I felt the world shift a little in a direction I hadn’t experienced in a long time. The same exhilaration that filled me up when I was a little girl spotting him in the store ran through me, and I didn’t know what to make of it.
My cheeks flushed, and I turned away so he wouldn’t notice and started toward the kitchen.
“Remember, practice makes perfect,” he explained. “That goes for becoming a chocolatier too.”
I glanced over my shoulder at him as he unzipped his coat. “I’ll try to remember that. I bet your family is pretty happy you know how to make chocolates.”
Wyatt’s throaty laugh bellowed into the room, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was a sound I could learn to love.
“Nah. My stepbrother would never let me live it down.”
“Who cares what he thinks?” I turned to look at Wyatt, surprised by his confession.
“No, you’re right. That came out wrong.” He slid his tongue along his bottom lip, and I could barely focus on the words coming out of his mouth. “Making chocolates is kind of a personal thing. When I’m in the kitchen, the chocolate demands my full attention. One second too long, and it’s too hard or soft. The chocolate requires me to clear my head while I’m working on it. No excuses.”
I stared at the boy who’d turned into quite the man telling me something that felt so intimate, yet I probably couldn’t even tell him the last time I’d even allowed myself to have a clear mind. It was cluttered with needless worry.
We walked into the kitchen and Wyatt let out a sigh. “So, what do you do to clear your head?”
I laughed and shrugged. “After hearing what you just had to say, I realized that I’m a mess. Just about the only thing that gives me real pleasure is my morning cup of coffee on the way in to my shift at the hospital.”
He nodded, grabbing a large white canvas apron off the wall.
“I think that’s the norm, to be honest.” He looped it over his neck and tied the waist behind him. “Everyone is so rushed nowadays, running here and there trying to hold life together.”
“Completely agree.”
“I think that’s why I moved back to Fireweed years ago. I craved the simplicity it offered when I was a kid.”
“Did it deliver?”
He walked over to the industrial-sized refrigerator. “Partially. I mean, I can easily get into my own head and spiral into a very complicated person.”
“But?”
“I try not to do that. Life’s too short.” He laughed. “I guess I like things simple.”
I nodded in agreement. “I still can’t believe Aunt Phyllis isn’t here.”
He brought over some cream and set it on the stainless steel table. “More than anyone, she’s the one who taught me that life is meant to be lived. Well, she and my brother, actually.”
“Seems like you’re close with your family.” I noticed my arms were crossed over my chest again, and I quickly dropped them to my sides.
“We may be as looney as they come, but we’d never let anything get in the way of the love we have for one another.”
I nodded, realizing I was liking this guy way too much. I needed to bring the conversation back to something neutral.
“So, I was told you have Francisco?”
Wyatt let out a whistle. “I do, indeed, and he is a firecracker.”
“Would you like me to come pick him up today?”
“He’s actually at the puppy spa getting ready for his new home.” Wyatt smiled proudly, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Would tomorrow evening work?”
“Totally.”
I smiled, shaking my head in disbelief that the teenage boy I’d had a crush on turned into such a decent human being. I glanced at his ring finger and didn’t see anything there, not even a faded tan line.
“So, Mr. Chocolatier, what is first on the list?” I asked, trying to stay focused on the task at hand.
“Peppermint ganache brownies.” He smiled, taking out butter and eggs from the refrigerator. “It will give you some familiarity with shaving chocolate and it will be a really satisfying accomplishment by the end of the morning.”
“Good. I need some instant gratification in my life.” I gave a quick nod as he handed me a pair of food safety gloves.
“Okay, first step is for you to mix together sugar, salt, vanilla, and eggs while I start the double boiler.”
I looked around the kitchen. “Wait a second. Where’s the recipe card?”
He tapped his temple. “It’s up here, babe.”
“Seriously?”
“You got it.”
I shook my