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Mesmerized, I watch his throat work. His Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. The simplicity of him eating shouldn’t be so hot. Yet I can’t stop staring for the life of me.

Feeling a little jittery about whether he likes it or not—which is irrational considering his guests loved it—I hold my breath.

“It’s fucking delicious, Twinkle,” he praises, immediately taking another bite.

I smile really big, loving the sight of him enjoying it. “Thank you.”

The world’s opinion is easy to brush off, but when a person who’s close and whose opinion matters says something, it means the world to you.

The way Kingston’s compliment is affecting me—does it mean I’ve let him in and it’s already too late?

I don’t want to answer that question, scared out of my mind.

He feeds me a piece too, shaking his head when I try to grab it from his hand. We eat the pancakes next and he hums appreciatively. He was only able to steal one chocolate brownie, so we share it.

“Damn, I should’ve grabbed more brownies,” he grumbles, licking the chocolate off of his fingers. “They’re my favorite.”

I chuckle at his adorable expression. “Aww, aren’t you cute?”

My teasing earns me a pinch to my ass, right over a sore spot. I slap his hand away, pouting.

“How long have you been running your own bakery?”

Talking about my small business instantly brightens my mood even more. It also shifts my mind from what he’s come to mean to me in such a short time. “Actually, I was in a corporate job at the start of this year.”

The revelation stuns him. “You’re kidding!”

“I am not,” I say, laughing.

“Why, though? It’s obvious where your talent lies, darling.”

“I thought, like most other people, that a steady job was what I needed. It wasn’t until I fell down the rabbit hole of private companies that I realized it wasn’t for me. I felt stuck, and baking was something I enjoyed doing as a hobby.Then COVID happened, and working from home gave me a chance to explore something on the side. The stars sort of just aligned, and I started cooking from my kitchen, taking orders from neighbors. The response I got was far beyond my wildest imagination, and I just knew I wanted to do this. So, I resigned and went all in. I’m still running it from home through my website, but I do want to open my own little shop one day.”

The expression on Kingston’s face is nothing short of awe and pride. “It takes courage to follow your dreams. It doesn’t matter when you realize them; you should always chase them. And you did all of it, Twinkle. It won’t be long before you have your own shop. People will kill to eat the wonderful desserts you make.”

His words bolster my confidence to new heights and I smile gratefully. “Thank you, Kingston.”

“And who knows? Maybe I’ll come by to steal your desserts then too.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Or you could just ask. I’m not going to say no.”

He lifts me onto his lap, pulling me down for another soul-searing kiss, and rasping, “But where’s the fun in that, my little vixen?”

“Fine.” I stare down at him, breathless. “I’ll bake extra and keep a plate aside for you. You know, to make it easier for you to steal.”

“The special treatment will make me greedy and plant wrong and tempting ideas… like you miss me and it’s not the desserts you want me stealing, butyou.”

What’s wrong is, I don’t find it wrong at all.

CHAPTER – 16

Twinkle

“Do you know a good place to shop for Christmas gifts?”

Kingston steps inside and shuts the cabin’s front door before answering, “I do. Who are we shopping for?”

“Your grandparents, duh.”