Page 136 of Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

CHAPTER 8

GARRISON

I happily trailed behind Lex as he moved like a man on a mission through the market. He silently stood in front of the cheese section for five minutes, glancing between the options and me with a serious expression. Could he read my cheese preferences like an aura? I wouldn’t put it past him.

After eventually grabbing a block of muenster, we moved to the bread. With each calculated decision he made, my attraction grew.

On the way to the checkout lines, he impulsively snagged a box of mixed-variety bakery cookies.

“What?”

“You were so intentional with each choice, even the digging through all the lettuce heads, but you grab a box of cookies without even slowing your walk.”

Lex bit his bottom lip as a grin peeked through. “We needed dessert, but my reputation isn’t in question for dessert quality.”

“Fair enough.” I wanted to kiss him. He was so cute.

Lex insisted on paying as a thank-you for helping him with Scout. Once we got back to the car, there was a new anticipatory tension in the air. Even a short trip through a grocery store had been fun. What would a date be like? It was too soon to be so interested in him already, but I couldn’t stop myself from getting my hopes up.

I parked in my driveway and grabbed the groceries from the trunk. Lex followed me in through the door connected to my laundry room.

“Your place is amazing, by the way.” Lex kicked his shoes off and poked his head around the door to take in the kitchen.

“I believe you called it a fairy cottage?” I moved into the kitchen and set the bags on the counter.

Lex’s pale cheeks reddened. “Did I? Strange thing to say.”

I snorted.

“The landscaping is gorgeous. Did you do it?”

“A lot of it was already here when I bought the place. It was a huge selling point, to be honest. I grew up in apartments and always dreamed of having a lush garden. Mom made our balcony a little oasis with layered grow bags and hanging flowerpots.”

He smiled over his shoulder as he unpacked groceries from the bags. “I love that. If I were house hunting, I would’ve bought it for the same reason.”

“How can I help?”

Lex scanned the groceries and seemed to make mental calculations. “I need a cutting board, a bread knife, and another knife for the veg. Hmm. Plates too. Can you point me to the seasonings? And may I raid your fridge?” The words spilled from his mouth in a rush.

I tried to remember everything he’d mentioned and pulled it out, then opened the fridge and gestured like Vanna White. “Anything else?”

“Can you wash the produce?” He handed me the head of lettuce and tomato.

“On it.” While I cleaned the vegetables, Lex sliced the sweet onion and the cheese.

He heated a pan and seasoned the turkey before dropping it in the pan to fry. Did deli meat need seasoning? He also seasoned the tomatoes. What else didn’t I know about sandwiches? He also cut four slices of crusty bread and stacked them in pairs in the oven with the broiler on high.

“Why are you toasting them in a stack like that?”

Lex pulled them out and stacked them with the untoasted sides facing down on the two plates. “It’s a texture trick. If you keep the toasted side facing inward, you get the great crunch without turning the roof of your mouth into gravel.”

I was mesmerized watching him slice the cheese and melt it slightly on the turkey. He stacked one side of each sandwich onto the other, then cut them in half. “Not a pickled vegetable in sight. Do you dislike vinegar in general?” He peeled the lid off the tub of fancy potato salad he’d gotten scoops of from the deli counter.

“I don’t mind balsamic vinegar in dressing, but there’s something about pickled vegetables that skeeves me out.” I pulled forks from the silverware drawer and ripped two paper towels from the roll. “What do you want to drink? I’ve got water, beer, wine, or soda.”

“I wouldn’t mind a beer, thanks.” Lex carried the plates to the dining table, then doubled back to grab the cookies.

I poured Tap That Brewery’s pale ale into glasses and joined Lex.

“This sandwich looks promising, but so did the last one.”

He kicked my foot under the table. “There’s no pickles. Frankly, if you don’t like this one, it’s on you.” He picked up half and took a hearty bite. It was almost too tall to fit in his mouth, but he made it work.

Of course, my brain decided to conjure images of how other things would fit in his mouth.

Mustard dripped from the side of the sandwich and onto the plate with a splat. His tongue darted out to nab mustard from the corner of his mouth.

“You gonna try it or watch me eat?”

“Not sure yet.”

He smirked and took another bite, then held my stare while licking his lips.

I huffed a laugh and took my own bite.

A satisfied moan escaped as I got the full experience of the flavors and textures. The way he’d toasted the bread made such a difference. At a quick glance, it was a simple deli turkey sandwich, but the seasoning added a depth of savory flavor with a smoky hint. It was delicious. No exaggeration—the best sandwich I’d ever had.

“Should I leave you and the sandwich alone?” Lex’s voice was husky.

I was so engrossed with my dinner that I nearly wiped my mouth with the back of my hand so I didn’t need to waste time with a paper towel, but I didn’t want Lex to think I was a slob.

“I don’t know if I’d rather be alone with the sandwich or with you for making it.”

Lex’s laugh was bright as he shook his head. “It’s just a sandwich.”

“It’s the best sandwich. Your reputation is restored.” I mimed raising and lowering my free hand in worship.

Lex mimed flipping long hair over his shoulder. “Thank you, thank you.”

A comfortable silence settled between us as we devoured our meals. No other sandwich would live up to this. Certainly not one I could make. It wasn’t only that he’d somehow divined a combination of flavors with my ideal fixings, but the care with which he’d made it for me .

I hummed happily while chewing the last bite. Lex watched me smugly as I wiped my mouth and dropped the napkin on the empty plate. It took restraint not to lick it clean.

“Good?”

“Amazing.”

His cocky smile suited him while sitting across from me at my dining table as much as it did when he was nearly naked and grinding on my lap. My body flushed at the memory of the lights reflecting off his sparkly skin. I was still picking glitter off my clothes, but it’d been worth it. So worth it.

“Thanks for dinner.”

“You’re welcome.”

I eyed the unopened container of cookies.

“Want to take those over to the couch?” I asked.

“I’d love to.”

I took our plates to the sink, then joined Lex in the living room. He’d settled in toward the middle and tucked his legs under him. I sat on the other side of the middle and grabbed a chocolate-chip cookie from the container.

Lex took a small bite. “You know what would make this better? Microwave it to melt the chips.”

“How have I made it thirty-five years without ever microwaving a cookie?” I stood and grabbed the container and cookie from Lex’s hand.

Laughing, he followed me back to the kitchen as I grabbed a plate and set several cookies on it.

“How long do I microwave them for?”

“Fifteen seconds to start. If you don’t go long enough, the chips won’t melt. If you go too long, the center will harden and dry out.”

“Great singer, unrivaled sandwich artist, incredible dancer, dog whisperer, and cookie connoisseur. What can’t you do?”