Page 28 of The Christmas Lodge
“Pretty much. I come here all the time, and I know all my favorite orders by heart.”
Lacy rested her chin in her hand, taking in his chiseled features. Taking that ride through the New Hampshire landscape had changed something for her. She had been drawn to Derek from the start, but she now had a newfound admiration for him. He had built his own business from the ground up, and he was excellent at what he did. The businesswoman in her could appreciate that, but she knew it was more than that. Much as she’d been trying to ignore the pesky feelings of excitement that seemed to grow each time she was around him, she couldn’t deny it any longer. Not after they had almost kissed on the mountain. No, like it or not, she was very much interested in Derek Morse.
“What are the best dishes here?”
“Definitely the chicken pot pie—I’m ordering that today, by the way. The pork roast and mashed potatoes, of course. Oh, and the homemade macaroni and cheese…” Derek groaned and patted his belly. “So, so good. No one does comfort food like Frosty’s.”
“You’ve converted me.” Lacy closed her menu. “I’m copying you and getting the chicken pot pie. And a side of macaroni and cheese.” She threw him a look. “And I don’t want to hear about the calories or anything like that.”
Derek raised his hands. “I’m the last person in the world who would comment on your food choices. I’m a firm believer in eating what feels good.”
Lacy blinked a little, but she liked what he’d said. It was a far cry from some of the laser-focused finance guys she’d dated in the past, who had been obsessed with their looks and taking gym selfies, counting their carbs religiously, and giving her little judgmental stares when she ordered what she actually wanted instead of a salad or an egg-white omelet.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Lacy shook her head, a shy smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “Most definitely not,” she said softly.
Their waitress, who Lacy guessed was Louise’s daughter, based on their similar brown hair and outfits, came up just then to take their orders. Derek handed Becca their menus and told her his order, and Becca laughed when Lacy echoed his order exactly. On an impulse, feeling suddenly giddy and young, Lacy lifted a hand just when Becca was about to leave.
“Wait, could I get a hot chocolate as well? With whipped cream?”
Becca nodded, jotting down a note before promising to return with their food in a short time.
“Do you want some rainbow sprinkles to go with your hot choccy?” Derek cooed as Becca walked away.
Lacy stuck her tongue out. “Everyone loves hot chocolate with whipped cream!”
“Sure… when they’re six.”
Lacy folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. “Well,someof us actually like to enjoy life. So. I’m going to enjoy my ‘hot choccy’ and you’ll just have to deal with it. And, if you start being nice to me, I might even share with you.”
“My bad, my bad. I’m sure you’re right.”
“That’s better,” Lacy said with a sniff.
Derek tapped his long fingers on the wooden table, making the light from the little Tiffany lamp jump a little. “Now that you’ve actually gone out for a ride, has your mind changed about dogsledding being a pointless venture?”
Lacy pursed her lips, pretending to be offended. “Now, why on earth would you believe I thought that?”
Derek speared her with a knowing look that made the butterflies in her stomach flare up. “Maybe because it’s been written all over your face, oh, I don’t know—every single time dogsledding has come up.”
Lacy couldn’t stifle her laugh now and held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, fine, you got me,” she admitted. “I didn’t get it before, but my mind has definitely changed now. I think I finally see why you’ve devoted your life to your craft.”
Derek smiled at her, his eyes lighting up at her words. “It reallyisa craft.”
“And I know that now.” Lacy toyed with the napkin at her place setting. “It sounds really stuck-up to me now, even saying this out loud, but I didn’t take it seriously. I guess I thought grown-ups sat at desks for their careers.”
Derek shuddered, making her laugh. “Sitting at a desk day in and day out would be the death of me, but I know it works for some folks.”
“Some folks like me, you mean?”
Derek shrugged. “Maybe?”
Lacy rested her chin in her hand again, thinking about it. “I think I don’t mind it so much most of the time, but working on the mansion lately has been a nice break from paperwork and phone calls.” She pulled a wry face then. “Well, I wouldn’t say it’s been a ‘break’, but you get the idea.”
Becca returned carrying a tray with their food on it. She slid individual chicken pot pies in front of them, as well as a bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese and a mug of hot chocolate in front of Lacy, before slipping away. Lacy leaned over her food, inhaling the aromas from the steaming food with appreciation. Her mouth watered a little as she looked at the perfectly golden flaky crust of the pot pie and picked up her fork. Lacy dug in and took a bite, groaning with pleasure at the savory flavors and the buttery layers in the crust.
“Oh my gosh,” she mumbled around her mouthful of food, lifting one hand to cover her mouth, “this is incredible.”
