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And now she wanted to do a little something for the people who had been such big helpers with this project. She’d stopped at the store and picked up some chocolates because who didn’t love chocolate? She also wanted to add some Christmas cookies to each plate. She thought of buying them, but it didn’t feel right. She would bake them.
Just then she heard a knock on the door. It wasn’t uncommon for some of her neighbors to stop by in the evening. As the kitchen was right next to the front door, she called out to them to come in.
When she glanced up, the breath hitched in her throat. She blinked but Graham was still standing there staring back at her. How was it possible he looked even better since the last time she’d seen him in person?
“Graham, what are you doing here?” Realizing how that might sound, she tried again. “I’m sorry. What I meant to say was, is there something I can help you with?”
“I wanted to let you know that Beverly Williams has an electrical short in her kitchen. I’ve turned off the breaker and called in an electrician. I just wanted you to know in case you saw a stranger in the building.”
Disappointment assailed her. For just a moment, she’d hoped he was there to see her. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Should I inform anyone else?”
She shook her head as she moved about the kitchen, clearing the countertop. “We may be a smaller apartment building, but people are used to service people showing up.”
He nodded. “I just wanted to check.”
When he didn’t move to leave, Alina felt compelled to fill the awkward silence. “Is everything going okay?” She grabbed a dishcloth to wash off the countertop. “I mean, is everything okay between you and the tenants?”
“It’s fine.” He arched a brow. “That is unless someone complained. Have there been complaints?”
“No. None at all.”
For the first time since he’d entered the apartment, she paused and really looked at him. Graham wore a pair of low-slung blue jeans. His hair was a bit mussed up, making him look so cute. As he yawned and stretched, his gray T-shirt lifted, exposing a glimpse of his washboard abs. She inwardly groaned at being so close and yet so far away. It was all she could do not to drop the baking sheet in her hands.
Before he noticed her staring, she turned her attention back to placing the baking sheet on the counter. Finding her mouth had gone dry, she swallowed hard. “I... I’m, uh, going to bake some Christmas cookies.”
“For Merryweather?”
“Some for him, but most are for the people helping with the Snow Ball.”
“That’s a nice idea. I hope you’ll have extra so I can try one.”
“There should be so long as I don’t burn them.”
He sat down at the breakfast bar. “What can I do to help?”
She shook her head as she got out a cutting board. “Nothing. I’ve got it.”
“Really? There’s nothing I can do?”
He seemed quite intent on staying, but why? Was it possible he wanted to move past that kiss? She chanced another glance at Graham. He appeared to have forgotten all about it. But could she?
It wasn’t like she was an infatuated teenager. She could control her emotions and do what needed done. After all, they couldn’t keep avoiding each other. Perhaps she should follow his lead.
“How are you with sprinkles?”
“Decorating is my thing.” He got up and washed his hands. “Where are they?”
“In the cabinet next to the fridge.” In the meantime, she retrieved some of the cookie dough from the fridge.
When she glanced over to make sure he’d found the sprinkles, he was stretching to reach the top shelf. His shirt had ridden up once more. She swallowed hard as she averted her gaze. This casual relationship was going to be so much harder than she thought.
“Wow. You have a lot of them. In almost every color.”
Alina smiled. “I like them. They’re bright and fun.”
“The only thing I don’t understand is that you said you weren’t good in the kitchen.” The plastic bottles rattled as he removed them from the cabinet. “Yet you bake.”
