Part 1 - Lemon and Mint
Dannii paused, leaving the scent of cinnamon and freshly baked cupcakes behind in the kitchen. She efficiently gathered the tray of creatively decorated sweets with one hand, rubbing the other against her apron. Pushing through the swing door toward the shop, she brushed a strand of hair tickling her face with the back of her hand. Unnoticed, a stray blossom clung to her cheek instead of her apron.
“You haven’t answered,” Jackie pressed, as if Dannii hadn’t recounted the story a dozen times. “How did you *know* you loved him?”
“I just knew,” Dannii sighed dreamily, gazing out at the gathering storm clouds over New End Town. “When I looked into his blue eyes.”
“Emerald green…” Jackie’s voice cut through her reverie. Dannii froze, avoiding her friend’s curious frown, and ducked behind the countertop. She took her time refilling the vanilla banana cupcakes, Jackie continuing, “You mean green eyes, right?” Why was she being so tentative now? Half the time, Jackie lived in her own world, oblivious to Dannii’s thoughts – thoughts Dannii couldn’t seem to keep contained. But no, not today. No.
“What?” Dannii’s head knocked against the cabinet door. “Ow… of course!” Rubbing the throbbing space above her ear, she frantically searched for an explanation. What *had* she said? “I said green!”
“No you d…” Jackie insisted.
“Nevermind!” Dannii waved it off. “So, about my question earlier?”
Now Jackie deflected again. “It’s going to snow. I feel these things, you know!” She didn’t. But she thought Dannii would forget asking about staying with her, that she’d change the subject. Jackie had started this line of questioning about her brother, Cole, precisely to avoid answering Dannii’s.
Cole! The one with the green eyes.
“So, do you think I can stay with you guys, just for a week or two, maybe three? I can’t stay at my mom’s inn. It’s packed during the holidays, except for Christmas Day tradition, then I’ll go stay there of course.” Dannii fluttered her lashes at her best friend. “Maybe I can stay in Cole’s old room?”
*Please say yes. You can’t refuse my baby blues.*
“Okay, fine.” Jackie huffed.
“Yessss!” Dannii launched herself into Jackie’s arms, jumping up and down. Their long blond curls and black satin hair bounced together.
“Only for the holidays. So you make sure those working men…” Jackie pointed at Dannii, then at the ceiling. “…keep on working.” She added with a serious face, brushing her hair out of her face. The “working men” were Dannii’s brother, Nick, and his crew, currently remodeling Dannii’s apartment above ‘The Cake Shop.’ *My* Cake Shop, the shop she still couldn’t believe she owned. A little inner dance started within her.
“Nick promised it would be finished by January 6th,” she reassured. “Besides, it will be great. You, George, and me. Watching old movies, slumber parties…” She offered Jackie a cupcake, looking over the counter to see Jackie’s baby, George, sleeping peacefully in his stroller. “Caramel. Your favorite!” She smiled, her most angelic face. It worked like a charm. Jackie had a weakness for caramel.
As she cleared tables, the bell above the entrance tinkled. Miss Weatherly hadn’t closed it properly. Turning to shut the door, Dannii was startled by the figure in the doorway and dropped the empty tray.
“Benjamin?” She gasped for air. Jackie’s older brother, Ben, stood in the doorway, unchanged in two years. She noticed his hair had grown, his hand running through blond strands. The light stubble was new. He didn’t usually leave home without shaving. The duffel bag on his shoulder unleashed a flood of memories. The way he’d seemed to want to say something before leaving, interrupted by Jackie. He’d left without saying anything at all.
*No. Don’t do this.*
She shook off the thought of him being anything other than a jerk. She’d had a huge crush on him in high school, but he’d never noticed her. Worse, she thought he hadn’t liked her at all. He always teased her when he was in town. He was a twenty-six-year-old architect now, with his own office in New York.
“You haven’t answered?” He asked. “How did you know you loved him?”
“I thought you weren’t coming until New Year’s Eve?” She blurted. Ben visited only once a year, despite living two hours away. There wasn’t a pattern. He came when he felt like it. She tried to look past his shoulder, to see if Jenny, the beautiful model-type girl, was with him. She wasn’t, and she couldn’t help but sigh in relief, though beautiful on the outside, she's a very ugly person on the inside.
“We don’t like Jenny!”
“Peeterson, you always know how to make a guy feel welcome.” He grinned daringly, clearly unimpressed. Pointing to his face, he chuckled. “You have a little something…” before bending down to pick up the tray from the floor. Dannii quickly wiped her face with her towel, silently cursing.
*My name is Dannii, not Peeterson!*
“Ben, you’re here!” Before she could say anything, Jackie pushed her aside, jumping onto her brother.
“Now here’s somebody who’s really happy to see me!” He looked at Dannii with amused eyes, handing her the tray he’d been holding.
Rolling her eyes, Dannii retreated to the kitchen, shutting the door behind her, leaning against it for support. How did he do that? One minute, he was standing in the doorway, and now he was already getting under her skin.
Then it hit her. He was probably staying at Jackie’s too. This was going to be a long, exhausting Christmas holiday. She wished Cole were here. Jackie’s twin brother had liked her from the first day they met. By the time Ben left for college, she’d moved on from her crush and started dating Cole. They’d gotten engaged before he’d left for his first tour in Syria.
