‘Ooh, gotcha. Back to the story.’
‘He splattered icing across my face accidentally and—’
‘Did he lick it off?’
Piper stared at her friend, a smile cracking the face she was trying to keep serious. ‘If you stopped interrupting me, I would tell you!’
‘Sorry!’ Maddie looked anything but apologetic.
‘There was no licking, but he put his hands on either side of my face, just like in the movies, and wiped it off with his thumbs.’ A smile rose on her lips at the memory of his big hands cradling her face with such gentleness that she never wanted him to let go. The little girl in her who’d followed him around, written his name in her notebook and wondered what it would feel like to hold his hand or be hugged by him, was in her absolute element. ‘I thought he was going to kiss me. His face was so close to mine, and he was like that even after he’d gotten the icing off.’
‘And you wanted him to?’
‘Yes.’ Piper’s voice was a whisper, as if admitting it aloud would mean she’d be struck down. ‘I really like him. I’ve had a crush on him since we were kids, but seeing him caring for patients, responding to emergencies, being gentle and strong all in the same moment, it’s more than a crush. I think I’ve caught real feelings for him. I love the banter we have in the kitchen, sharing space with him, laughing. I really did want him to kiss me so I would know that I wasn’t in this alone. But then his dog Major literally barged between us as he leapt for the gingerbread house—legit, not code—and the spell or whatever it was was as broken as that house was.’
‘Noooo!’ Maddie groaned. ‘I knew he had a thing for you. I don’t know how you two hot young things can be living under the same roof for as long as you have and not be rumbling in the sheets. It’s unnatural.’
‘Maybe he thinks it’d be too weird since we grew up together and he’s my brother’s best friend.’ She screwed her nose up. ‘That’s got to be it, because after he cleaned up the mess the house made and rescued Major from the chairs he was stuck in, he changed. He was grumpy towards the dog and when I asked if we would talk about, you know, what happened, he just got grumpier and headed out the door like he didn’t know what I was talking about. It can’t have been in my head.’
‘Definitely not! If a man holds your face to get something off instead of telling you to go look in a mirror or using a single finger for a quick swipe, he wants to touch you. And if he’s not pulling away as soon as it’s gone, he wants to kiss you.’
Uncertainty dropped like a pit in Piper’s stomach. ‘I hope so.’
‘If you’re worried about him thinking of you as a kid sister then you need to make him see you in a new light. As the woman you are.’ Maddie clasped her hand, a mischievous gleam in her eye. ‘I have an idea—’
‘No,’ Piper cut her off, knowing exactly where Maddie was taking this. ‘I’m not lounging around in sexy pyjamas or hiding behind his door naked under a trench coat or anything that involves being someone more like you than me. I’ve heard your stories, and there’s nothing wrong with that for you, but I could never pull anything like that off.’
Maddie frowned. ‘You’re no fun.’
Gloria moved to the front of the group and clapped her hands three times. ‘Break’s over. Let’s move back into formation and turn your folders to “O Holy Night”.’
Piper took another quick mouthful of water before she scurried back into line between Maddie and Anita. She flipped through the music before coming to the right song and blanched a little at the word in capital letters preceding the lyrics: SOLO.
‘Altos,’ Gloria called to their trio. ‘I need someone to nominate for a solo here. It’s for the first verse and chorus. Quick, before I choose.’
Piper glanced at Anita.
‘Don’t look at me. I’m good in a group but would keel over by myself,’ Anita said.
‘Piper will do it,’ Maddie called out.
Piper’s head whipped around to her supposed friend. ‘Why me?’
‘Because you have the best voice out of the three of us.’
The nods around her were startling.
Maddie tilted her head towards Piper and dropped her voice. ‘And this could be your chance to show Emmett the woman you’ve become.’
She should’ve gone with the sexy pyjamas.
‘Wonderful,’ Gloria said, beckoning Piper forward. ‘Just like Frank did with “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, you’ll come out to the microphone on a stand in the middle of the stage and stay there for the entirety of the song. We’ll hear your bit first before moving into learning parts. I assume you know the melody.’
Piper moved into position. ‘I know the song.’
‘Perfect. Just let Robbie know when you’re ready.’
She cast an uncertain look back at Maddie, who gave her a double thumbs up. The folder shook slightly in her trembling grip. If she didn’t pull this off, not only would she embarrass herself in front of every member of the town she wanted to call home, but Emmett would only pity her. She’d had enough of that emotion from that man.