good in it because he always looked good, but it would have felt wrong to be checking him out in it.Logically, I knew that it didn't make a difference if he was wearing the suit or not, he was still the same person.But there was no real logic to be had, not when I could still imagine the echo of his touch between my legs.

I shifted in my seat, trying not to think about ittoomuch.We were supposed to be having dinner.

"Is there anything I can do?"I half-blurted out, desperate to do something other than sit and stare at him.

"You could chop the tomatoes if you want?"he suggested.

"Great.Sounds good."I hopped off my seat and went to examine the knife rack so I could find the perfect blade to do that.

"Are you all right?"he asked, turning and bringing us very close together.

I looked up at him and swallowed hard."I'm feeling a little flustered."

"If it's because of what happened in the workshop, then I'm sorry."

"What?I mean, why are you sorry?That was..."I searched for the right word, but there was really only one that would do."Hot.It was hot."

His lips quirked up into a smile."It was."

"So why are you sorry?"

"Because I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable.I'm not really sure what I wanted, I wasn't really thinking."

"I'm not that kind of flustered," I murmured, putting a hand on his chest.

"Ah."Understanding dawned on his face.

"But it's not fair to you if I'm sitting over there thinking all kinds of fun things while you're being sweet and cooking me dinner."

"I don't have a problem with it."From the expression on his face, I believed him."But I can make you my sous-chef if you want."

"Please."

"Then you'll be needing this."He pulled an apron off a hook and held it out to me.

I laughed and held up the red apron with the wordsCooking For Santawritten over it."You have a novelty Christmas apron?"

"Pieter got it for me, he found it funny that I was always cooking for Santa.I have another one too."He grabbed another one off the hook, put it over his head and tied it around him.

"Whisk you a Merry Christmas?"I read, barely concealing my laughter.

"What?It's funny."He grinned.

"It's cute," I said, feeling something that was definitely more intense than just physical desire."I just wouldn't have thought you were into this kind of thing."

He shrugged and put a chopping board down in front of me."I wasn't at first.I hated everything about it because it took me far away from everything I was used to.Before it became about the presents, my job was mostly hosting Christmas feasts."

"Like the one last week?"I put my apron on and started slicing the tomatoes.

"Yes."

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