*God, just let Cole get shot in the leg or something—nothing too severe—so my baby can come home to me.*
She stayed in her temporary room at Jackie’s for as long as she could, drawing to keep herself busy. Finally, she needed the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, she carefully opened the door. Scanning the hallway, she hoped to avoid Ben.
*I can do this.*
On her way to the bathroom, she saw Jackie putting on her coat. “I have to go out for a bit. Ben is watching George.” She hugged Dannii and walked down the hallway. She was surprised Jackie would leave her son with Ben. She didn’t trust him with her child, if she had one. He didn’t seem like a kid person.
Finished with her quick pit stop, she unlocked the bathroom door and cracked it open. Instantly jumping back, she saw Ben waiting on the other side, leaning against the doorpost.
“I thought you’d never come out of there,” he chuckled.
“Excuse me?”
“Are you avoiding me, Peeterson?” His voice was low, taking a step closer, eliminating the air between them. Serious eyes looked down at her through long brown lashes, studying her face.
*Yes, of course I am!*
“I’m obviously not successful!” She forced a smile, trying to leave the bathroom without looking at him. Her cheeks burned. There was no point in giving him the satisfaction of seeing a blush. His arm brushed hers as they stepped aside, sending electricity through her body.
“Jackie left. She’ll be back in a few hours.” He casually whispered. Turning his body towards her, they were separated by inches. She stepped back, needing air. Hitting the door with her feet, she felt his eyes pleading. “George is taking a nap. Wanna watch a movie together?” His eyes were fixed on her, eager for a positive response. She trembled, a hot blush rising in her cheeks. How did he go from innocent small talk to making her feel like she was aflame?
Maybe he was just being nice? But he was always up to something.
Thoughts raced through her brain, her heart pounding. She had trouble tearing her eyes away from his intense blue eyes, finally managing to politely decline his offer before practically running back to her hideout.
After a while, bored, she decided to check if Jackie was back.
Nope.
In the living room, Ben lay on the couch. She didn’t think he’d noticed her yet, but she took a good look at him. All relaxed and comfy. Laughing at something on the TV, she saw a few similarities to Cole. Ben’s hair was more blond and longer, but it had the same wave. Ben had changed into old grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt, lounging in front of the TV exactly like her fiancé.
Like a punch to the stomach, she almost choked when his V-line appeared as his t-shirt rode up.
*Damn you, hormones!*
“Are you going to come sit down so we can watch a movie together, or are you going to watch me for the rest of the day?” He laughed. “You have a big stalker vibe going on.” A big grin stretched across his face as he mimed watching her with a playful gesture.
What gave me away? I was quiet as a mouse. He didn't even lift his smug smiling face up to look at me.
"You wish!" She shook it off and walked into the kitchen. Wishing Cole was here. She could handle Ben’s annoying existence a lot better if he was here with her.
The huge pile of dishes waiting for her in the sink hopefully would distract her from her thoughts and his distinct presence.
Rinsing the plates, she looked outside. The grey sky was darkening. Listening to music, she daydreamed about long, hot summer nights, parties with friends, late night skinny-dipping in the lake with Cole.
A sudden thought surprised her. Thinking about another certain somebody she would definitely like to go skinny-dipping with after seeing that V-line earlier… She bit her bottom lip.
*Stop it! Cole, Cole, Cole!*
When her favorite song, “Leave before you love me,” started playing on her iPhone, she shook off her sinful thoughts and started to dance around the kitchen. This song made her want to dance and forget everything else.
Dancing was exactly what she did. Arms raised, soap flying everywhere, running down her arms. When she turned, Ben stood in the doorway, smirking.
His gaze messed with her head, making her want to dance even more.
She did something out of character, slowly dancing toward him. She grabbed his hands, hoping he’d join her. To her surprise, he did. As they moved through the kitchen, she felt free. She knew he’d probably laugh about it later, but she didn’t care. Right now, she was just feeling the music.
She’d turned a few times when he suddenly put his hands on her waist and stopped her twirling, bringing her closer.
She shook it off, breathless, her laughter fading into a giggle.
*Is it hot in here?*
Ben’s blue eyes darkened, leaning in, she felt his warm breath on her cheeks. Lemon and mint.
*God he smells so good.*
Cole, Cole, Cole! Her mind went blank. She bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning.
The way he licked his lips, he was telling her he was ready. Why was he doing this? He knew she was engaged, right? Cole must have told him. They were brothers.
Her soapy hands slid up his strong, muscular arms. She had no control over her body.
He’d been working out! She closed her eyes, maybe if she imagined it was Cole?
What was she thinking?
“Peeterson…” He whispered.
“Mmm.” She couldn’t speak anymore. Her eyes opened and met his wanting blues.
“Don’t you dare run those soapy hands through my hair.”
And there it was. He was making fun of her.
As she tried to think of a smirky remark, they heard George cry in his room.
“Duty calls.” He grinned, playfully pulling a strand of her hair.
So this is my first book ever. I'm so excited. Tell me what you think, I'm dying to hear from you ???? Also my first English one so, bare with me on the grammatical errors ????. Any thoughts about our player on scene Ben? ???? Don’t forget to vote ✔️