Page 108 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. It’s only that Poppy was asking…”

He grimaced as he realised what she was going to say. “About baking Christmas cookies with me?”

“Yes. And I told her you’re busy at this time of year but she said you promised…”

“Ididpromise.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I should have arranged it with you before. My head has been all over the place.”

“It’s fine.”

“How about tomorrow morning? I’ll be here to set out a buffet for Anna’s wreath-making class, but there won’t be the usual lunch service, so things should be relatively quiet. I can definitely squeeze in cookie-making with my favourite sous-chef.”

“Thank you,” she said, then pressed her lips together. “I also wanted to ask you something else… but you can absolutely say no if it’s a problem… it’s only that I still have some Christmas shopping to do and usually I’d ask my mum to look after Poppy but she’s been stressed…”

“Go when Poppy is here with me,” he said, struggling to see what the problem was.

“Really? Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Why would I mind?”

“I just hate asking for help when it comes to Poppy.”

“When it comes toanything,” he corrected. “It’s kind of rude though, because I enjoy hanging out with your daughter. I don’t know why you think she’s such a burden to put on people.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left looking slightly emotional.

Five minutes later, Lewis strode in. “Sorry,” he said, tipping his head towards the food storage.

They lingered outside it, far enough from the rest of the staff not to be overheard.

“Do you really have a problem with me dating Anna?” Warren asked, folding his arms over his chest.

“No. That’s not my issue.”

“What’s the problem, then?”

He grimaced. “I’d really rather not get involved, but it feels weird not to say something.”

“Get to the point,” Warren grumbled.

“Anna went on a date with Hayden last night. I only heard it from Carla, so I don’t really know the situation, but I felt as though I should mention it.”

“Oh.” He hadn’t been expecting that, and he wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask her out – but maybe you shouldn’t get your hopes up. From what Carla tells me, Anna never really got over Hayden.”

“Right.” Warren rubbed his eyebrow, dumbstruck.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Warren said, mostly because he didn’t really believe there was anything going on with Anna and her ex.

She wasn’t someone who played games, and she’d been very open about her feelings for Warren. If shehadgone out with Hayden, he was sure there was some explanation – one which didn’t involve her getting back together with him. “Thanks for the warning. But just to get everything out in the open, you have no other objections to me making a move on your sister.”

“I don’t particularly like it when you put it like that.” Amusement flashed in Lewis’s eyes. “But no, of course I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Good.”