Page 82 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

When he didn’t answer, Anna’s stomach plummeted even further.

“I don’t understand this conversation,” he finally said.

“I asked her about it. And she said she only called you because Lewis didn’t answer his phone and Dad was already in bed. But it didn’t quite ring true.”

“You think she only called me?”

“Maybe.”

“And you think it was actually some bizarre excuse for a booty call?”

“It was just a thought.You two flirt a lot.”

“No, we don’t.”

“I only asked what happened,” she said testily. “If nothing happened, you could just say that.”

“Of course nothing happened! I didn’t even go over there. I told her she was being ridiculous and there was no way I was going over to deal with a spider.”

“Okay,” Anna said, wishing she hadn’t brought it up. “There was no need to bite my head off.”

“Sorry.” He turned his head on the cushions. “I’m just shocked you thought something had happened between me and your sister. Apart from the fact that she’s really annoying, she’s also way too young for me.”

“She’s not that young.”

“She’s immature and annoying.”

Instinctively, Anna gripped the nearest cushion and swung it so it smacked him in the face.

“What was that for?” he asked, laughing as he pushed the cushion away.

“Don’t be mean about my sister!”

He grinned. “I meant it affectionately.”

“How would you like it if I was mean about your sister?”

“I wouldn’t mind at all. We may be up all night though if we get onto that subject.”

“Let’s not then.” She yawned. “I think I need to go to bed.”

“I’ll join you.”

“Will you?” she asked. “I thought you were going to sleep elsewhere.”

“There isn’t actually another room free, so I’d be sleeping here.” He patted the couch. “And you’re right that the bed is massive. You just have to promise to stick to your own side.”

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “I’ll try my best.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Waking beside Anna stirred feelings in Warren that he refused to dwell on. It took a fair amount of willpower, but he didn’t linger to watch her sleep. Quietly, he pulled on his clothes and left her snoozing. The house was blissfully still, but the fresh coffee in the pot told him Rachel wasn’t far away.

Only after he’d poured himself a mug did he notice the weather. A foot of snow covered everything, and it was still falling fast.

Turning a dining chair, he sat looking out over the back garden, fascinated by the way the snow made the undulation of the ground more pronounced. Soft sunlight fought its way through the hazy clouds to make the snow on the boughs of the fir trees glisten majestically.

A robin fluttered onto the patio, landing on the back of a chair before taking off again a moment later.