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“It’s not all about me, you know. I want to do things you want too.”
Jared stopped chewing the pancake in his mouth and waggled his brows.
“Oh my God, you perv. I was talking about activities.”
“So was I.”
Anna grabbed one of the burnt pancakes and threw it at him. It hit him square in the face and Ri
p caught it before it hit the floor. Jared slowly gazed into her eyes, grinning.
“Really? You’re starting a food fight with me?”
“No, no!” she squealed as she took off running through the house. She barely made it into the living room before he lifted her from behind and dragged her back toward the kitchen. “Don’t do it!”
“Oh, I’m going to get you so good. Maybe a little syrup on your neck.”
Anna Beth couldn’t stop giggling as he reached for the tiny pitcher of syrup and she grabbed for his arm. “You’re going to make me all sticky.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
She went limp, slipping out of his arms and onto the floor. When he lay down next to her, she gazed up into his eyes, her laughter dying. Her chest rose and fell hard against his.
“Maybe before we start the cookies, we can get some kissing in?” Jared suggested.
Anna Beth hugged him to her. “I’d love a few kisses.”
Jared’s mouth covered hers and her exhaustion and headache melted away as she got lost in the sweet taste of his lips.
Something shattered next to them and they broke the kiss. Rip stood over Anna Beth’s broken plate, looking so guilty they both burst out laughing.
“I’ll tell Sarah I broke the plate,” Anna Beth said.
“A woman who would protect my dog from her aunt’s wrath? Now, that’s hot.”
“Mmmm, you think I’m hot, huh?”
“Absolutely. Why don’t we get started on the cookies and then retire to the living room?”
“Deal.”
Twenty-One
Jared sprawled out on the couch with Anna Beth’s back to his front, watching Home Alone and trying not to press his lips to the bare skin of her neck. They’d finished rolling out and cookie cutting the dough an hour ago and spent the down time cuddling as batches baked. They had two cookie sheets left to pop into the oven, which was only big enough for one.
They’d shared a few chaste kisses, but Anna Beth’s “Officer Friendly” comment from last night floated at the back of his mind. He didn’t want her thinking he only wanted one thing. Yes, making love to Anna Beth would be amazing, but he wanted more with her. He wanted the playful wrestling and baking together. He wanted to take her sledding again and build a snowman, to watch Christmas movies under a blanket while eating popcorn and M&Ms. He wanted to wake up to her drooling on her pillow and listen to her complain about his snoring.
Jared wanted a life with Anna Beth, and that meant taking his time.
The oven went off and Anna Beth stood, stretching onto her tiptoes. “Pause it for me, please?”
“Sure.” He grabbed the remote from the coffee table and hit the button without taking his eyes off her.
Her arms clasped over her head, her breasts thrust against the t-shirt she wore, making him swallow hard. Her fleece leggings molded over the curve of her hips and ass as she walked away from him and disappeared around the corner.
Jared flopped against the back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, thinking of anything else but his hands all over Anna Beth’s body.
The oven door opened with a squeak and he heard her crow, “Woo, these are beautiful. I’m slipping the next batch in.”
