Chapter 23
HOLLY
I finally assure myself it’s okay to ask for help.
Because after working my ass off yesterday at the bakery, I need it or I’m going to burn out.
This detrimental habit of mine is born from a combination of independence and an unfortunate inability to receive assistance without feeling like I owe someone twofold for lending a hand.
Honestly, I’m struggling. It’s still difficult for me to acknowledge it, even to myself.
I get so wrapped up in my work that I don’t notice I’m drowning in it until the water’s high above my head and I’m too exhausted to keep swimming.
Sometimes it’s not feasible to stubbornly do everything alone.
And that’s okay. I’m coming to terms with the realization and set a goal for myself to work on it.
Caleb’s the one who helped me accept that I’m not inconveniencing others by needing their help.
I don’t have to rely on myself alone. I have people in my life who are there for me as much as I am for them.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished by opening Blissful Bites Bakery. It’s my baby I’ve built with all of my passion poured into it from the start. I want to see it continue to grow.
However, something I’ve learned in the last few weeks is that it’s different running the shop compared to the made-to-order online business I started in college. I only had to worry about what I was making for the orders I took, not a whole menu on top of them and serving customers.
It all runs through my head during the night while I’m snuggled in Caleb’s arms. I slept for a short while, utterly shattered by his devoted attention after he took me home. Once I was awake, my brain wouldn’t stop turning over everything on my to-do list.
He gives a protesting grumble, holding me tighter when I slip out of bed long before the sun rises. I bend to kiss him and run my fingers through his unruly hair until he falls asleep again, smiling softly at the way he hugs my pillow.
As I spend my favorite time of day on my own with my thoughts, I make up my mind. By the time I’ve had coffee and go downstairs to the shop, I have a plan to check with my friends and family to see who might be around.
Layla might not be busy and Leo did insist I should let him know if I needed him to come in. My parents haven’t been to Mayfield for a visit lately, and Mom did mention wanting to come down for a day trip to grab lunch with me and stroll the shopping district.
Familiar eldest daughter guilt momentarily bubbles up at making plans with any of them because I need their help, but I stop it in its tracks. They’re my family and I should be able to count on them the same way they can depend on me.
I make a sign for the front door to change the shop hours to give myself time to manage one task at a time. The order queue takes priority for now.
As I work on the one I started yesterday, Caleb comes down. He hugs me from behind while I’m mixing meringue powder into the royal icing recipe. His big hands slip beneath my apron, splaying on my soft stomach.
“Morning,” he says gruffly.
“Morning was two hours ago for me,” I tease.
He tucks his face against the crook of my neck with a hum. “Did you eat?”
“I had coffee.”
“That’s not food.”
“It’s a necessity,” I declare.
His husky laugh tickles my skin. “Where are the eggs? I’ll make you something.”
Pleasure sweeps through me at the domestic intimacy. Mornings are my peaceful sanctuary, but I like them better when he’s part of them. His presence is a reassuring blanket wrapped around me.
“Here. Take a short break to eat your breakfast.” He guides me away from the standing mixer to sit and feeds me the first bite of food.
“Thank you.” I take the plate.
He presses his lips to the top of my head. “I’m going to pick up coffee while I run an errand. Do you want more?”
“Yes, please.”
I tilt my head back for a kiss. He gives it to me, smiling into it.
“I’ll be back in a little bit,” he says.
After eating, I check my phone. It’s reached a decent time of day for the rest of the world who didn’t rise before dawn to work in a bakery.
I brush my hands off on my apron and take a breath. I tell my overreacting nerves that I’m reaching out to my friend for help, not running from a predator, so there’s no reason whatsoever for my fight-or-flight response to kick up over a phone call.
I push down the jumpy anxiousness that comes with putting myself out there rather than handling things by myself and call Layla. She answers on the first ring.
“Good morning, sunshine,” she chirps.
“You’re up early. And super chipper. Did you get laid?” I guess.
“God, I wish,” she laments.
“New Year’s resolution?” I suggest.
“Only if I find someone who’s hot, rich, and gives me princess treatment,” she fires back with a scoff.
There’s a deep murmur from someone nearby. Her voice muffles to shush them. I lift a brow, wondering who she’s with.
“Anyway, what’s up?” she asks.
I pad into the front of the shop, fluffing the pillows on the window seat and adjusting the decorations.
“Oh, I’m just calling because I was wondering if you might be around. I thought maybe you’d want to come stay with me for a couple of days before we…”
The front door opens, making me trail off. Caleb returns with two filled trays of coffee—and his sister.
“Layla?” I stare from her to my phone, the call still connected. “You didn’t tell me you were in town.”
“Surprise.” She wiggles her fingers with a beaming grin, then hugs me.
Caleb holds the door open and I’m stunned into silence as more people walk in. My brother ambles through the door, absorbed in his phone. He nods to me nonchalantly with his chin. Then my parents and sister, followed by Mrs. Adler.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Dad kisses my cheek.
“Hi. You’re here,” I stammer.
“Of course we are. This’ll be fun,” Hazel says.
“There’s plenty of coffee for everyone,” Caleb says.
“Let’s get this party started,” Layla announces.
Hazel removes the sign I made for the door and goes into the back. Layla hooks her arm with Leo as he heads for the kitchen behind my sister. My parents and Mrs. Adler follow them. I overhear Leo delegating tasks.
“When—how did everyone know I needed—?” I turn to Caleb, knees weak at his handsome features set in a sincere expression.
“I called in reinforcements for you,” he murmurs.
“For me?” I reply faintly.
His cheek dimples with the curve of his mouth. He draws me close, cupping my cheek. His warm green gaze bounces between mine, dancing with boundless affection that steals my breath.
