Page 37 of Sweet Christmas Wish
Sarah gave him a little wave and then started down the aisle. Before she had taken more than a few steps, though, she stopped and turned around to look at him again.
“Did you mean it?”
“Did I mean what?”
“When you said you liked my blonde hair.” Sarah bit her lip, looking so uncertain and vulnerable it almost broke Will’s heart.
He considered her question, knowing she was being serious and that she deserved an honest answer. He pictured her with her blonde ponytail—so lovely it almost hurt to look at her, and nodded slowly.
“I really meant it,” he replied softly. “It’s beautiful.”
Sarah gave him another smile, a real, full smile that lit up her whole face. Will felt his heart turn over in his chest and it took him a long time—far longer than he wanted to admit, even to himself—after she’d disappeared down another aisle for him to regain control of it again.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
“Are you sure you want to usethatmany chocolate chips?”
Derek stared at Lacy, who had dumped almost the entire bag of chocolate chips into the cookie batter.
She gave him a mock-stern glance, arching a brow. “Hmm. You wouldn’t be telling me how to bake, would you?”
“No, ma’am.” He gave an exaggerated gulp. “Just trying to understand the master’s thinking.”
Lacy grinned, nudging him with her hip. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, looking down into her stunning green eyes. His love for this woman just continued to grow, and moments like these, so simple, meant the world to him.
She rested her head against his chest for a moment, humming along to the Christmas music they had playing in the background, and Derek closed his eyes, wanting to stay in the moment forever. Of course, moments like this never lasted forever and, as if on cue, the oven beeped, letting them know it had preheated. Lacy stepped out of his arms, turning back to the cookie batter.
“To answer your earlier question,” Lacy said as she began stirring the chocolate chips into the batter, “there are a couple of things you should understand when it comes to baking. One, never come between a woman and her chocolate. Ever.”
“Which I just learned the hard way,” Derek joked.
“Precisely. Two, a recipe may give you a measurement for how many chocolate chips should be added. That is a suggestion and one that should be ignored. When it comes to chocolate chips, you measure with your heart.” She tossed him a look. “And since you thought I put in too many, we’ll be measuring by whatmyheart says, thank you very much.”
Derek raised his hands in surrender. “Like I said, I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, chocolate chip measurement is entirely your domain.”
“Good.” Lacy reached up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek, her eyes dancing. “Seriously, though, just wait until you try these bad boys. You’ll never go back to skimping on chocolate chips ever again.”
“In that case, let’s get ’em in the oven!”
Working side by side, they began scooping out the cookie dough and rolling the cookies into perfect spheres before spacing them out on the cookie trays. In no time at all, Lacy had loaded the mansion’s oven and set a timer. She leaned against the counter contentedly, surveying the happy mess they’d made of the kitchen.
“Sunday afternoons are for baking,” she declared.
“I’m inclined to agree with you, with one correction.”
“Oh? What’s your correction?”
“Sunday afternoons are for baking with the love of your life,” he said, grabbing her hand and raising it to his lips to kiss it softly.
Lacy closed her eyes, a smile growing on her lips. “Say that again.”
“Sunday afternoons—”
“No, just the last part.”
“The love of my life?”
Lacy nodded. “Am I really?”
