Page 26 of The Gingerbread Bakery
‘It’s fine. Just a tension headache, that’s all.’
He was still looking at her like he wanted to lean across the center console and make all sorts of bad decisions. Annie was left to be the reasonable one.
‘Anyway, I’m feeling much better now. Let’s go get some coffee and see if we can find Nana,’ she said in a rush, opening her door and tumbling out into the cold air. Shebreathed deep in a vain attempt to clear her head, but there wasn't enough cold air in the world to purge Mac from her system. Especially when he came up beside her and pressed his large warm hand into the small of her back, guiding her into the café. She didn’t even have the strength to push him away. Or maybe it was the desire she lacked because that hand felt damn good. And she couldn’t always be the reasonable one.
ChapterTen
Now
It was a freezing December Saturday, and the café was packed. Every table was filled, and the line ran from the counter to the door.
‘She must be in here,’ Annie said.
‘Everyone in the entire town is in here,’ Mac said, guiding Annie into the line. Miraculously she hadn’t swatted his hand away and he was fully taking advantage of the opportunity to touch her, even if it was through several winter layers.
Annie stood up on her tiptoes scanning the crowd but, from what Mac could see, Estelle wasn't here.
‘Maybe we should ask if anyone has seen her,’ he said, getting ready to raise his voice above the crowd. Annie sensed it and clapped a hand over his mouth. Her skin was so soft against his lips he nearly groaned.
‘No,’ she hissed. ‘We can’t announce to the entire town that Estelle is missing.’
She dropped her hand before Mac could do something insane like run his tongue from her palm to her fingertips.
‘Then how are we ever going to find her?’
‘We’ll find her. But if these people know we’re looking for her, it will inevitably get back to Jeanie and Logan. And a missing grandmother is not part of the plan.’
She had leaned in close to him during this little speech, whispering in his ear. Her breath was warm on his face, and she smelled like mint and vanilla. He wanted to tug her closer and keep her there, but that was a surefire way to get a knee in the groin.
Instead, he flexed his fingers on Annie’s lower back, putting a little more pressure there until she was nearly flush against him. He didn’t miss the light tremor that ran through her at the proximity.
‘Okay,’ he said. ‘So, what do you propose we do next?’
Annie blinked up at him like she couldn’t quite remember what they were doing here or why they were standing so close. She gave her head a slight shake and little tendrils of blonde hair escaped from her ponytail.
‘We should probably get coffee,’ Mac suggested.
Annie nodded slowly, coming back to herself. She took a small step away from him. Annie was always taking small steps away from him.
‘Right, coffee. We should definitely do that. And we can finish our search after.’
‘Why don’t you go take a lap, just in case she’s sitting in a back corner somewhere. I’ll get the drinks.’
‘Okay.’ Annie nodded, setting off on a circuit of the café, while Mac waited. He needed a break from her nearness. It was doing things to his brain, making him unable to think straight.
‘What can I get you?’ Crystal asked when he got to the counter.
‘Peppermint hot chocolate, large, extra whipped cream and a spiced chai latte.’
Crystal raised an eyebrow.
‘What?’ Mac asked. ‘It’s the holidays.’
The barista smiled as she typed in his order. ‘It sure is.’
Christmas music played quietly over the speakers, and the counter was trimmed in pine boughs and holly berries. The display case was filled with cookies he was sure Annie had made, not that he could figure out when she could have possibly had the time. Outside, a light snow had started to fall, as if on cue.
‘Excited about the wedding tomorrow?’ Crystal asked as Joe made his drinks.
