“Then, repeat.” We do that two more times until the batter has completely formed, and then we add some of the sprinkles.
“How long do I put mine in for, West?” I look over my shoulder at Aurora crouching in front of the oven.
“Fifteen minutes, kiddo.”
Aurora nods, then pops her tray in the oven and sets a timer on her phone.
“Okay, now we’re going to get spoonfuls of the batter and roll them into balls.”
“Kinky,” Maevyn murmurs over her shoulder as she reaches across the bench for a spoon, an innocent move, I’m sure, if it didn’t cause her arse to brush against me. Right against my dick.
I suck in a breath and try to think of unsexy thoughts. Bathing Patch after that time he rolled in duck shit. Phil’s sweaty wrist wraps. Maevyn’s full, lush arse that I want to grip with both hands.No! That’s not unsexy, that’s the literal definition of sexy.
“Like this?” Maevyn shows me a perfectly formed ball of vanilla dough sitting in the palm of her hand.
“Yeah. Just like that.” My voice is breathy and raw. I should step away. We’re too close, but I can’t seem to get my feet to move.
Maevyn gestures for me to take it, and I welcome the distraction so I can get my head straight. We work in tandem, her rolling the dough, then me arranging them on the tray, flattening the tops with a fork.
When they’re all done, we place them in the oven and set another timer, then the three of us clean the entire kitchen again while we wait.
“Are we skipping dinner tonight?” Aurora asks as she finishes drying utensils and putting them away in the drawer.
Maevyn gasps. “Oh my god! I completely forgot about real food. I wasn’t expecting this to be the epic disaster it was.”
I pick up my phone from the bench. “What do you ladies feel like?”
A hand covers mine, stopping my movements but sending my pulse racing. “I’ll order us something. My thanks to you for helping us.” She sighs but smiles. “Again.”
“I’m always happy to help.”
“I know.” I like the way she says it. She doesn’t doubt me for a second; she accepts it, but what’s more, she’s starting to welcome it. “But it’s my treat. Please.”
I put my phone down on the bench. “Okay. Thank you.” I look over to Aurora, who’s watching us carefully. “But you ladies get to pick.”
Maevyn pulls up a food delivery app on her phone, then looks to her daughter. “You’re up, Superstar.”
Aurora hums as her head tilts side to side. “There’s that salad bar we ordered from the other week that was good.”
“It doesn’t have to be healthy. Anything you want.” Maevyn looks up at me now. “We tend to eat quite strictly during the week and then on the weekends… anything goes.”
“Really?” I’m smiling, and I don’t think she realises it has everything to do with her.
“Yeah, bro. That’s balance.” Aurora laughs.
“I think you two might be the coolest people I’ve ever met.”
“Mum,” Aurora calls, and both our eyes fall to her daughter. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“I think I might be.” Maevyn nods, but I have no clue what’s going on. I watch as she brings up a food delivery app on her phone, just as the timer goes off to check Aurora’s cookies.
They come out perfectly, so I transfer them to a cooling tray, and we get started on the frosting centre. I supervise as Aurora mixes the icing sugar and butter until it looks light and fluffy. She spoons the mixture onto every second cookie, then places an un-iced cookie on top, forming a little sandwich.
“And now, the best part.” I fill a bowl with more sprinkles, then roll the cookie in it, coating the exposed frosting sides in sprinkles.
“What are these exactly?” Maevyn asks as she looks over Aurora’s shoulder, who’s taken over finishing the cookies.
“Fairy bread melting moments. My mum used to make them all the time when I was a kid.”
