Rebecca (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #15) - Lily Graison Page 0,23

against the doorjamb. “Is that right? I’m not the greatest cook in town but I’m pretty sure you two are wearing more flour than you have in that dough.”

“I told them the same thing.”

His mother’s voice drew his gaze toward the other side of the kitchen. His heart leaped seeing her near the stove. Since the day of the accident that robbed her of the use of her legs, he’d refused to let her anywhere near it. Fear she’d burn herself made him demand she stay away. He straightened and started across the room. “What are you doing so close to the stove, mother?”

“Oh, hush now. I’m not doing anything but checking the temperature in the oven.”

One of the large cooking pots sat on top. He wasn’t sure what was in it but he smelled stewed meat and knew it was hot. He pulled her chair away from the stove and pushed her back across the room.

“I’m not helpless, Caleb.”

“I know you’re not, mother.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek before pushing her toward the table. “But there’s no reason for you to be so close to a hot stove. I’m sure Diana is capable enough to check that the fire is hot enough.”

He glanced at her, her gaze darting away when their eyes met. Her cheeks were flushed and a smudge of flour ran along her jaw. Unkempt and covered in flour, she was still the prettiest thing he’d seen in forever.

He straightened but kept hold of his mother’s chair. “What kind of pie are you making?”

Amanda answered before Diana could. “It's apple, Pa . I told Diana it was your favorite.”

“That it is.”

“It's going to be the best pie you ever tasted, too.”

He grinned at Amanda’s boast. “You sure about that?”

“Yep!” She straightened on the chair. “We put in extra cinnamon just the way you like it and filled it with great big heaping amounts of love. Diana said that was the most important ingredient so she put in extra just for you.”

Diana’s cheeks bloomed dark pink. She didn’t look up and if he had to guess, he’d say Amanda telling him she’d filled the pie with extra love just for him had embarrassed her. It had the complete opposite effect on him, though. It made his pulse race as hope for things he’d stopped wishing for filled him with longing. Things he wanted with her.

Did she want the same? Why else had she told Amanda something like that? Was it nothing more than empty words to appease a child? Or was it more? Did she want more from this marriage than they had agreed upon? He knew he did. As shallow as it sounded, the moment he saw her he wanted her. He still did. He knew next to nothing about her other than what was in that letter but he still wanted her.

“There. All done.”

Amanda was beaming as Diana lifted the pie. She glanced at him before crossing the room to the stove and putting it in the oven. When she straightened, she stirred whatever was cooking in the pot on the stove then turned to face him. “The stew is done if you’re ready to eat.”

“I am.”

She nodded and grabbed a wet towel, wiping the table clean and putting the ingredients for the pie away while Amanda grabbed bowls and water glasses from the shelf and set the table, a radiant smile on her face. She’d never looked so pleased.

Diana carried the stew pot to the table and dished up bowls for all of them before sitting down. “I hope it tastes all right.”

“Grandma started the stew before teaching us how to make the pie dough since Diana didn’t know how to make that either.”

His daughter gasped and looked at Diana, her eyes wide. She whispered, “I forgot I wasn't supposed to say you didn’t know how to cook.”

Diana flicked him a quick glance before giving Amanda a tiny smile. “That’s all right,” she whispered back. “I’m sure he would have figured it out before too long.”

Amanda started in on a tale of their adventures around town and Caleb listened with half an ear. His thoughts were focused on Diana and yet another inconsistency with what she’d written in her letter. She’d not gone into much detail about her cooking skills but said she was more than proficient so if his mother had to show her how to make something as basic as stew, then the woman sitting across from him was nothing like