The words sank into the silence between them, warm and weighty. Her heart thudded so loudly it was a wonder the whole town couldn’t hear it.
She looked down at her now-empty cup and forced herself to breathe.
“I should probably get back,” she said softly. “I need to make another batch of cocoa for tomorrow. And prep some chocolates. I’ve been selling out.”
“Want some help?” he asked, not missing a beat. “I mean… if you don’t mind.”
“You want to help me make cocoa?”
“I want to see this magical recipe in action.”
She grinned. “In that case… let’s go.”
Cassidy unlocked the side door to the shop and gestured him inside. The warmth hit them immediately—soft and rich, laced with cocoa, vanilla, and the faintest trace of cinnamon and orange zest.
“I still can’t believe this is yours,” he said, pausing in the middle of the kitchen space. “It looks like something out of a Christmas story.”
Cassidy smirked as she pulled her coat off and tossed it over a stool. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He followed, shrugging out of his puffer jacket. “It is one. It’s… cozy. Thoughtful. Smells like actual heaven.”
Cassidy grinned, then got to work. “Alright. First, spiced cocoa prep. If I’m going to keep up with demand, I need at least three batches ready by morning.”
She handed him a small apron—pink, with candy canes on it.
He eyed it. “You’re serious?”
“You want in on the magic-making or not?”
He slid it on. “I feel ridiculous.”
“You look festive.”
He shot her a look, but there was a smile tugging at his lips.
Cassidy pulled out a bowl of pre-chopped dark chocolate and set it on the counter. “Start chopping the next batch while I prep the spice mix. Don’t rush it—smaller chunks melt more smoothly.”
“Yes, chef.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, surprised. “You watch cooking shows?”
He shrugged as he carefully began chopping. “My brother and I used to watchThe Great British Bake Offto annoy our dad. Then we got weirdly into it.”
Cassidy laughed. “That’s so wholesome.”
“Don’t let it get around.”
She turned back to her spice rack and began mixing cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and just the tiniest pinch of cayenne into a bowl. The scent rose instantly—warm, nostalgic, with just enough bite to make it irresistible.
“So,” he said, still focused on chopping, “what exactly makes this cocoa recipe so special? Besides being slightly dangerous if you add too much chili?”
She measured the blend into a pot of warming milk. “It’s about layering. The right kind of chocolate. The balance of spice. And the energy you put into it in the moment. Grand-maman always said cocoa tastes better when someone made it with love.”
Liam looked up, and their eyes met over the rim of the pot. Cassidy felt the air shift again. She turned away to stir, her cheeks heating.
“What would your grand-maman think if she saw all this?” he asked after a moment.
Cassidy smiled softly. “She’d be proud. And also slightly horrified that I’ve started using orange zest in her sacred recipe.”
