Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
MELLIE
The diner has been completely transformed since Mom and I were here yesterday morning for our coffee run.
The tables have been moved to the sides of the restaurant, making more room in the center for guests to mingle.
There’s a collection of long tables set up against one wall where we can place our cookies, so Mom and I head over as soon as we walk in.
Tinsel is draped over every surface, glittering gold and silver across tables and hanging off of chairs.
Beautiful, glittery snowflakes attached to fishing wire hang from the ceiling beams, glimmering in the dim lighting.
White tablecloths adorn each table, and my attention snags on the tiny, sparkling pieces of snowflake confetti sprinkled all over the surface.
I place my cranberry pistachio cookies next to Mom’s chocolate and peanut butter chip, arrange my recipe cards just how I want them in front of the tin, and take a step back to admire my work. Satisfied, I spin around to continue taking in the diner.
Over at the bar, someone has placed a large blackboard on the corner countertop, displaying the specials for the evening.
Mistletoe Mojito, Dasher Daiquiri, and Holiday Hot Toddy are scrawled across the board in chalk paint, all in an array of holiday colors.
Little drawings of holly and small trees border the sign.
Who took the time to write and draw this all with such care and detail?
Next to the sign, two large crock pots sit on the counter, plugged in somewhere behind the bar. I lean in to take a peek at one and catch a whiff of chocolate.
“Milk chocolate hot cocoa,” a voice says behind my ear, and I jump, startled.
Ronin appears at my elbow, leaning in close to lift the lid so I can see inside. The warmth of his body presses against my side and I suppress a shiver. His scent washes over me, and tonight he smells like mint and something woodsy I can’t place.
“And this one is peppermint white chocolate hot cocoa.” He lifts the second lid and I lean in to sniff, my stomach grumbling at the delicious smell. He closes both lids and leans against the bar facing me, elbows on the counter behind him.
I drink in the sight of him and my mouth goes dry.
He’s wearing snug-fitting black dress pants that hug all of his—ahem—assets in all of the right places.
His long-sleeved, dark green button up is tucked in, and the material looks silky to the touch.
My fingers ache to run across his chest to find out for myself.
The top few buttons of his shirt are undone, leaving a peek of his tanned chest. His hair has been styled tonight, combed back and away from his face, forehead on display.
What is it about men and their foreheads showing that is so weirdly attractive?
I blame it on all of the K-POP idols. Us fans go feral for a glimpse of forehead from those guys.
Either way, Ronin’s…hot. There is no other way to put it. All coherent thought escapes my brain and I’m suddenly not sure what to say to this man.
“You look beautiful, Mel,” he says, interrupting my inner panic. His deep blue eyes seem to smolder as he takes me in, scanning me lazily from head to toe and back up again.
My face burns under his scrutiny. I’m wearing my favorite dress.
It’s navy blue and sparkly, fitted at the top with sleeves that are long and flowy, and the skirt a delicate pouf of tulle that hangs down to my knees.
I purchased this dress last year on a whim, hoping I would have an excuse to wear it to some swanky Hollywood party.
Somehow the invite never arrived to any parties, and the dress has hung lonely in my closet for the last year until now.
I’ve left my hair down tonight, loosely curled, and one side clipped back with a silver, sparkly clip.
“Um, thanks,” I mumble, shuffling in place awkwardly, glancing around to see where Mom went. She’s talking to Nora next to one of the cookie tables, so there goes my escape plan. With a defeated huff, I gesture back to Ronin. “You look, uh, nice, too.”
Smooth as ever, Mellie.
Ronin smirks, and his lips quirk up to one side ever so slightly. That damn mouth of his has become increasingly distracting. His lips are perfectly full, and I’m assaulted with the sudden desire to kiss him. I take a step back, putting some much needed distance between us.
“I’m going to say hello to your grandma,” I say, latching on to the excuse to catch my breath.
Ronin pushes away from the bar, standing tall at his full height over six feet.
“I’ll come with you.” He holds his arm out for me to take, and because I apparently want to be tortured tonight, I take it, threading my arm through his.
My skin burns from the warmth of his, heating me even through the fabric of his shirt and the long, flowing sleeve of my dress.
My fingers can’t help but lightly graze the soft, silky material of his shirt.
My pulse quickens, and I hope Ronin can’t feel how affected I am. All I need is to embarrass myself in front of him, yet again.
He walks me to where my mother stands with Nora, the two women pausing their conversation as they see us approach.
