Stained Glass Secrets and Star Wishes by Celaine Charles

Author:Celaine Charles [Charles, Celaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: holiday; sweet romance; Christmas; Water fairy; paranormal; fantasy; novella; new adult
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Ember

Ember leaned over the kitchen counter, watching Laiken hold a star cookie up to the light. The blue raspberry candy Duke had sent was perfect. It made for a prettier color in the stained-glass-window centers than the caramels had. No more dirty windows, Dad! She covered her smile. Laiken’s fish cookies were equally beautiful, reminding her of the aquarium-like view he had carved into the wall of the snow castle.

But how would they taste?

She went first, biting into the fishtail of a perfectly raised cookie. He followed her lead, sinking his teeth into the crisp arm of a star. They both smiled, taking another bite without saying anything at all. Ollie scoured the kitchen floor for the broken bits. With Laiken’s last swallow, crumbs coating his lips, he reached out to touch her shoulder.

“I have never tasted anything better.”

Her shoulder tingled under his soft, chilly grip, and she nodded her appreciation. “Thank you. I’m both happy and surprised they turned out this good.” She looked over at his hand still resting on her shoulder, though the iciness of it pierced through her sweater. “Are you cold?”

Laiken dropped his hand. “No,” he answered quickly, then added, “Maybe a little.”

“Here, sit down. I’ll turn up the heat.” She led him to the sofa and tossed a fleece toward him. The thermometer on the wall read seventy degrees, but she upped it to seventy-two.

“Do you like to bake cookies?” He seemed nervous now, already shoving the blanket to the side.

“Well, I only make them once a year. Really my mom makes them. My dad and I just help.” She laughed, sitting next to him. Ollie hopped up on the sofa again.

“You are close to your family?”

“I am,” she said. “I’m an only child, so we’ve always been close. What about your family?” She brushed crumbs from the corners of her lips.

He paused at her question, not like he was afraid to answer, more as if contemplating how to explain? Maybe there was family drama? She hadn’t meant to pry.

He dusted off his hands. “I have a large family, many siblings. We are all grown though and busy in our own lives.” His gaze fell to the window overlooking the lake.

All was dark, except the sparkles of snow glittering under the outside deck lights, but in the window’s reflection, she could see the two of them sitting side by side on the sofa. An ignored television screen glinted from the corner, and the lump of Ollie squished between them.

Her mind wandered to the dread she’d carried on her drive to the cabin, only days ago. How miserable she’d assumed she would feel celebrating Christmas without her family, even in the absence of her computer screen glaring mounds of work. But the quiet and surprise of this place in the winter had carved out more than just a hiding spot for Christmas. Although the reflection in the window revealed a room vacant of holiday décor, it was filled with warmth and glow from living

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