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She laughed to herself, remembering Aunt Sophie always said she baked her sweets with love. She wondered if sex was part of that equation. Because this morning she woke up more satisfied than she had been in years. Evan’s heavy frame had been draped across her body. It was just one time. And she wasn’t going to make a big deal about not having a chance to refill her birth control prescription since she had moved back. But there was something magical about the way he had taken her last night. Like it was their first time all over again. Like she belonged to him the way she used to .
She blushed when she thought about how he called her his virgin. It was reminiscent of the past, but that’s what she had been. Untouched by anyone, except Evan. Her body burned in the shower, missing him, but he had rushed out saying he had to get to the office .
Cami twirled across the kitchen and turned on the radio. A Bing Crosby Christmas song played and she started s
inging along .
Maybe she needed to try one of the candy recipes. She had already made three attempts at the fudge. Cami flipped through the recipe box until she landed on one of her favorites .
“Oh my goodness. It’s the mini peppermint ganache recipe.” She clutched it between her fingers. It was an undertaking, but with Bing singing, she thought it was worth a try .
Cami rummaged through the fridge and the pantry, gathering the extra ingredients .
She swirled the cream into the center, leaning against the counter as she watched the mixer combine the layers of chocolate. As soon as her hands touched the stainless steel surface, she pictured Evan. It was like a violent shock to her heart when she saw his piercing eyes staring back at her. And that kiss? She swallowed hard, trying to push it from her head. The first thing she did this morning was scour the counter with cleaning solution .
The beater hit the sides of the bowl, but she couldn’t stop thinking about it. About him. His head between her legs. The way he made her come over and over. There was something about the possessive way his lips took hers that made her think there was a part of Evan Jacobs that she needed to know more of. She didn’t like to think about him being with other women, but he wasn’t the same man in bed she knew before .
She turned off the mixer and scooped the mixture into a flat pan. She hoped this was the right one .
The heat from the oven curled into the kitchen when she slid the pan inside. She set the timer for an hour. Now she needed to make the ganache .
“Cami is that you?” She heard someone call her name .
“Yes.” She wished her voice sounded more confident. She turned from the pot on the stove .
“Oh my gosh.” Jamie Braxton ran past the counter and pulled her into a giant hug. “Samantha told me she saw you, but I hadn’t been by. I’m sorry .”
“It’s ok.” Cami blushed. It wasn’t like she was out making the rounds. She had holed up in the apartment and the shop, trying to bring it back to life. And if she was being honest with herself, she was hiding out from Evan .
The mayor seemed to be at every turn. It made sense, he did run the town, but she couldn’t live here and stay indoors like a vampire. Eventually, she had to make it out in the open .
“I even missed the tree lighting last night, but I heard you sang. I can’t believe I wasn’t there. Everyone is still talking about. Mellie Miller is probably wishing she had hauled herself out of bed and loaded up on antibiotics .”
She pulled the gloves from her fingers and hung her dark blue coat on the rack. It was evident she planned on staying a while. Cami noticed everything she wore was stitched with her initials .
“Can I get you something? Cocoa?” Cami offered .
Her friend’s eyes lit like a small child’s. “Oh yes. That sounds perfect. It’s freezing outside .”
“Ok. Coming right up. I have some warm milk on the stove so it will only take a minute .”
Cami bustled around the kitchen, stirring the cocoa into the pan meant for the ganache. She could work on that once the tiny crusts were out of the oven. The timer ticked away the seconds on the shelf next to the giant vent. It was in the shape of a cupcake. It was one of the last Christmas gifts she had given Aunt Sophie .
Jamie settled on a stool and watched her prepare the cocoa .
“So tell me what’s new with you. I can’t believe you’re back in Harpers Point. It’s the surprise of the year. After the football team went to the playoffs, of course .”
Cami topped her mug with a heaping handful of mini marshmallows and placed it in front of her on the counter. Jamie ’s curls hung loose and long around her shoulders. She was one of those girls who didn’t age. Cami wondered if she threw on a backpack and marched into the high school if anyone would realize she had graduated twelve years ago. Probably not. Her voice was still light and her smile sweet .
“Me?” Cami wiped her hands on the front of the embroidered apron, bearing The Sweet Treat logo. “I’m trying to get settled. Trying to get the candy store re-opened and the space next door .”
Jamie pressed her thin lips together. “I know that part. What’s the real story? What happened in Nashville? Why are you back here? It seems out of place .”
“I-I …”
Jamie sighed. “No one else here will say this, but me. So I’ll just say it. You outgrew Harpers Point a long time ago, girl. No one expected you to come back. And certainly, not Evan.” She pulled the mug to her lips, hiding a smirk
The frown on Cami’s face was deep enough to make even her nose crinkle. “Evan? What does he have to do with any of this?” Was she wearing a big he-fucked-me-on-the-baking-island sign ?
