Once Upon a Second Chance (Once Upon a Holiday Story #1)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Aaron

Whoa. That was not what I’d thought he was going to say. I’d figured the guy had broken up with him, and Daniel was sorry he hadn’t fought for him, but a proposal? I wasn’t sure what to say to that.

The small frown on his face and the dip in his brow gave me pause. Should I ask for the story? I thought he’d probably tell me, but I didn’t want him to relive what was obviously a painful regret.

Daniel’s phone vibrated on the kitchen table, inevitably halting our conversation. He wiped his hands and walked over to take the call.

“Hello?”

I watched him as I placed parchment paper on the cookie sheets I’d be using. He was humming here and there in response. His broad back and that amazing ass were all I could see of him, so I focused on that. Like seriously, he must work out to have an ass that spectacular.

“That sounds doable. Aaron and I can be there tomorrow about two.”

What the— He turned, and his gray eyes met mine. “We’re actually baking some cookies for it.”

He must have been talking about the meeting at the community center. I looked away and started rolling the cookie dough into balls and placing them on the cookie sheets.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine, Hank, don’t worry. We have plenty of helping hands. We’ll get it all done. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He ended the call and moved to his bowl.

“He all right?”

“ Hmm? Oh, Hank? Yeah. See, we like to represent every holiday that falls around this time of year at the festival. We had a huge menorah that was easily fifty years old. It was built by Hank’s grandfather, who’s since passed. Someone had it outside and was repainting it but left it there, and it got wrecked.”

“That’s awful.”

“ Mmhmm . Now we need to build a new one on top of everything else.”

“We?”

He smiled at me as he readied his own cookie sheets. “I’m on the Cleanup and Building Committees too; didn’t I mention that?”

My eyes widened. “No! I likely wouldn’t have freaked out if I knew you’d be there too.”

He shrugged. “I thought it was obvious with me baking cookies with you.”

I turned to the oven and set it to preheat. “I figured you were going to help but not on the same committees as me.”

Daniel snorted. “Why wouldn’t I, and what do you see me doing for the festival?”

The oven beeped and I put my cookies in there, buying some time. What should I say? I mean, I couldn’t see Daniel being the type of guy who got his hands dirty.

“I could see you being on the Baking Committee.”

He burst out laughing. “I wouldn’t dare. Matilda and Loni have been in charge of that for years. While they’re sweet, I wouldn’t want to be part of that.”

“Are they like Gordon Ramsay or something?”

Daniel had all his cookies on the sheet and slid them onto the rack above mine. “They’re something. It’s intense.”

“Well, I can help build the stage and clean up, but a menorah? I’m not that good.”

Daniel waved me away. “Hank got his grandfather’s talent, so that will likely be his thing. He’ll need some help, seeing as the menorah is quite large. But we’ll manage.”

Daniel was so optimistic, and it was contagious. “I’m sure you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” He winked and started on the snickerdoodle cookies.

Damn, he was hot.

That night, I didn’t have sugarplums dancing in my head. I had a sexy, rich Daniel all up in there. My dreams were vivid sexcapades where Daniel had me on the counter in the kitchen, flour everywhere and the smell of cinnamon in the air. He hovered over me, eyes twinkling with lust, his mouth the dessert I desperately wanted to devour. I couldn’t see his cock from that angle, but I was sure it was gorgeous.

My entire body was on fire, butterflies beat their wings rapidly in my stomach, and I was harder than an iceberg.

His fingertips grazed my nipples and I arched into his touch, begging for more, craving to feel every inch of him inside me.

It was heaven and hell all in one. He whispered my name like a chant…like a prayer, and when he wrapped his hand around my needy dick…I woke up.

But why did I? I sat up in bed and looked at my surroundings. It was still dark out. A car door slammed outside, and I jumped out of bed and peeked out the bedroom door.

There were voices coming from the first floor, and I couldn’t quite make them out so I inched nearer to the stairs.

“Aaron’s sleeping, so try to speak low. What’s going on?”

“A tree fell onto the Bullocks’ roof next door. Likely with the melting during the day and refreezing at night. It was an old oak and probably should’ve been cut down years ago.” The person speaking sounded familiar.

A beat later, a loud scraping sound came from outside, no doubt the workers removing the fallen tree.

“So, that’s the noise, then?” Daniel asked what I was wondering.

“Yeah, we got a crew taking care of it. Unfortunately, it’s loud. We got Patty and Henry out of the house, and no one was hurt. They’ll need a new kitchen, but it could be worse.”

“Can I do anything?”

“Nah, the crew will be a few hours. I’m headed home. I need rest before the meeting tomorrow. Sorry, it’ll be loud, though.”

“Don’t worry, Hank. I’m just glad no one was injured. Sucks it’s so close to the holidays. We should see if the town can do anything for them.”

Seriously, was Daniel a saint or something?

“That’s a good idea. You have a good night, Dan.”

“You too, Hank.”

Once the door shut, I made my way to Daniel. “What time is it?”

Daniel jumped and promptly laughed. “You scared me. It’s two o’clock.”

“Sounds like it’ll be hard to sleep through.” As if on cue, the air was permeated by a crack and a thud .

“I’m just glad that their property is far enough that I don’t have to worry about anything hitting anything of mine.”

I nodded. “When we came up here the other night, I only saw your house on this hill. I didn’t know anyone was near you.”

He made his way into the living room, and I followed. “The Bullocks are to the left of me but down the mountain on the other side. You can’t see their house when you travel up. If we’d passed my driveway, you’d see a private road—that’s theirs.”

“Gotcha…rich-people stuff.”

“I guess. Well, there’s no way I’m gonna get any sleep while they’re working out there. You can join me for a hot cocoa if you want.”

“At two in the morning?”

He tsked. “Oh, Aaron, it’s always hot chocolate o’clock during the holidays.”

“Forgive me.” I laughed.

“Come help me. I’m tired and sure to get it all over me.”

As I went with him into the kitchen, all I could think about was my dream, and how if Daniel dripped chocolate on his body I’d happily lick it off.