Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
The feel of Kian behind me caused me to turn around.
“What are you doing?” he asked, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Looking at the lake. I can’t tell if I like it better at Christmastime or in the spring. Fall is beautiful too.”
He chuckled. “When does Lauryn get here?”
“Two. What about Mark?”
“One.”
I laughed and turned in his arms. He took the blanket I had wrapped around myself and put it over both of us. “Do you think they’re going to figure out what we’re doing?”
“You mean setting up your best friend with my brother who is a CIA agent?”
Nodding, I said, “I bet you Lauryn figures out he works for the government in the first twenty-four hours of being here.”
He raised his brows. “That quick, huh?”
“I think so.”
“What are we betting?”
My cheeks heated as all kinds of naughty things ran through my mind.
“I like where your thoughts are going.”
“You don’t even know what I’m thinking!”
He laughed softly. “By the look in your eyes, I can guess. I’ll play along. I think it will take her three days.”
“It’s a bet then?” I asked, reaching up and kissing him softly on the lips.
He deepened the kiss, and we finally broke apart, both of us dragging in deep breaths of cold air, then he whispered, “It’s a bet.”
Kian would soon realize we’d both win!
Cadie
Seven years later
Rose sat on the stool and looked up at me with big brown eyes. “Now what, Mommy?”
My heart squeezed as I gazed down at her. My parents were due in from Italy tomorrow, and I could not wait to see them. They’d been to visit six months ago, but Rose had changed so much in that short amount of time. My brother told me on the phone they mentioned moving back to the States, and that Upstate New York was calling to them.
It would be lovely to have them close by, especially since Lacy and Doug rarely ever came to visit. Rose had seen them a total of four times her entire six years. And even then, it was a small pat on the head and a present that their secretaries most likely bought and wrapped.
“Now you’re going to take this and cut circles in the dough and then put them in the pan like this.”
Taking the round cookie cutter, Rose quickly made her circles and placed them in the pan.
“For a six-year-old, she sure is good at this,” Sally said as she pricked the bottom of the dough with a fork before I filled it with the lemon cream.
I smiled. “She had good teachers.”
“I dids!” Rose stated. “Aunt Opal, Aunt Sally, and Mommy!”
My heart swelled with happiness as I watched my daughter working with such a serious face while making her dough circles.
“Every year on this day you make pasticciotti, why is that?” Sally asked.
Feeling my cheeks heat, I shrugged. “Just became a tradition. And when I found out Kian was coming home from his book tour early, I wanted to make his favorite.”
“How come it’s Daddy’s favowite?” Rose asked.
I loved how her Rs sounded like Ws.
“Well, seven years ago today, your daddy and I made this recipe in this kitchen. It was right after Aunt Opal gave me the bakery to run. It was a very happy night for me, and the first recipe I made after learning I would own the bakery. So, every night, on the same night, your father and I have made this recipe.”
Sally smiled. “That is so sweet.”
Rose nodded and said, “It’s one of my favowite things you make too. But I don’t love it as much as I love your fudge.”
I laughed. “I don’t make fudge, sweetheart.”
“I know,” Rose said as she looked up. “I was talking to Aunt Sally.”
My mouth fell open as Sally attempted to hide the smile on her face and failed.
“Well, I’m glad you like it.”
“Do you think baby brother will too?” Rose asked.
Placing my hand on my stomach, I smiled. “I hope so.”
“Will you give him some when he’s born?”
Sally giggled.
“No, he won’t be able to eat it for a long time.”
“Hows come?” Rose asked, placing the last dough circle into the pan.
“Well, at first, he can only drink my milk. Remember we talked about this? How I’m going to feed baby brother like I did you?”
“Yep!” Rose said, jumping down from the stool. “He’s going to eat from your boob!”
Sally laughed again. “Oh, how I have missed kids around here.”
I rolled my eyes at her and focused on Rose, who had dragged the stool over to my side. She knew the drill. She would wet the rim of each tart, place another circle of dough that she had cut earlier on it, and I would seal the dough with my fingers.
Once the tarts were filled and sealed, I put the pans in the oven and set the timer.