Chapter 7 #2
“I want to.” I cut in, then immediately regretted how eager I sounded. “I mean, it’s cold. And it sounded like you two had almost too much fun.”
The image of big, burly Roman sledding down a hill on a child-sized sled and then falling off flashed through my mind. I pressed my lips against a smile. Part of me wished I had gone with them just to witness it.
Roman hesitated, as if he could read my thoughts, but he didn’t argue. “All right. Hot chocolate sounds nice.”
When I reached the kitchen, I busied myself with finding what I needed.
Milk. Cocoa. Sugar. I even found a can of condensed milk and a bar of chocolate.
The house was so well stocked it almost made me feel like an intruder, like at any moment someone was going to walk in and ask what I thought I was doing.
The soft thud of heavy footsteps on the wood floor alerted me to Roman’s presence. He didn’t say anything, but I sensed his attention on me.
Ignoring him, I focused on the stove and the familiar comfort of doing something with my hands.
I poured both the cold milk and the can of condensed milk into a saucepan and let it heat up.
Found a whisk and carefully added the cocoa powder to make sure there were no clumps.
Paying attention to the temperature so the milk wouldn’t burn, I shaved up some of the chocolate bar and added it in a little at a time until it was the color and consistency I wanted.
Last, I added the sugar, tasting it as I went to make sure it didn’t get too sweet.
It turned out perfect.
It wasn’t until I took the pot off the burner and turned away from the stove that I remembered Roman. He was sitting at the table, watching.
I stiffened.
He tilted his head, thoughtful. “You seem to know your way around a kitchen.”
I yanked my sleeves down over my hands so I wouldn’t fidget too much under his gaze. It always seemed too intense, like I might get crushed under the weight of it.
“Yeah.” I forced my voice to remain steady. “I’ve been cooking for a long time.”
Roman inhaled deeply, his chest expanding. Though he’d changed out of his snow gear, he still seemed to have the same underclothes on. The gray thermal was damp and clung to his defined torso.
“It smells good.”
I startled at his words, distracted from the staring I should not have been doing. “Huh?”
His mouth tightened. “The hot chocolate,” he explained. “It smells good.”
“Oh.” I let out a strained laugh. “Right. Thank you. I hope it tastes good too.”
It did. I was sure about that, but something about him was totally throwing me off.
Maybe it was that harsh grumpiness.
There was a longer pause, and I was about to pour him a mug when he asked, “Have you thought about my offer?”
I froze, my pulse ratcheting higher. I didn’t realize we were going to have this conversation now.
He seemed to take my silence for uncertainty, because he added, “If you need more time, please take it.”
There was a subtle reluctance in his voice, though. He needed an answer sooner rather than later.
“I’ve thought about it,” I said. “I don’t need more time.”
He waited, expectantly, expression controlled.
“I would really love to work for you.” I grinned. “Hailey is amazing. And you’re a great dad. I’d like to help.”
The silence that followed was so long it made my skin prickle.
Roman’s expression was hard to read, but something flickered there—relief, and something else too. Perhaps nervousness. I wasn’t sure a man like him was capable of being nervous, but that was my best guess.
He forced a smile. Or as much of a smile as Roman Ramsey could manage.
“Thank you.”
The way he said it made my stomach flip, like he meant it with his whole heart.
Heat crawled up my neck, and I turned back to the stove too quickly, pretending I suddenly needed to stir more.
“You’re welcome,” I mumbled.
Behind us, footsteps pounded down the stairs.
Hailey burst into the kitchen with damp hair and clean hands, wearing new pajamas even though it was the middle of the day. She seemed deeply pleased with herself.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed, sniffing the air. “That smells amazing.”
She scrambled up onto the step stool like it was her rightful throne, and leaned toward the stove, watching like a supervisor I didn’t ask for.
I found a bag of marshmallows in the pantry—homemade, if the label on the container was anything to go by. Of course Roman’s mom made homemade marshmallows.
I poured three mugs of hot chocolate, careful not to spill, and dropped one marshmallow into each cup. We all sat down at the table together with our drinks.
Hailey didn’t even wait for her marshmallow to melt.
She grabbed hers with both hands, took a sip, and her eyes went comically wide. “Oh. My. Gosh.” Her head snapped toward Roman. “Daddy!”
Roman’s brows lifted, and Hailey thrust the mug toward him like it was evidence. “This is almost as good as Grandma’s hot chocolate.”
My stomach swooped.
Roman took a sip. For a second, his face didn’t change, and I braced myself.
Then his mouth curved—barely, but I took it as a smile. “That’s impressive.”
My face heated so fast I was sure I was turning the same shade as Hailey’s pajamas. “Thanks.”
I took a sip of my own hot chocolate, mostly to give myself something to do.
Hailey giggled like I’d said something hilarious. She launched into more stories of their sledding adventure, and the three of us fell into comfortable conversation. Roman still didn’t talk much, but Hailey did enough for the both of them.
I found myself laughing and talking more than I ever usually would. Hailey was like a little ray of sunshine, dragging the best out of people.
We were finishing the last of the hot chocolate when Roman’s phone rang.
The sound sliced through the room like a knife, and Roman’s expression changed the instant he checked the screen.
He was all business as he set his mug down and answered. “Ramsey.”
He squared his shoulders, instantly straightening to attention. “Understood,” he said, then paused. “Yes, I should be able to.”
When he hung up, he looked at me and something heavy settled in his stare. He glanced briefly toward Hailey.
“I know we don’t have any contract or anything.” There was a rough edge to his voice, like he hated to ask. “But…can you stay with Hailey while I go check in at the station? They said they have something important they need me for.”
My heart thumped. “Is everything okay?”
He hesitated. “I’m not sure. Which is why I’d like to go. I can go over the security system with you before I go and Hailey’s typical schedule.” He paused. “But I understand if you want to sign a contract first before I ask you to work.”
I shook my head. He was worried.
“I don’t mind staying with her.” I grinned at Hailey. “Please, go. I can take care of things here.”
Roman held my gaze for one beat longer, his face softening with relief. Then he nodded once.
“Thank you, Palmer.”