Page 15 of Love Unwrapped
Andi sucked her lips between her teeth, knowing without question that every girl in their high school had gotten it right: Blake Mangold was the sexiest man alive. Her fingers eased and she forced her gaze down to try and gain perspective. “Keep your eyes on mine, Andi.”
She lifted her gaze, feeling warmth rush in, easing any uncertainty away. “I think that’s the first time you’ve used my name.”
“Not by a long shot.” Based on his expression, it seemed to pain Blake. He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her off him, gently setting her back on the chair behind her. His fingers trailed her sides then moved over her tummy to caress down her thighs. He watched every move his fingers made until he met her gaze again. “I want more of those kisses.”
“Blake…”
His smile was instant. He laughed at her, pressing his fingers to her mouth, stopping her from speaking. “Just give me right now.” He nodded and lifted his fingers an inch, testing her compliance. When he seemed sure she wouldn’t buck him, he spoke. “Tell me later all the reasons that wasn’t a good idea. It’ll give you time to create a more thorough list of objections.”
Now his teasing seemed sweet, and Andi smiled. “I don’t argue against everything.”
He cocked a brow and pushed back on his heels to get to his feet before reaching for her hand. She allowed the hand-hold, because honestly, as long as she was touching him, the freak out in her head remained held at bay. He brought her to her feet and her hand to his lips. She stared as he pressed his lips to her knuckles.
“I’d like to see the side of you that doesn’t argue then. Let’s go back to the bakery so you can show me.” His cocky, confident attitude charmed her, not at all irritating like before. She trailed out of the room behind Blake, who maintained his hold on her hand as they moved though the restaurant toward the counter to pick up their pizza order. The twinkle of the Christmas lights, the soft Christmas carols playing in the background, everything added romance to this moment in a way she’d never have admitted before.
She’d kissed Blake and the world hadn’t imploded around her. With the way he kissed her, maybe she did believe he’d been holding a torch for her all these years. That warmed her more until Blake paid for the pizza—he insisted they take his payment—and they stepped outside. She hadn’t brought her jacket and the temps had dropped another ten degrees while they’d been inside. The crisp night air held such a chill that she left Blake’s side and darted around the puddle to jump inside the delivery van.
“I don’t remember the winters being this cold,” Blake said, handing her the pizza as he climbed inside the van from the driver’s side.
“Global warming. Start the heater.” He did as she directed, then reached behind the seat and pulled a navy jacket from the back. She refused when he handed it to her, but ultimately accepted his offer of additional warmth. The jacket smelled like Blake, something spicy and citrusy. A scent uniquely him. She balanced the pizza on her thighs and edged the jacket around her shoulders.
Blake pulled away from the pizza place, and as he drove them back to the bakery, the heat began blasting in earnest.
“I was so proud to earn that jacket. You look good in it.”
“How are you not freezing?” Maybe the still-damp shoe didn’t help with the chill, but he looked perfectly happy in just a T-shirt and jeans.
“You’ll have to trust me when I say the feeling of cold was trained out of me in short order. This is nothing.” He gave her a wink when she glanced his way.
She couldn’t help the silly smile, knowing it was telling. She turned away, staring out the side window, watching the businesses she’d grown up with all pass by until Blake turned in to the parking space right in front of the bakery.
“The lights are off,” Blake said, putting the gear shift in park, and she looked out the front window to see the lights in the workroom were also off. Then she remembered the parking space next to the van had had Bree’s car parked there. It was now empty. “No way.”
“Bree’s car’s gone. Maybe we took too long, and they went for dinner,” she added, trying to find any explanation other than the obvious one.
“There’s a note on the door.” Blake shut off the van, hopped out and went straight for the door. She waited, wanting him to unlock the bakery before she left the vehicle. His facial expressions when he saw the note up close said it all. He was frustrated, threw a hand in the air, and stared at her through the front windshield. She pointed to the door. When he did unlock it, she got out, dashing forward, carrying the extra-large pizza box inside.
“Ryan’s talked Bree into showing him around Sacramento. They’ll apparently see us in the morning. Bree says to call the magic fairies. What the hell?”
Andi put the pizza on the counter while Blake flipped on the light switch.
“How many cookies do we have left?” she asked, rubbing her cold hands together.
“About five hundred.” The man who had been so sweet just minutes ago had turned fierce, his brows sliding into a hard V as he looked around the workroom, taking a mental inventory.
“Only five hundred? We can do that, no problem.” Andi reached for a slice a pizza before going for her apron. She’d wear his jacket a little while longer. It smelled too good to take off.
Chapter 9
“No eating in the prep room. Let’s take the pizza to my office and eat there. Even if we have to finish tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of time. I’m surprised they got through as many as they did.” Blake grabbed the pizza box from the counter and headed toward his private area. He couldn’t decide if he was aggravated with Ryan or pleased. He had no doubt Ry’s drive in getting those cookies complete was to force some extra alone time between Blake and Andi. He wasn’t known for his subtlety, but getting Bree to agree to show him around Sacramento, when he’d been here a number of times over the last couple years, was an ingenious plan.
That kiss at the pizza place swung him right over to the pleased side of the meter, though. They’d been interrupted there, and Blake had no idea if he could get them back on that track, but he’d take advantage of Ryan’s machinations. Even Andi couldn’t deny they had chemistry. They’d both wasted so much time being stubborn.
Andi hung the apron back on the spindle and followed behind him. He set the box on the low table in front of the couch. “Feel free to sit anywhere. What can I get you to drink? I’ve got water”—he opened the fridge and winced—“and beer. That’s about it. I can run out front and grab us something else if you have a hankering for anything in particular.” He glanced over his shoulder to where Andi had one hand on the sofa for balance as she bent over and pulled off her tennis shoes.
She smiled his direction when she caught him looking. “Wet shoes are the worst.” She stuffed her socks inside them and wiggled her toes. Lord have mercy, even her wiggling toes stiffened parts that did not need to be stiff at the moment. Andi settled on one side of the couch, curling a leg underneath her. “Water is fine with me.”
Blake grabbed two bottles and some napkins and sat on the other side of the couch, turned so he could face her. Then he set their bottles on the coffee table.
