Ken touched her, her body came alive in a way it never had before. She’d felt like they were dancing on clouds and not a hardwood floor.
But it had only been a passing moment. A mistake. He’d made that clear with his apology in the car on the way home.
And so she’d done her best to move on from it. Ken was attractive, and her heart beat faster just thinking about him, but he was her boss. Obviously, he’d only kissed her because he was as swept up in the moment as she’d been. Their connection didn’t go any deeper than that.
With a start, she realized she’d walked past the bakery. Backtracking, she pulled the door open and entered the shop. The delicious smells of cookies and cakes greeted her, along with one of her favorite Christmas songs. A thin tree with twinkly pink and purple lights was in the corner, and a blackboard announced the seasonal coffee drinks. A girl wearing a bandanna and a white apron was behind the counter, ringing up a customer.
This bakery was one of the best in the city. Not only did it have amazing reviews, but Adison knew from personal experience that the owners were more than capable of catering a party. She’d used them for two events before, and the guests had loved their macaroons and coconut cream cake.
For this event, though, she’d need something new. Something more Christmassy.
“Adison!” The swinging doors opened, and Cici De Roman breezed in from the kitchen area.
“Hello Cici! You’ve outdone yourself on the décor in here.” Adison met the woman in front of the cake display, where they hugged tight. “How are you?”
“Amazing, and excited to get this cupcake testing on the road.” She squeezed Adison’s hands.
“Thank you so much for this. You didn’t have to do a whole tasting.”
Cici waved the words away. “Girl, please. It’s my pleasure. Now you have a seat and I’ll have Willow make you some coffee while I get the cupcakes. What would you like? Try our gingerbread latte! It’s amazing.”
“Sounds delicious!” Adison laughed and took a seat at one of the pink tables. Cici had a habit of dominating a conversation, but she was so pleasant and fun that it was hard to mind it.
“Oh,” Adison added before Cici had the chance to rush back into the kitchen. “My boss is coming, too. Last-minute change.”
“The head honcho himself?” Cici made a show of dusting imaginary dirt off her apron. “In that case, I’ll bring out the big guns. Willow, two gingerbread lattes!”
Adison set her purse on the table and rubbed her palms together, noticing they were sweaty. Again, her mind drifted to Ken. What if he’d called because he regretted regretting the kiss? As in, he’d realized that he really was into her and wanted to pursue a relationship?
What would she say back?
She didn’t have to wonder. She already knew.
Despite the reasons she’d given herself for staying away from Ken, she wanted to be near him. She wanted more than conversations about parties and stolen moments on dance floors.
She wanted the chance to get to know him better. She wanted intimate moments on the couch, candlelit dinners, and weekend road trips.
The bakery’s front door opened, bringing with it a gust of cold and a tall, broad-shouldered figure. Adison sucked in a breath as Ken stepped into the shop and looked around.
“Hi.” Her voice sounded small, uncertain. Her pulse still raced.
“I found you,” he said warmly. “What are you up to in here?”
“Testing cupcakes!” Cici appeared, a tray of cupcakes balanced in her hand. “You must be Adison’s boss. It’s such a pleasure.”
“Good morning.” Ken nodded.
“Sit, sit.” Cici slid the cupcakes onto the table and pulled out the pink chair opposite Adison. “Coffee is on its way.”
“Oh. Thank you.” He took the seat and unwound his scarf, but kept his coat on. “This is quite the special treatment.”
“Adison is quite the special girl.” Cici winked, and Adison’s face warmed.
“Yes,” Ken said. “We’re very lucky to have her at the Montoya Foundation.”
The lattes arrived in wide-mouthed ceramic mugs, and Cici pointed out the different cupcakes. There was peppermint mocha, red velvet, chocolate liqueur, sugarplum fairy—which was filled with jam—hot chocolate, and eggnog.
“How do you pick?” Ken asked.
Adison handed him one of the two forks Cici had left them with before bustling back into the kitchen. “We pick together.”
They started with the peppermint mocha. Adison already knew she would narrow the selection down to one classic flavor plus one special concoction. Cici