Lark
As I stare around the disaster formerly known as my kitchen, my mood drops lower and lower. What the heck was I thinking, agreeing to bake eight dozen cookies for the Tridents’ staff holiday party?
When Candice, the administrator in charge of the party, called me in a panic saying their vendor fell through and she needed cookies at the last minute for the staff party tomorrow, I should have said no.
But everyone knows I love to bake, seeing as I often bring in extra to share. And Candice was so stressed about the kids not having cookies, who was I to deny children their treats?
So I said yes.
And now, less than twelve hours later, my kitchen is covered in flour and sugar, and my overwhelm is at an all-time high. I foolishly thought I could get this done and still go with Dan to the Christmas market tonight, but there’s not a chance of that happening.
Lifting my now-cold coffee to my lips, I take a sip and grimace. I hate having to cancel, but I don’t have a choice.
Pulling out my phone, I open our text thread.
LARK: I’m so sorry to do this, but I can’t go to the market. I’ve got a million cookies to bake for the staff party tomorrow, and there’s no way I’ll finish in time. Especially not since I discovered I’m out of kisses.
I drop the phone back on the counter and pick up my recipes, wanting to double-check I’m not missing anything else. When I went to the store last night, I was certain my list was accurate, and I could get started bright and early today. Instead, I pulled everything out this morning only to realize I was missing the key ingredient for my Grinch Kiss cookies.
Finally satisfied I only need the one thing, I pick up my phone and head to the front door just as it vibrates in my hand.
DAN: Don’t apologize, it’s all good. Except for the out of kisses part. That’s unacceptable. I’ll be there as soon as I can to rectify the situation.
His response makes me smile, breaking through the stress of my morning.
LARK: You’re sweet, but you don’t have to come. I meant chocolate kisses. ;)
DAN: Who says I can’t bring you both?
DAN: I’m on my way.
Sure enough, half an hour later, there’s a knock at my door. I turn off the mixer where I’ve started working on the peanut butter dough and dust off my hands before going to open it.
There’s no way to prepare for what awaits me. I burst out laughing as I take in the sight of Dan wearing a Santa hat and an elf costume apron. He’s holding a cloth bag in one hand, and in the other…
“Is that for me?” I ask delightedly. He grins and drapes the matching apron over my head.
“Sure is.”
I tie the red strings behind my back and model the apron for him.
“Cutest elf I’ve ever seen,” he says, leaning in and kissing me softly. “There. You’re officially no longer out of kisses.” He kisses me again, then holds up the bag. “I wasn’t sure which ones you wanted, so I bought them all.”
My eyes widen when I take the surprisingly heavy bag. Opening it, I see alotof packages.
“Oh my God.”
Dan takes the bag from me and heads into the kitchen. I trail after him, finding him at the sink, washing his hands.
“Wanna turn on some tunes? Let’s get baking.”
His easygoing nature is such a welcome balm from the stress I was feeling just an hour ago. And so at odds with what I had grown used to with Baron and his family. Heaven forbid I change or cancel plans or need assistance of any kind. No, I needed to be independent, yet accommodating, all the time. Being with someone who cares about me and doesn’t make me feel like a burden when something comes up or I dare to havean opinion that goes against theirs is a refreshing change.
Dan looks over, catching me in my mental reflection.
“Everything okay?” He moves toward me, his hands coming to either side, resting on the counter at my back. I’m caged between his arms, and my own hands automatically lift to his shoulders before sliding around to toy with the hair at the nape of his neck. His eyes flutter closed, a small smile of pure delight creasing his features.
“Yeah, everything’s great,” I reply softly, leaning in to kiss the scruff on his jaw. “I was just thinking about how different it is with you than it was with Baron.”
