Some Kind of Wonderful: A Holiday Novella (The Cupcake Lovers) by Beth Ciotta Read Free Book Online

have to stop at Ethel’s to pick up the basket,” Helen said. She pushed to her feet. “I’ll pack up some snacks and beverages for you two as well. Just in case the drive takes longer than anticipated.”
    “I’ll help you,” Giselle said, grinning at Maya before following Helen to the fridge.
    “I’ve got a map in my den,” Dan said. “I’d feel better if you took it along. Never know when a road’s going to close and you might need an alternate route.”
    “I have a portable GPS in the rental car,” Maya said at long last. “I’ll get it.” She didn’t look happy.
    She hurried out of the kitchen, and Zach ambled after. He caught up to her at the front door, where she was jamming her arms into the sleeves of her coat. She looked flustered and cute as hell in that goofy reindeer sweater. “If you’d rather not go with me—”
    “Did I say I didn’t want to go?” she snapped in a hushed voice.
    His mouth twitched. “It’s written all over your face.”
    “It’s just…”
    “What?”
    “I wanted Giselle…”
    “Stop trying to push us together, Maya. She’s not into me.”
    “But you’re into her. In your letters—”
    “She showed you my letters?”
    Maya backed away from him, easing into the threshold, reaching for the doorknob. As if she couldn’t escape this conversation fast enough. “Maybe a few,” she said. “Okay. All of them. Don’t get bent out of shape.”
    He wasn’t bent, but his wheels were turning. His libido was fired up, too—the image of Maya licking marmalade from her thumb was imprinted on his brain. “What did you think?” he asked while crowding into the door frame.
    She blinked up at him—cheeks pink, eyes wary. “Think of what?”
    “I was sexually explicit in some of those letters.” He dipped his face close to hers, raised a brow. “Then again, so was Giselle.”
    Prompted by curiosity and the mistletoe hanging above them, Zach kissed Maya. She didn’t balk. She didn’t encourage. She just stood there, allowing him to sample. She tasted of sunshine and marmalade. Warm and sweet. Addictive. He wanted more, but he eased away, unsure of the moment. Unsure of the future. A one-night stand wouldn’t cut it with Maya. Forever wouldn’t cut it with him. Not when a person’s days could be snuffed in an instant.
    Never saw it coming.
    Wide-eyed, Maya stared up at Zach. “Why did you kiss me?” she asked in a husky voice.
    He smiled a little and pointed up.
    She glanced at the mistletoe. “Oh.” She cleared her throat, gave a nervous laugh. “Kind of a crazy tradition. I mean anybody could kiss anybody, not that it means anything.”
    “Mmm.” He searched her pretty face, her expressive eyes, trying to read her mind and failing. He sensed her confusion, though, and her curiosity. Instead of making a quick escape, she lingered on the threshold—toe-to-toe with Zach. Her gaze moved to his mouth, and his heart skipped in anticipation. A smart man would salvage their longtime friendship and back away. Zach’s good sense must’ve taken a hit along with his legs. Instead of retreating, he willed her to make the next move, to initiate another kiss. But then she looked toward the kitchen and he knew she was inhibited by their surroundings. More than ever he wanted to get her alone. Away from this house—a place that rooted them in their childhood and old patterns.
    Heart pounding, Zach buttoned Maya’s coat, the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. The urge to explore her bare skin was intense. Almost as intense as wanting to lose himself in her goodness. Seducing Maya would be selfish and reckless and potentially hazardous to their friendship. Then again, Zach had never been one to play it safe. His body still hummed from their chaste kiss. Marmalade lingered on his tongue and tripped his imagination. He hadn’t felt this alive in months. “Ready for an adventure?”
    “Sorry?” she asked in a breathless voice, and he knew without a doubt now