Page 63 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
For a time, they worked in silence. Merry called out to let them know there were only fifteen minutes left. Time was quickly winding down. The rush to the finish was on. A hush had come over the entire community center.
He only had a few more candies to place on the roof when Mrs. Kringle headed toward the stage a final time.Oh, no.He had to finish this. He couldn’t let Belle down.
He rushed to open the remaining candies. When he went to place them on the roof, his hand bumped the other side of the roof that was completed. The roof slid off to the side. The breath hitched in the back of his throat.
Before it could collapse, Belle caught it. “That was a close one.”
“Sorry. I was in a hurry.”
In the background, Mrs. Kringle was speaking to one of the judges. And then as he was placing the last candy, he heard her say, “Time is up.”
He pulled his hand back and inspected his work.Not too bad.
“Congrats to everyone,” Mrs. Kringle said. “You created the cutest gingerbread houses.”
“I don’t know about that,” someone in the crowd shouted.
“Yeah,” said another, “mine collapsed.”
Mrs. Kringle sent them a reassuring look. “In some cases, it is truly the effort that matters. Everyone, give yourselves a pat on the back.” She paused. “Now it’s time for the judging to begin. Please, move away from your houses and have some refreshments. We have a huge cookie table. And if there aren’t any thin mint cookies left, you have my apologies.”
After Mrs. Kringle stepped off the stage, Parker looked back at the gingerbread house, and he noticed the one roof panel wasn’t on straight. If he remembered correctly, it was the one that he’d bumped with his hand. If he could see it, he was certain the judges would see it too. And what was even worse was the panel was sinking on one side. He hated that he was letting down Belle.
She had fun.
She truly did.
Belle found herself smiling most of the evening. Parker had been good company, but then again, she already knew he could be a great guy—when he wasn’t writing her a ticket. Then again, maybe that contentious relationship was in their past. She could only hope.
After waiting in a long, slow line, she munched her way across the cookie table. It was only after she grabbed another couple sugar cookies that she realized she had missed lunch because business was so busy at Frills & Heels. And then Merry had called her over to the community center before she’d been able to get dinner. But the melt-in-her-mouth cookies had taken the edge off her hunger. Then again, she could go for a couple more cookies.
She got back in line. After she completed her second perusal of the cookie table, she stretched her neck and looked around for Parker. She noticed him talking to the Wallaces. When his gaze caught hers, he excused himself and made his way over to her.
He eyed up the cookies on her napkin. “Did you save some for anybody else?”
She gaped at him. “I can’t believe you said that.”
He sent her a teasing grin. “I’m just giving you a hard time.”
“I know. That’s what shocked me. So, you aren’t serious all of the time?”
He let out a laugh. “You still have things to learn about me.”
“Apparently I do.” She was looking forward to peeling back all of his layers and learning all about him.
Wait. Did that mean she wanted to continue seeing him? Her heart pounded a definite yes, but her mind cautioned her to be careful. Losing someone else she loved would be utterly devastating.
Parker’s gaze met hers. There was something in his eyes. Was it interest in her? And then his gaze dipped to her lips. Suddenly, she felt heat start in her chest and work its way up to her face.
She glanced away. “You know,” she said, ignoring the way her heart was beating double-time. “We did so well with our house that we might actually place in second.”
“Second? What’s wrong with first?”
She shook her head. “I saw a pink one with snow-covered trees. It’s going to take first.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon. I think they’re almost done judging.”
A little bit later, everyone was instructed to make their way back to their table. Belle smiled. This was it. They would find out where they placed.
