Page 144 of Sugar & Shadows

“That bad, eh?” A low chuckle rumbled up my chest.

She rolled her eyes. “You look like a hot farmer calendar model. I wish I had a ring light. Harper would want this on Instagram.”

I stepped aside and dipped my chin toward the open door. “Come inside before you freeze to death.”

Expression softening, she stepped past me. Inside, the warmth was like a thick blanket, wrapping itself around us. The windows were steamy and the air was sweet.

“This is incredible.” She walked around the small space, inspecting the evaporator, the dense cloud of steam that billowed up through the vent in the roof, and the amber liquid bubbling. “It looks like lava.”

“Yes. Sweet, delicious lava.”

She turned over her shoulder and smiled.

I loved her smiles. They were like rare jewels. Sabrina had hundreds of facial expressions, but this one smile beat them all. Unguarded, genuine, and a little cheeky. I walked to the tripod we’d set up and stopped the camera.

“Are you going to tell me?” I asked as she peeled off her blazer and threw her bag onto the old couch.

“Approved.”

I stared at her for a second, unsure that I’d heard correctly.

But the relief on her face made it clear. She’d done it.

“Yes.” I scooped her up and spun her around. Then set her on her feet and kissed her.

“We’re on the ballot?”

“On the ballot,” she confirmed.

I kissed her again, long and hard, and in return, she draped her hands around my neck, urging me closer.

When I pulled back, we were both glassy-eyed and a little breathless.

“How did you do it?”

She flipped her hair and tilted her face up. “The way I always do. I appealed to his core values.”

I crossed my arms. “Which are?”

“Spite and the risk of public humiliation.”

A huff of a laugh escaped me. “How?”

“Told him that if he blocked it, it might get out that Bitsy was the reason Birch Hollow stole the festival. And reminded him of the potential for the Bramble name to become synonymous with killing local tourism and economic collapse.”

“You threatened them?”

She patted my chest. “No, sweetie. I educated them. About consequences.”

“That is so fucking hot.” I ghosted my hands over her curves, the urge to touch her too strong to ignore. Maybe it was the heat or the sugar, but I was quickly coming undone.

“You are amazing,” I murmured against her neck.

“Says the man working through the night to raise money for charity.”

“I’m a man of many talents.” I kissed the spot just below her ear and squeezed her ass hard.

She made a breathy sound. “You’re sweaty.”