Page 30 of Snowed in with the Grump

I give him my most persuasive smile. “Want to bake some cookies?”

He raises an eyebrow as if to say,really, Ava?

I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud. Carter’s grumpy facade might fool other people, but under the gruff exterior, his heart is as warm and gooey as a freshly baked cookie.

He finishes his coffee in one swig and rises from his seat. He’s making a big show of annoyance, but I see the twinkle in his eye as he gathers ingredients–chocolate chips, butter, and eggs.

I grab the flour and sugar, nudging him playfully with my hip as we bump around the small kitchen. He’s a big softie under that grumpy exterior.

“So, chief baker,” Carter says, rolling up his sleeves, “how do we begin this operation?”

I measure the quantities we need before handing him a bowl and spoon. “First, we cream the butter and sugar. Make sure you mix it well, but not too much. We don't want tough cookies.”

He gives an exaggerated salute. “Aye, aye, Captain Bossy.”

“Hey! Baking is serious business.”

Carter mixes vigorously, getting more batter on himself than he keeps in the bowl.

I stifle my laughter. “Yikes, Hulk, don't smash it too hard!”

I take the spoon and teach him a smoother technique. We work side by side, measuring and mixing until it’s blended. Carter makes a big show of carefully placing extra chocolate chips on each cookie.

I roll my eyes at him, but he’s adorable.

Once the cookies are baking, we start on brownies. When Carter opens the bag too vigorously, a puff of flour hits me in the face.

“You did that on purpose!”

Carter smirks. “Prove it.”

I flick a spoonful at him, leaving a white splotch on his shirt. Soon, we're in an all-out war, laughing and scooping up flour and sugar to launch at each other.

We're both covered head to toe when we collapse against the counter, laughing like kids. Carter looks so carefree and happy. I fall for him a little more, as if that were possible.

“We’d better get the brownies in the oven and clean up,” I tell him.

Carter grabs a wooden spoon and holds it like a microphone. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Carter's Kitchen, the source of all things decadent and delicious!”

I lean against the counter and watch him work.

“Now observe as I sift this flour like so, using a controlled yet sexy wrist action,” he purrs.

I burst out laughing. “Too bad we don't have a camera. That tease would go viral for sure!”

Carter winks, and I play along, nodding earnestly as he continues.

“We’ll need two cups of sugar for this recipe because it's sweet, just like my lovely assistant Ava.”

I stifle a giggle, folding my arms across my chest and watching the rest of the show. When the brownies are in the oven, Carter pulls me close, and we sway to imaginary music as we dance through the flour-streaked kitchen.

“We make a pretty good team, Miss Ava,” he murmurs in my ear.

I lean into him, baking messes forgotten. “The very best. We're like peanut butter and chocolate.”

Carter smiles. “Hot chocolate and marshmallows.”

“Sugar and spice?” I venture.

---