Free Mist on the Meadow by Karla Brandenburg Page A

everyone could
have a piece of the beautiful büche you made for dessert.”
    “Büche?” Wolf asked.
    “Büche du noel,” Angela said. “It’s
fabulously decadent sponge cake rolled up with rum custard and
frosted with fudge icing, decorated to look like a Yule log. One of
Marissa’s specialties, and it is to die for.”
    “My mouth is watering already,” Derek
said.
    Marissa blinked twice. Derek was a rapt
audience. While she was flattered, she wondered if his attention
went beyond interest in the café. Derek wasn’t the one she wanted
to impress. Marissa gently nudged Hex off her lap and pushed away
from the table. “I’d better make sure they don’t drop the
cake.”
    Her mother looked up when Marissa appeared
beside her. “I was just putting the meringue mushrooms beside the
log. Did you want to show it off? I’m happy to defer to the
professional.”
    “The cake looks beautiful. Got most of my
skills from you in the first place.” She wrapped an arm across her
mother’s shoulder and gave her a quick squeeze.
    Her mother scattered the green coconut
“grass” around the edges of the cake and rearranged the
mushroom-shaped confections. “I’m glad Wolf could make it. And
Derek certainly seems to be interested in you.”
    “Stop,” Marissa said. “Derek can’t be more
than 21. There’s a big gap between 21 and 25, especially for
men.”
    “I must have misunderstood. I got the idea
Angela was interested in Wolf? And Derek seems very mature for his
age.
    “No,” Marissa repeated. “There will be no
matchmaking for Christmas. Let’s just enjoy the company.”
    Max picked up the heavy cake and Marissa
grabbed the stack of dessert plates as they headed back to the
dining room. Everyone did the appropriate oohing and ahhing while
her mother sliced pieces.
    Marissa cast a glance at Uncle Balt, who
watched her closely. Had she misinterpreted her impressions? Time
to test that newly discovered part of her brain. She turned her
attention to Wolf, took a deep breath and tried to tune in.
Immediately, her stomach cramped. Hex jumped in her lap and the
cramp eased.
    Marissa looked at Uncle Balt again. He smiled
and he gave her a nod. She stroked the cat and squinted at Wolf.
The pictures in his head were vivid.
    Christmas. Two little boys, their parents
and their grandmother. Happy. Singing carols around the piano.
Marissa’s parents’ faces superimposed over the faces of two of the
parents in his memories. Marissa fought the urge to touch him,
to see more.
    Marissa focused on Wolf’s face, his eyes
closed while he smiled.
    “Wolf, aren’t you going to try the cake?” her
mother asked.
    His eyes fluttered open and locked on
Marissa’s. She wondered if he knew she had been inside his head and
a flush rose to heat her face.
    “I don’t eat a lot of sweets.” He patted his
stomach. “Trying to watch my weight,” he added with a wink. “It
looks beautiful, though.”
    “My mother did the finishing touches,”
Marissa said quietly.
    “This time,” her mother said. “But only after
years of watching Marissa. The büche makes such a nice centerpiece,
it’s a shame to have to cut it, but you won’t want to miss how it
tastes. You should try it. One bite.”
    Wolf picked up his fork, his eyes locked on
Marissa’s. She squirmed in her seat, uncomfortable under his
scrutiny. Did he know she’d seen his thoughts? He sliced off a bite
and Marissa read a rush of conflicting emotions.
    This looks like it’ll cost me an extra hour
on the treadmill.
    Hex jumped off her lap and the cramps
tightened. Damn! She was still tuned into him. Marissa doubled over
and the connection was broken. Wolf set the bite down without
tasting it.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    “Hex clawed my legs when he jumped down,” she
said. “I’ll be fine in a second.” She took a deep breath.
    Uncle Balt raised his hands. “Eat. Such a
perfect dessert should not be wasted.”
    The family obeyed while Marissa focused