Page 44 of Sleigh My Heart

“We could try them.” He eyed the cookies. A couple of cookies wouldn’t impair him much. That’s assuming they were baked with that special ingredient.

Her eyes widened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Maybe not, but I need an answer and I can’t wait that long. Someone is trying to ruin the festival at all costs.” His father was in the hospital already. What if the person tried to hurt someone else?

Michelle worried her lip between those straight teeth.

Damn, he wanted to nibble that rosy flesh. He eased back, leaned on the counter, and crossed his arms. “Not the whole box, just a couple each. See if we feel any effects. You can take the rest to the lab and have them analyzed. That way, you can still log the evidence.”

She blew out a breath. “Fine, but only two each.”

He pulled out two forks and lifted a cookie out, careful not to disturb any prints or evidence. When he had four out, he closed the lid with the fork and they slid the box into a bag.

He picked up a snowman shaped cookie and handed one to Michelle. As she lifted the Santa cookie to her lips, he smiled and shoved a whole cookie into his mouth.

She chuckled then did the same.

He grabbed his beer. It was halfway to his mouth when she held up her hand.

“Wait. Beer would taint the experiment.”

“Don’t you drink?”

She snorted.

“Then one beer won’t affect it. You should be able to tell if you feel different than when you have a drink.”

“Good point.” She took a swig and picked up the next cookie.

A minute later and two cookies down, she asked, “Do you think it’s working?”

He raised the beer and washed down his second cookie. “I don’t know. It could take a few minutes.”

“I might as well have another cookie if we are waiting.” At his raised brow, she added, “Not those, Mom’s.”

He opened the box she had just brought, and she picked out a reindeer with a Red Hot for the nose. He grabbed two and set the box aside.

She bit into Rudolph’s antlers. “Mmm.”

He watched her, his cookie hovering inches from his mouth. She was enjoying that cookie so much that he had to shift.

“So, what have you been up to for the last twenty years?” Michelle leaned back on the counter stool.

Nick debated if he should tell her about Molly and his brief marriage. He couldn’t tell her about most of his missions.

“Sorry, too personal.” Her eyes dropped to the counter.

“I can sum it up in five words. Army. Travel. Marriage. Ava. Divorce.”

“Was your wife in the Army, too?”

He scoffed. “No. Molly didn’t like military life… among other things. She stayed stateside with Ava while I was overseas.”

“That must have been hard on Ava. She’s a good kid, by the way.”

“Thanks. We video chatted every week, and I would see her in Ohio when I was on leave.”

“Ohio?”