Page 31 of The Gingerbread Bakery
Mac shrugged, leaning against the counter. ‘Usually something last-minute, or if my dad’s feeling generous, he’ll let me throw my name on something he bought. Or some bullshit like that. Seems like it’s time I up my gift-giving game.’
Annie happened to be an amazing gift-giver. It was one of her special talents, something she really prided herself in. But she needed to get out of here and away from Mac and back to her regular life. She couldnotvolunteer to help him, and yet it was taking all of her energy not to suggest it.
‘Anyway,’ Mac said, ‘I’ll probably go back to the Christmas market to look for something good.’
Don't say it, Annie. Don't say it.
She tried to hold it in, she really did. But that was a terrible idea! He couldn’t just keep wandering the market waiting for a good idea to hit him. He needed to think about it before he went. The market was huge. He needed a plan. He needed her help.
‘I could come with you.’ Well, there goes that. She was not doing this because of the confused feelings last night had stirred up, or the possible sexual awakening Mac’s abs had inspired this morning. She was doing this for Mac’s mom, who deserved a good Christmas present this year. And maybe a little bit because of the abs.
Mac’s face lit up at the suggestion and Annie’s plan to spend time away from him went right out the window.
She could live in the fantasy for a little bit longer. What was the harm in that?
ChapterTwelve
Now
Mac had offered to drop Annie off at home so she could get other bridesmaid things done and he would go check the inn, but as expected, Annie’s control-freak tendencies were still in full swing. She didn’t trust him to go alone.
And even though he’d been asking Crystal out only a few minutes ago, he couldn’t help the excitement he felt at spending time alone with Annie. This was the first time in over a decade that she’d even allowed it, other than the night of Hazel’s birthday. And that had ended before it even started.
He’d tried to give her the space she clearly wanted, but in a town like this, avoidance was impossible. Especially since he and Logan had bonded over their secret love for creating little woodland scenes in decorative glass containers at Iris’s terrarium-making class and became better friends than they ever had been in school. Annie had become unavoidable. She was everywhere. Town-hall meetings, holidays at Logan’s house, farmers’ markets, festivals, school fundraisers. The woman was omnipresent.
He didn’t hate it, but unfortunately, she hated him.
Not that he could really blame her. He’d fucked up all those years ago. He was perfectly aware of that but, Christ, could that woman hold a grudge. How could Annie possibly still hold him accountable for his actions when he was a kid? He’d attempted to apologize, to explain multiple times since he’d been back, and she wouldn’t even let him try.
Right on track, Mac had swung from pining over Annie to being pissed that she wouldn’t even hear him out. That was typical, too.
By the time they arrived at the inn, he was equal parts frustrated with her and eager to hang out with her.
‘You should get me drinks more often,’ she said as she hopped out of the truck.
He ignored her pointed look. ‘What, so you can pour it on me? No, thanks.’ He strode toward the front entrance.
‘That was one time,’ Annie protested, hurrying to catch up.
‘Twice,’ he said, pausing at the big double doors to the Inn. ‘If you count the beer I bought you as a peace offering on my first night working at the pub.’
She was at least embarrassed enough to look mildly apologetic about that one.
‘Right. Sorry, I forgot about that time.’
The other had been a (thankfully) lukewarm cocoa he’d bought her at last year’s Christmas-tree lighting, a shameless attempt to bring back memories of a happier Christmas between them. The cocoa landing in his lap had ended that dream pretty quickly.
‘Yeah, well, fool me twice…’ He yanked open the door, rattling the giant evergreen wreath hanging from it.
‘What crawled up your butt since the café?’ Annie asked, scurrying in behind him.
‘Nothing crawled up my butt,’ he said, far too loudly for the quiet lobby. Several guests warming themselves by the fireplace gave him the side eye as he walked by.
‘Sometimes these little trips down memory lane make me wonder why I ever want to spend time around you,’ he said, lowering his voice as they approached the front desk.
Annie shrugged but he could see the flicker of hurt in her eyes. ‘You’re free to go. I can take it from here.’ She rang the silver bell on the counter, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder and hitting him in the face with it.
‘Oh no, I’m invested now. Besides, I know you think you have dibs on Logan but he’s my friend, too and, as his best man, I should be involved in the Nana search.’