“Well, aren’t you two a sight to behold,” Nora exclaims, eyes shining as she takes us in with arms entwined.
“You make a very handsome couple, if I daresay,” Mom chimes in, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, avoiding my glare. She smiles widely at Ronin. “And you, Ronin! You look dashing this evening.”
“Why, thank you, Mrs. Baker,” Ronin replies. I pull my arm gently away from his and step forward to hug his grandmother.
“So lovely to see you again, Amelia,” Nora says softly. “I hope you’re enjoying your time home so far?” Her sparkling gray irises flick to her grandson and back to mine, and I catch a glint shining in them.
“It’s been really nice to be home,” I reply, trying to ignore Ronin in my peripheral vision and failing. My heart stops as we make eye contact and he smiles at me again, a small one that pops a dimple.
Good grief, is this going to happen every single time the man looks at me?
An arm snakes around my waist, and I’m saved from the moment by Bree placing a peck on my cheek.
“Mellie!” Bree exclaims, twirling me in place. My dress sparkles under the low lighting. “What is this dress? You’re stunning!” She turns to Ronin, her heart-shaped face shining. “Doesn’t she look stunning, Ro?”
Mortified, I try to catch Bree’s attention but she blatantly ignores me, too busy batting her eyelashes at Ronin.
“She does,” Ronin agrees. He shoots me a grin that melts me right on the spot. “I already told her so when I saw her.”
I believe he said beautiful, but semantics.
“Okay, yes, I’m gorgeous. Let’s move on, shall we?” My face is on fire. “Where’s Brooke?”
“Making me a plate of cookies.” Bree points to where her girlfriend is stacking two plates sky high. “I told her I wanted to sample every single one before filling my cookie tin. I think she took me seriously.”
I laugh, grabbing her hand. “Well, let’s go enjoy some cookies then.”
“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” Bree proclaims loudly, leaning back in her chair and rubbing a hand over her stomach. “I’ve never eaten so many cookies in my life.”
“I’m pretty sure you ate that many cookies last week when they were BOGO at the market,” Brooklyn teases, rubbing a hand down Bree’s back.
Bree gasps. “Called. The fuck. Out. By my own girlfriend, no less.” She pretends to push away from Brooklyn, but her girlfriend pulls her back down into her seat, planting a kiss directly on Bree’s mouth.
“Damn straight,” Brooklyn murmurs. “Your sweet tooth is part of your charm, love.”
The cookie party is over, and most of the townsfolk left a while ago. The four of us sit at a table together, munching on leftover cookies and drinking red wine, a couple of empty bottles as evidence on the table around us.
Ronin pours wine into his glass and I hold out my own. He tops it off, a small smile flickering across his face.
“It’s nice William gave you the night off,” I say to him. “Or, maybe you gave yourself the night off. Who is actually in charge here, anyway?”
“It’s more like a partnership at the moment,” Ronin answers. “We split the responsibilities pretty evenly these days. But I do make the schedule, which has its perks.”
He winks at me, sending butterflies shooting from my stomach straight down to somewhere lower. I shift in my seat. The wine must be going to my head because hearing Ronin say the word perks is doing something funny to my insides.
Bree suddenly yawns, stretching her arms up over her head. “Well, kids, I think I’m ready to call it a night. I’m wiped.” She grabs Brooklyn’s hand. “You ready to go, babe?”
Her attempt at subtlety to give me and Ronin some privacy is pathetic, and I stifle a laugh behind my hand with a cough.
“Sure thing,” Brooklyn replies, standing up and gathering their cookie tins from the table.
I give them both hugs, waving as they exit the diner before I sit back down. Just me and Ronin now. Great. Not awkward at all.
“So, what do you think about Grandma’s proposal?” Ronin eyes me over his wine glass as he takes a sip, leaning back in his chair with an arm resting on the back of the empty one next to him.
“It surprised me, but I’m definitely considering it,” I reply carefully.
“My parents are all for it, of course. I’d have to move back in with them though, at least until I can find a place of my own.
” I peek at Ronin to gauge his reaction and catch his smile before he tries to hide it, taking another sip of his wine.
“I suppose it wouldn’t suck to have you around again, Mel.” He sets his glass down on the table, snatches one of my cookies from my plate, and takes a bite. His eyes remain on mine the whole time.
I try to play it off with, “Well, with that glowing endorsement, how can I say no?” My insides are on fire from the intensity of his stare. “What about you? You don’t want to run your grandparent’s shop?”