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I laugh. “Help yourself to a seat. How do you like it?” I gesture to the coffee machine.

When he doesn’t respond, I turn and look over my shoulder at him as he leans back on the table with a grin, holding my notes. “How do I like it?”

I feel the heat in my body rising again, spreading to not just my face, buteverywhere. Jesus, will the blush ever stop returning around him? “Your coffee,” I say, meekly.

“I like it strong and in your face, with a little hint of sweetness.”

Trying not to balk at his words seems like an impossible task right now. This man! “Milk or cream?” I ask, trying desperately to concentrate on the coffee making.

“Cream.”

I gulp as he smiles lazily. I see him glancing down at my notes from the meeting. “What about foam?” I ask. “I can whip milk into a frenzy.” I’m also wondering how he makes coffee sound like the sexiest thing in the universe.

He chuckles. “I’ll bet.”

I lose grip of the milk carton as it drops onto the counter, spilling all over the place. “Shoot.” I quickly grab a dishcloth, my back to him. “Did I mention I’m a klutz?” I turn and he’s already behind me.

“Allow me.” He grabs the cloth and wipes up the milk on the countertop. “It’s my fault for tryin’ to make you flustered.”

I smile when I say, “You never fail to do that.” All it took was innuendo around dairy products to get me all fired up. My body’s reaction to Cole is palpable. It’s no secret he sets my heart racing at the smallest things.

I grab the milk jug and start frothing, thankful for a moment’s distraction.

“I think Pastor Rick is onto us,” Cole says out of nowhere.

“I was trying so hard not to laugh at the meeting,” I admit. “Though if we are fake dating, then it’ll corroborate the story.”

He leans on the counter when he’s done cleaning my mess. “I’m not so sure we can call it that anymore, can we, babe?”

I press my lips firmly together, afraid of any words coming out in a squeak. Why do I love it when he calls me that? “I admit, the lines are getting a little blurred.”

“The blurrier, the better sometimes.”

I can’t help but laugh at his nonchalant attitude. He just has this easy way about him that I think is starting to rub off on me.

“I’m glad I make you laugh. Life can be way too serious.”

“There’s no fear of that with you around.”

He walks back over to the table where I left my notes and pulls out a chair. What was it he liked? Strong, bold and in your face? Something about a hint of sweetness… The gauntlet has been set as I do my best to make our drinks without any further fumbling.

“I think you definitely shocked the hell out of Cassie,” I say as I busy myself.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I have no words. But despite that, I enjoyed myself tonight.”

“Me too.”

“And it’s clear your note taking is top tier,” he says, his eyes lifting from the pages when I place his coffee in front of him. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I didn’t want you to miss out on any itty bitty details. I’m surprised Mayor Lockwood is even considering the snowball fight. Though, she’s outvoted, and even she can’t deny the money we’d raise with the entry fee. It’d be hard to pass up.”

“Oh, I know. I love how she sits there all smiles for Pres and Trav, but looks down her nose at us. Like it isn’t the best idea in a long time. Okay, it’s not a forty-foot snowman or an ice skating rink, but it won’t cost much, just some free snow.”

My shoulders shake with a little laugh as I pour my latte. “She’s going through a divorce. She’s usually a pussycat.”

He takes a sip as I slide into the seat next to him. “Mmmm,” he hums appreciatively. “This is good,Shorty.”

My insides cave in at his words; they reverberate deeply from his throat.