“For you, sugar. Because I’ll always do anything for you.”
He brushes his lips against mine, making my heart flutter from the tender kiss. I sway into him, hugging my arms tightly around his waist. When we part, I blink away the tears watering my eyes.
“Thank you for always knowing what I need. Somehow, you have a super power to do it before I’m even aware of it,” I say in awe.
His smile broadens. “Because I pay attention so I can take care of you. I’m here for you, and so is everyone else. Not because that’s what the holidays are all about, but any time you need. Whether you reach out or not, I’ll catch you.”
I bite my lip, chest swelling at his sincerity. He’s given me the greatest gift by removing worries from my plate with his thoughtful support.
Bright, twinkling happiness rushes through me, overflowing endlessly.
“I love you, Caleb,” I say.
He exhales in contentment, closing his eyes. “Say it again?”
Tugging him down by his collar, I speak against his lips. “I love you.” Kiss. “I love you.” Kiss. “I love—”
He cuts me off, sealing his mouth over mine with a playful growl.
“If you two are done making out, we’ve got a bakery to run,” Layla says from the doorway.
Laughing, I rest my forehead against his. He steals one more kiss, ignoring his sister’s ribbing.
Revitalized by how cherished Caleb’s surprise makes me feel, I can’t wait to get to work.
All of us come together, working alongside one another. With Leo, Hazel, and Mrs. Adler’s help, I’m able to get ahead on the order queue. While we make hundreds of cookies, Layla and Mom run the front counter and Dad handles the dishes all day.
Caleb fills in wherever an extra hand is needed, and whenever I catch his eye he’s watching me, proud and adoring.
Later, after we’ve all gone out for dinner together, Caleb walks me home hand in hand. The row of shops is lit with twinkling lights. Light snow begins falling.
“Look, it’s our good luck charm,” he says.
“The snow?” I tease.
He grins. “Sure. It got us our second shot. When you win, you hold on to whatever takes you there.”
I fight an enchanted smile. “Is this another hockey player thing?”
His smile widens in response. I shake my head, shoulders shaking.
“You’re such a goof.”
“And you love it.” He tugs me closer, putting an arm around my waist to hug me.
“I do. Can’t be helped.”
“I got you something,” he says.
“You did?”
“That was my errand earlier. I was picking up your belated Christmas present.”
I lean into him. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to,” he counters.
“Surprising me with our families today was a gift all on its own.”
We reach the bakery and head up to my apartment. I imagine once Caleb moves into the one next door above the book store, we’ll be sharing both spaces.
He draws me down to the couch once our coats are discarded, offering the gift bag he returned with after picking up coffee this morning.
“Here. Open it.”
I gasp when I pull a snow globe from the cocoon of tissue paper. It’s so much like the one I love at his family’s cabin, the large glass dome creating a magical bubble around a cozy cabin. The only difference is this one has two tiny figurines waving in front of the cabin.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
“I’m glad you like it,” he rasps.
“I love it.”
An inscription on the base between the ceramic pink bows catches my eye.
Always together with you, sugar.
I bite my lip and trace the engraved words with my fingertips. Turning it over, my breath hitches in appreciation at the beautiful snow and glitter swirling inside.
“This made me think of you. It’s you and me. Side by side through any storm and the calm that follows,” he says as the decorative flurries settle.
He covers my hands with his, holding the gift between us. I meet his reverent gaze, butterflies filling my stomach.
“I want to be in every snow globe with you, as long as we’re together.”
I swallow thickly, nodding. Setting the gift aside carefully, I melt against him, winding my arms around his shoulders as we kiss.
His hands run down my spine, pulling me against him. I straddle his lap, tearing my mouth from his only long enough to strip my sweater off.
He trails kisses across the tops of my breasts while deftly unhooking the clasp of my bra. As he peels it off me, he peers up at me as if I’m a goddess to be worshiped.
I slide my fingers over his jaw, mapping the masculine shape and his stubble. He tips his head back for me, never taking his eyes off me. I press my lips to his, gentle and sweet, then harder and more demanding. He makes a gravelly sound that reverberates from his chest, stirring my need for him.
In a smooth display of strength that makes me gasp, he grips my ass and lifts me as though I’m weightless to him when he pushes to his feet. He carries me to the bedroom without breaking the kiss.
Laying me out gently on the bed, he loses his shirt and kneels over me, kissing a line down my stomach. My fingers sink in his hair as he rubs his cheek against my abdomen.
There’s no urgency in our movements. We linger in every touch, savoring each other.
He strips us both bare. His skin is warm against mine when he fits himself between my legs. For a while, we kiss without an end goal, our limbs tangled.
We rock our hips together until I can’t hold back from how good it feels with his hard length rubbing me with each languid movement.
“I need you,” I plead.
“I’ve got you,” he promises, caressing my cheek.
He shifts his weight onto his forearm and lines up where I want him most. Both of us sigh as he sinks inside me inch by inch. He fills me so perfectly, I cry out. Hushing me, he loops my arms around his neck and starts to move.
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he says against my jaw.
“Me either,” I say breathlessly.
“Hold on to me, sugar.”
I tighten my arms around his neck, never wanting to let go of him again.
He keeps the same slow pace with harder snaps of his hips that set me ablaze. Hazy gasps of his name slip from me as I lock my legs around him for more. He squeezes the underside of my thigh.
“Come with me,” he rasps.
I kiss him. His grip on my trembling leg spasms and his thrusts become sharper, bringing me to the brink.
We fall over the edge together, swept up in one another.
Once we recover, he gives me a charming smile. I touch the dimple in his cheek. He turns his face into my hand, kissing my palm with gentle, affectionate murmurs. The loving swell of my heart is never-ending.
In his arms, I’m finally right where I’ve always belonged.