A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans

Author:Jaimie Admans [Admans, Jaimie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

‘Yoghurt keeps muffins moist.’ Bram whisks together melted butter, eggs, and yoghurt, while I measure out sugar, flour, bicarb, and cocoa powder and suddenly stop stirring when I remember something.

‘Yoghurt! That’s what my mum used to put in her cakes to keep them fluffy and light. It increases the moisture without increasing the fat content. She always used to tell me that, but I’d forgotten.’ I look over at him. ‘Thank you. That’s the first time I’ve thought of that in years.’

His smile is warm and genuine. ‘See what happens when you don’t think about it?’

When he brings his bowl over to mine and pours the wet ingredients in, I go to mix them and his hand instantly covers mine on the spatula handle. ‘Gently.’

He’s noticed my tendency to beat up ingredients rather than fold them in. He steps up behind me and all I can concentrate on is the heat of his body and the sense of his height behind me.

‘This okay?’ His voice is right beside my ear as his fingers wrap around mine on the wooden handle and force me to move it slowly.

I make a noise that could best be interpreted as ‘more than okay’. His closeness has obliterated all sensible thoughts. It’s been a while since I had a gorgeous man get this close, and Bram is extra gorgeous and extra close.

‘This isn’t a punching bag that you take your frustrations of the day out on.’ His chin is resting on my shoulder as he looks at the bowl we’re sharing now, his voice low and calm. ‘Overmixed batter makes tough and chewy muffins. Doesn’t matter if it’s still lumpy.’

If I turned my head even slightly, I could kiss his cheek. His stubble grazes my neck with every movement, and his exuberant aftershave has taken over the scent of chocolate in the kitchen.

I let him take the lead with the spatula, telling myself I’m absorbing his expertise, but my entire focus is on every point where his body presses against mine, and the space where his hand covers mine feels like it’s burning with tingly heat.

‘We’re overmixing this batter, aren’t we?’ I whisper when an abnormal amount of time has passed.

‘We might be.’ His chin presses against my shoulder. ‘Got to admit I’m struggling to care.’

‘Me too.’

‘Consider this a theoretical lesson. I’m telling you what to do in theory but showing you what not to do in practice.’

I laugh and lean back against him the tiniest smidgen. I’m starting to think the biggest hazard when it comes to baking is getting too close to Bram in the kitchen. ‘There’s a bag of chocolate chips over there that we should have mixed in at least five minutes ago.’

‘Yeah.’ He glances at them and then sighs and steps away to reach the bag, and I instantly miss the closeness.

I pour them in and he moves further along the unit to line a muffin tin with paper cases and then slides it down to me, and I spoon in equal amounts of the chocolatey batter.

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