“Yay!”
She handed over the cups to her siblings. “And your mocha with a shot of caramel.”
Jace grinned, delighted she’d remembered. “I told you I’d be a regular before you knew it. Thanks.” He sipped at the drink and found it perfect.
“So, what are we doing here?”
“Playing horse salon,” Ginny told her.
“They’re grooming; I’m polishing.”
“Sounds productive. Think you’ll still have energy after dinner to make cookies for teacher gifts? Miss Linda said we can take over the kitchen in the big house after supper.”
“Did you get sprinkles?” Ginny asked.
“I did. And the stuff to make icing.”
“Cookies are good,” Austin said.
“Yes they are. I’m going to go mix up the dough and get it chilling so that we’re all set to roll out and bake after supper.” She paused on her way out and looked back at Jace, a tentative curve to her lips. “Maybe if you’re not busy, you’d like to help? We eat the disasters.”
“What she means is we make disasters on purpose so we have some to eat,” Austin corrected.
Another step in the right direction. “I’d love to help make disasters.”
Tara nodded. “Then I’ll see you in the kitchen.”
Chapter 6
“Incoming hottie alert.”
At Daniel’s warning, Tara looked up to see Jace coming through the door of The Grind. Her mood lifted at the sight of him even before she took in the striped hat with elf ears. When was the last time she’d been this happy to see someone?
His mom came in on his heels, a Santa hat perched in her silvering blonde hair.
“Well don’t you two look festive?” Tara said.
“It’s the only time of year I can display my ears without ridicule,” Jace deadpanned.
Tara chuckled.
“We’ve been Christmas shopping,” Linda said.
“Ugh, I am so behind on that,” Tara admitted. “I just haven’t had time to go.”
“You should come with us,” Jace suggested. “You’re off in a little bit, right?”
“I am, but I have to go pick up the kids from school. It’s their last day, so they’re going to be wild.”
“Oh, let me get them,” Linda said. “I found a recipe for those sugar plums we talked about and got all the stuff to make them. And they have such fun helping in the kitchen.”
“Making a mess in the kitchen, you mean.”
Linda waved that off. “It’s just part of the process. Seriously, though, I’d love to keep them. And I was a nurse before I retired, so I can handle Ginny’s insulin when it’s necessary. You go shopping with Jace. It’ll save you from being part of the very last minute crowd.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. They’re a delight.”