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“What are you doing up?” he asked.

“I couldn’t sleep so I decided to do some baking. What’s your favorite type of cookie?”

“Don’t eat cookies.”

She placed her hands on her chest with a gasp. Was he trying to hurt her ears? “You . . . you don’t eat cookies? You have to eat cookies! Oh, are you gluten free? I can make gluten free ones. Abe won’t admit it, but he feels better if he doesn’t eat too much gluten.”

She planned to make Abe his favorite cookies. Double chocolate. Maybe it would help him. He just wasn’t himself at the moment. He was quiet and subdued. And she was concerned about him.

That was another reason she was finding it hard to sleep.

“Can eat gluten. Just don’t eat cookies.”

“Because you don’t like them?” she asked, shocked.

He grunted. “A lot of sugar.”

“Oh. Yes, you’re right. My hips probably don’t need the extra sugar.” She turned away, staring at the oven.

What should she do now?

It was impossible to bake without sampling at least one cookie.

Two hands grasped hold of her shoulders, turning her. She let out a gasp, barely biting back her scream. Then Tobias grabbed her around the waist, lifting her onto the counter.

Immy wasn’t going to lie . . . that was H.O.T.

Yep, it even deserved capitals due to how hot it was.

“What are you doing?” she asked as he put his hands on the counter on either side of her and leaned in.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

“Don’t do that,” he growled.

“Do what?” she asked. “Ask questions?”

“Speak badly about yourself. Hear me?”

“Uh-huh. Uh-huh.” She nodded. Her brain was kind of offline right now and she didn’t know what else to do but nod.

“Good. You’re perfect. Hear me?”

She was far from that, but the stern look on his face told her that she needed to agree with him.

“Yep. Yep. Perfect.”

He eyed her for a long moment. “You can eat all the cookies.”

“I can?”

“Who’s gonna tell you no?”

“My doctor. And my dentist. And likely, the guys.”

“Hmm. Health and teeth are important.”

Immy sighed. “Yeah.” She took good care of her teeth, but her health was a tougher topic.