Frank mumbled something incoherent, before he echoed, “Baking supplies?”
Cassie set the box on the kitchen table, whipping out an apron. “We’re making a gingerbread house. It’s today’s activity on the Christmas Calendar.”
“And why do I have to help?”
“Because,” Cassie quipped simply, looping the apron over her head.
Frank grumbled but didn’t object.
“If it makes you feel better,” Cassie offered, “once we bake the gingerbread, we’ll have some free time while we wait for it to cool. I thought we could try a new roast.”
Frank’s eyes gleamed, and Cassie could tell she’d struck the right chord of compromise.
* * *
After the roast, they returned to the kitchen to check on the gingerbread.
“Perfect,” Cassie said, testing the biggest square with the back of her hand.
“What about the extra dough?” Frank asked in a much more amiable mood.
“Oh, I’ll just pop a few gingerbread men into the oven.” Cassie attempted her most casual tone, so Frank didn’t catch wind of the surprise. “It never hurts to have a few extra cookies, does it?”
Frank snorted, eyeing the enormous ball of dough. “That looks like enough to feed an entire naval squadron, but suit yourself.”
Cassie grinned. “While I get these cookies into the oven, why don’t you start frosting the walls together.” She handed Frank the pastry bag of thick white icing.
He muttered a little under his breath, but couldn’t hide the glint of delight in his eyes, and Cassie suppressed a giggle. He sure tried to be cantankerous, but he wasn’t fooling her. Not anymore.
They worked together in peaceful silence for a few minutes until Frank cleared his throat. “I submitted my proposal for the second edition.”
Cassie brightened. “Really? That’s fantastic!”
Frank concentrated on his task, his head down. “I told my publisher I’d be working with a coauthor this time.”
Cassie paused, the cookie sheet halfway in the oven. The heat blazed, tinging her cheeks bright red, but she didn’t notice.
When the surprise finally subsided, she slowly slid the tray onto the rack. Closing the oven door, Cassie twirled around. “Frank… are you saying…” She didn’t dare speak her thought out loud, in case she was wrong. After all, shehadto be wrong. There was no way…
“I want you to write it with me.”
Cassie’s excitement bubbled to the surface, and she threw her hands into the air, a giddy squeal escaping her lips. The oven mitts went flying in opposite directions as she wrapped her arms around Frank.
He chuckled, patting her back while he gripped the pastry bag. “Don’t get too excited. My name will still be bigger on the cover.”
Cassie laughed, brushing a stray tear from the corner of her eye. “Sorry, I just can’t believe it. This is so generous of you.”
“You’ve earned it. Besides, I could use your help.”
Cassie glowed from the inside out, barely able to contain her joy. She threw her arms wide, ready to envelop him in another hug, but he wielded the pastry bag.
“If you’re this giddy already, I hate to see what happens when I tell you the rest of the news.”
“There’s more?” Cassie wasn’t sure she could handle more good news.
Frank shuffled toward a kitchen drawer and pulled out a plain white envelope. Handing it to Cassie, he said, “As my coauthor, you’re entitled to a portion of my advance.”
Cassie balked, shaking her head adamantly. “Oh, no. I couldn’t accept—”
