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Sylvie rolled toward me, but I kept my arms around her. “See. I told you you were a softie.”
I scoffed. “Whatever. I’m a badass.”
Her hand smoothed down my face. “You can be that too.” She studied me. “Did you ever get hurt?”
I looked into her light-brown eyes. I was lost in her, whispering old secrets in the dark. “A time or two. Nothing serious. The whole thing only lasts a few seconds at most.”
“I wish I could have seen you do it. I bet you looked hot.”
I smirked and ran my nose down the side of hers before pecking a soft kiss to her lips. “Some girls thought so.”
Her eyebrows lifted as she pulled back to look me in the eye. “When was the last time you had a girlfriend?”
“Actual girlfriend?” I frowned, thinking back as far as I could. “Well, probably not since Nicole. A few years ago.”
“Did you break her heart?”
I scoffed. “More like the other way around. She broke up with me, and though she tried to be nice, it was pretty much theit’s not me, it’s youspeech.”
“Ouch.” Sylvie’s giggle squeezed my heart.
I chuckled and snuggled closer. “It was a blow to my ego, but better in the long run.”
Sylvie’s eyes searched mine. In the darkness, it was hard to read her expression.
How do I tell this woman that no one who ever came before her could measure up? That no one ever would?
A soft knockfrom the door had me turning from my workstation. Sylvie stood in the doorway of the shed with a shy smile and her hands clasped together at her chest. “This looks interesting.”
I was only glad she found me out here and not working on the secret project I had started in the main barn.
I wiped my hands on the dish towel and tossed it on the counter in front of me. “Come on in.”
Her smile widened, and she stepped over the threshold and allowed the door to close behind her, casting out the harsh winter wind. Her puffy winter coat enveloped her, nearly camouflaging her growing bump. Her blonde hair tumbled from beneath her knit cap. Her legs were covered in tight black leggings, and her small feet were tucked into a pair of my old boots.
I smiled to myself, not minding in the least that she often threw on a pair of my boots.
“I didn’t realize this place was out here.” Sylvie ran a finger along the stainless-steel industrial kitchen countertop. “I saw the light on and came exploring.”
“I had this shed converted a few years back so I could get a commercial kitchen license.” I tipped my head toward the pots on the large, professional-grade range. “I can make things to sell at the farmers’ market and use up some of the end-of-season berries we freeze.” I shrugged. “Plus it gives me something to do.”
Sylvie grinned. “How very domestic of you, Mr. Sullivan.”
I returned her smile, stepped forward, and grabbed the belt loop of her pants to pull her toward me. She hummed with pleasure as I pulled her close to me.
“You look beautiful.” I ran my hands around her sides to her lower back before resting them on her ass. The pink flush on her cheeks deepened as she leaned into me.
Her hands rested on my biceps. “It smells incredible in here. What are you making?”
“I finished up some blueberry-lime jam. That’s Annie’s favorite and a big seller at the farmers’ market. I plan to make two new flavors. Small batches of a blueberry bourbon and a blueberry lavender.” I shrugged, feeling a bit shy to let someone else in and see this hidden part of me. “Figured I’d try something different.”
Her caramel doe eyes blinked up at me. “Do I get to be your taste tester?”
I tapped the tip of her upturned nose with my knuckle. “Only if you’re good,” I teased, “then maybe I’ll lick it off you and get my own taste.”
She preened and arched into my embrace. “Tempting, but you might change your mind after I tell you who’s here.”
I frowned at her, and she pulled her lower lip between her teeth. Sylvie scrunched up her face as though she was nervous totell me about our visitor. It wasn’t often people entered into our little bubble, and I preferred it that way.
