Page 21 of Midnight Snack

“Probably why you’re so sweet,” I say.

“Can you record that and send it to Aurelia?” He cups my face and leans over for a kiss. “You still don’t have to tell me about the other thing if you don’t want to.”

“No, I will. But you’ll think I’m pathetic. Sounds like you come from a family that’s overflowing with love. That is the opposite of my experience. I don’t remember much about my life before moving in with the dragons. Which is probably for the best.

“As far as I know my mom has never been treated or medicated for her bi-polar disorder. I know that we didn’t always have a place to sleep or food to eat. So at some point she brought me to her mother’s house and dropped me off. I haven’t seen her since.”

“Shit, Sweetness, I’m so sorry. You’re right, my family is amazing, and I shouldn’t complain about them.”

“You weren’t. In fact, you get a very sweet smile when you talk about them.”

“Don’t tell them that.”

“Promise. So anyways, I think I was around eight or nine when I went to live with the dragons. That would be my grandmother and her sister. They’re not very nice; I don’t think I’ve ever received so much as a hug or kind word from either of them. But they never kicked me out. They fed and clothed me.” I release a tight chuckle. “More or less. And they paid for my culinary school education.”

“How could they never hug you?” He pulls me over so I’m snuggled in his lap. “You’re very huggable.”

“I’m not sure. You remember Duck McScrooge?”

He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. “The cranky one with the monocle who was always counting his money?”

“Exactly. That’s like my grandmother and aunt. They’re rich, as best I can tell, though aside from the bare necessities and my schooling, they haven’t shared it with me. It’s why I want to win this competition so badly.”

“Then we’ll win it!”

“The Texas Monthly write up for our bakery would mean everything since we haven’t been open long. But that prize money would allow me to pay them back for my education and finally move out of their house.”

“You still live with them?”

“I do. I have the entire attic to myself and my cats. Though my kitties are naughty and do escape to the main part of the house periodically. Drives Aunt Cissy crazy.” I grin.

“You’re amazing, Caroline Mathis. Simply amazing.”

“That seems a bit of a stretch.”

He shakes his head. “No, I see you. I know you.”

And in that moment, I’ve never felt more seen or known.

chapter

eleven

Damien

Our phones buzz at exactly the same time. Caroline reads her message out loud, which I appreciate because I normally have my phone read them to me. Especially long ones like this.

“I would like to remind the two of you that you’re contractually obligated to be on screen for a certain amount of down time in the cabin. You have been off camera for several hours now and it’s time to make an appearance for extra footage,” Caroline says.

Then she makes a face. “I think we’re in trouble.”

I pull her to me. “I think you’re the best trouble I’ve ever had.”

She kisses me, and I want so badly in that moment to tell her how I feel. To tell her she’s my future and I’m hers, but I already know she’ll say it’s too soon. That love doesn’t happen that fast.

But I know it’s because she doesn’t know what it looks like yet, what it feels like. Because those two mean old hags she lives with have withheld any form of affection her entire life. I’m going to smother her in it. She’ll never doubt, for one moment, how I feel about her.

Our kiss ends and she tosses the covers off of us. “Guess we have to get back to work.”