Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
I can’t believe we just did that.
And almost got caught!
As soon as he’s no longer looking like a half-naked snack, Eric strides over to me. He pulls me to him for a quick hug and then kisses me deeply.
He’s not running away this time.
What will that mean for later?
I can’t wait to find out.
Eric
I fucked up. Again. Right?
Why can’t I swipe the stupid grin off my face? Why do I keep sniffing my hand like a fucking animal?
I’m not remorseful. In fact, I’m acting like I just closed the deal of my life. I’m happy and flying high. I know I should be ashamed of myself, but it’s not happening.
I’ve washed my hands multiple times, and they smell like sugar cookie soap, but her scent is imbedded in my DNA now. I can smell her even with zero traces left. A shower couldn’t even erase her, though that’s probably because I used her body wash instead of mine.
Sick fucker.
Frosty yips at me and bounces on his hind legs. Whenever he does this, he’s so damn cute he gets whatever he wants. Since I’m baking in the kitchen, he wants a sweet treat. I snag one of the gingerbread men and break off a leg to toss at him.
“What do I do, Frosty?” I ask him over the sound of Bing Crosby crooning from Clara’s record player in the living room. “This is super fucked up, man.”
He barks at me, probably giving great advice but in a language I don’t understand. I reward him with the rest of the cookie. A knock on the back door has us both startling.
Frosty hightails it out of the kitchen to go hide, no doubt still traumatized by the dog catcher. I’ll beat a man with a rolling pin before I let him take my dog. When I reach the door, I’m relieved the man standing there isn’t the dog catcher, but it’s immediately replaced by dislike when I recognize the guy.
Travis the electrician.
Some guy Clara used to fuck.
Gritting my teeth, I open the door and glower at him. “Yeah?”
He flashes me a warm smile. “Hey, man. Came over to take a look at the snowman. Brought my tools.”
I glance down at the small toolbox in his grip. The only reason I let this guy in is because by him fixing the snowman, it’ll make Clara happy. I don’t have to enjoy his presence, though.
“It’s over here by the front door,” I say, gesturing for him to follow me. “Want something to drink?”
Travis sniffs the air. For a brief moment I wonder if he can smell her. I stiffen, fisting my hands, until he grins.
“You making cookies? Can I have one of those?”
I’ll allow it.
With a grunt, I nod and leave him to check on the newest batch I’m making. Frosty scurries into the kitchen and sits by my feet. He’s such a good boy. We really lucked out on finding him.
I pull out the cookie sheet from the oven and transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Once I locate a Christmas platter, I plate a few already cooled iced snowman sugar cookies and grab a beer from the fridge. By the time I return to the living room, Travis already has the snowman half torn apart. I hope he can put that shit back together again.
“Here,” I say as I set the refreshments down on the coffee table near him. “Well, how bad is it?”
“Thanks, my man.” He pauses to cram a cookie in his mouth. “That’s fucking amazing. You made those?”
“Yup.”
He devours another one and then says, “The wiring is cheap, but I can easily replace the area that’s come loose. You’ll want to unplug this thing before bed or if you leave. Not entirely sure it’s the safest, but I’ll do my best with what I have to work with. Most stuff like this is made with shitty parts. Total fire hazard.”
I go back to work in the kitchen, and shortly, he saunters in to steal more cookies.
“All done?” I ask, arching a brow.
“Works like new.” He grins at me. “If you have any extras, Savvy would die if I brought her some.”
I chuckle, remembering the girl from Smoke & Sugar, and set to loading him up with a freezer bag full of cookies. I’m about to send him on his way when my phone rings.
Clara.
“Hey,” I say as I answer, putting her on speaker. “Travis is here. Came to fix your snowman and eat all my cookies.”
She laughs. “Thanks, Travis.”
“No problem. Your boy’s hooking me up with the goods.”
“He’s awesome like that,” she says, a smile in her voice. “Hey, actually, do you think you could do me another favor?”
I bristle, not liking all the favors this guy has to give her. It should be me.
“The weather’s gotten worse. My car slid off the road and into a ditch—”