“Can I do anything to help?”
“Can you grab the peppermint schnapps out of the liquor cabinet? It’s the one next to the fridge with the glass doors.”
Turning around, I walked over to the cabinet and stared at it for a moment before producing a clear bottle with a red label.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks. Do you want some hot cocoa?”
I nodded eagerly. “If that’s where the schnapps is going, then yes. I’m going to need the double layer of warmth if I’m going to be standing outside all evening."
She chuckled. “You’ll be surprised how warm it feels once they’ve got the fire going.”
“Sure,” I said, not convinced at all.
It was like twenty degrees outside. Back in Florida, you wouldn’t even catch me outside if it was below fifty.
“While you’re in here, would you mind taking that dish of mac and cheese out of the oven?”
“Of course.” I grabbed the oven mitt and removed the foil-covered glass pan.
“Try it for me, will you?”
I took a fork and scooped up a small amount of the bubbling mixture. I blew on it before carefully taking a bite. Flavors exploded in my mouth.
“Oh my god, that’s like the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” I exclaimed.
“Thanks, I love to cook.”
An idea sprang into my mind. “Did you hear we’re trying to open a lounge in the lodge? Where the old restaurant used to be.”
She nodded. “Johnny mentioned something about that.”
“We need someone to help out in the kitchen, any chance you’d be interested?”
“Um, hell yeah. That sounds like fun.” She ladled some hot chocolate into a mug and handed it to me.
I took a sip of the warm beverage and felt my insides start to thaw. The sharp taste of the peppermint liquor added a lingering heat to my throat.
From my vantage point in the kitchen, I could see out to the yard and the soon-to-be bonfire. Johnny and Giles both lit a piece of rope, or something, on fire and placed each one in the center of the pit. A small fire started to bloom at the bottom. Once the rest of the sticks caught it would be pretty impressive.
It didn’t mean I was dreading going outside any less.
Giles wiped his hands on his jeans and stood up to admire his handiwork. I bit my lip as I stared at him. Having grown up hardly seeing anyone wearing winter clothes, I was surprised to find that I liked how men looked in them. Rugged. Burly, even. Giles especially pulled it off quite well.
Ugh, why did I have to find him so attractive?
Before I could scold myself for my intrusive thoughts, a pretty woman with dark hair wearing a red coat tapped Giles on the shoulder. She did not look happy as she pulled him away from the fire. Her arms were crossed, and she appeared to be scolding him. Giles’s body language was very closed off.
“Who’s that?” I asked Erin, not able to disguise my curiosity.
She glanced up before responding. “That’s Julia. Giles’s ex-girlfriend. They dated all through high school and on-off after he went pro and was always traveling.” Shaking her head, she continued. “They should have called it quits ages ago, but since Giles moved back, she’s been on him to commit to her. It’s his fault for always leading her on. I always told him that if she’s not the girl for you, you need to let her go once and for all.”
My interest was officially sparked as I watched the two of them continue to argue in the backyard.
“Funny, Giles seems so stoic. It’s hard to picture him in a relationship.”
She snorted. “That stoic attitude translates to ‘bad communicator’ in relationship terms.”
