was true. Something about crossing the distance between them and claiming that first kiss of the day had helped. It helped that she melted against him, encouraging his kiss. It meant he was doing something right and that she wouldn’t laugh at him if he was tongue-tied. That she liked him anyhow. Reluctantly, he moved over and flipped the light switch on again.
Amy’s mouth was pink and swollen from his kisses, her skin reddened from his beard. He wanted to caress her face, to take away whatever discomfort he’d caused her. But she smiled at him, that gorgeous, brain-numbing smile, and he forgot near everything.
“Did you bring coffee?” she asked. “Or do you want me to make some?”
Her prompt helped. It reminded him that he’d arrived with a box of useful things. Unable to resist, Caleb leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers one last time and then turned to the box of goods he’d brought. “I brought some to brew,” he told her. “Wasn’t sure what flavor you liked.”
“I like hazelnut,” she admitted, moving to his side. “But I just buy whatever is cheapest at the store.”
He made a mental note. Hazelnut. And she liked her coffee sugary sweet with tons of cream. He knew that much, and he’d brought both just in case. He started to unload the box, setting things on the counter. “I brought things for you.”
She peered around him, her chin practically resting on his sleeve, and he wanted her to move closer. “I see flour and sugar, and . . . garlands?” Amy giggled. “What exactly are we making here?”
“We’re decorating your tree for Christmas,” he told her. “And we’re making cookies.”
“Oh, I love that idea,” Amy gushed, all enthusiasm. “Do you know I’ve never made Christmas cookies?”
He hadn’t, either, but he knew she loved sweet things, and so it seemed like a smart idea. “I noticed the tree I got you was naked,” he pointed out, his face heating at the word “naked.”
“I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to work on repurposing the decorations I bought.” She nudged him with her hip as he opened the bag of coffee. “Remember the box that was in the trunk of my car? I bought some stuff at an estate sale but it’s all pretty old. I was hoping to be able to use some of it.”
He remembered a humping Santa. “Those weren’t yours?”
“They are now.” She chuckled, pulling out one of the tinsel-covered garlands and red and green wooden beads. There was a box of pretty glass ornaments, too, and she sighed happily at the sight of them. “I think I like this stuff better, though.”
“I’m sure we can mix both,” he told her. “Your stuff and mine.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Her face held a dreamy smile. “I love Christmas. A real Christmas, you know? Where the presents mean something and aren’t just status symbols.”
He was pretty sure he’d never been given a “status symbol” present in his life, but not everyone grew up in the remote wilds of Alaska. So he grunted a response, then added, “I wrote you a note, too.”
Her lips quirked into a small smile. “So you, Mr. Shy, were going to show up to my house with a secret note and bake cookies? This was the plan?”
“No,” he admitted. “The plan was to order some stuff from the bakery and send it to you with an anonymous note. But this way I get to spend time with you.”
Amy chuckled and bumped his hip again. “No complaints here, but I have to admit I’m not much of a cook.”
“Here I thought you were a gourmet chef, what with all that ramen.”
She laughed even harder. “Don’t you know? Ramen is dirt cheap, my friend.” She peeked through the box, then gasped and pulled out a bag of chocolate chips. “Now we’re talking.” She tucked his note into her hand and began to open it.
“Wait,” he said, the shyness attacking him out of nowhere. He put a hand over hers. “Don’t read that while I’m here, okay? Just . . . wait for me to go.”
Her expression turned to one of sympathy, but she beamed at him and held it to her chest. “I’ll go put it in the bedroom so I can read it later.”
She practically danced out of the room with the letter, much to his amusement. Hell, he guessed he was going to have to put more effort into the next one.
She returned, dressed in yoga pants