Page 130 of A Very Merry Mistake

I can drive! ;) Need anything from town?

Jake

Just you…to get your ass over here.

How can one simple text cause butterflies to flutter?

I grab my coat and slide on my boots, then I head over to his grandmother’s. The drive is pleasant, though I’m surprised there is so much traffic. There are lots of last-minute shoppers going in and out of the stores. However, everything will close in just a few hours, and the whole town will shut down on Christmas Day.

I turn into the farm and make the turn to his grandmother’s. When I arrive, I see Jake’s truck, and it makes me smile. I promised him I’d be here on Christmas, and I’m keeping my word on that. As I get out, the door swings open, and I see his mawmaw in the doorway, wearing a red-and-green striped onesie. Jake comes to the door, and he’s got one on, too. They both match, right down to their Santa hats.

I can’t hold back my laughter. “You two are adorable.”

“So happy you joined us, sweetie!” His grandma gives me a wink.

Jake meets me on the sidewalk, placing an extra Santa hat on my head. Then he wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads me inside. “Glad you came,” he whispers in my ear.

“Me, too,” I tell him.

We follow his grandma down the hall and enter the kitchen. It smells like sugar, cinnamon, and bread. It causes my mouth to water, even though I’m full.

“You two have been busy.” I glance over the goodies they’ve already baked. There are a variety of cookies and four different pies.

“And to think, we’re just gettin’ started,” Jake says, realizing how amazed I am by it all.

“Jakey told me you burned the hell out of some gingerbread cookies,” his grandma says over her shoulder.

“Mawmaw!” He shakes his head. “You were supposed to keep that to yourself.”

“I did,” I admit. “It was so bad I had to throw the pans away. No one got hurt, though. Didn’t even burn or cut a finger or have to call the fire department.” I meet Jake’s eyes, thankful he arrived when he did. Otherwise, the last one might’ve come to fruition.

Jake smirks. “A win is a win.”

She snickers. “Honey, if you learn anything while livin’ here, it’s gonna be how to bake. Ever made a pie before?”

“I haven’t. Totally willing to learn, though.” I move to the sink, rolling up my sleeves to wash my hands. Jake offers me an apron.

“Oh, I forgot to mention we do this while drinking spiked eggnog,” his grandma says, and my eyes widen as she pours and then hands me a glass.

“I knew I liked you,” I tell her, taking a sip and then meeting her eyes.

“Might make hair grow on your chest,” she warns me.

“So you two are currently trashed?” I look between her and Jake.

“No, that comes later,” he admits. “But these pies ain’t gonna bake themselves. Mawmaw has the cookies on lockdown. I’m on pie-bakin’ duty.”

I take a sip of eggnog, and we move to the end of the breakfast nook, where there’s flour, sugar, and salt all laid out. There are also several eggs. I see a machine plugged in. “What’s that?”

“Food processor. Makes life easier,” his grandma says as she rolls balls of cookie dough onto a tray, then squishes chocolate into the middle.

“Yep, takes out having to mix everything so much. Cuts down prep time.” Jake stands close, his arm touching mine, and I can’t stop staring at how adorable his ass looks in that onesie.

I look at him, impressed. “I didn’t realize you knew how to bake everything.”

“I’ve got all sorts of tricks up my sleeve,” he says.

“Apparently.” I take another drink of eggnog. “This is so good.”

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