Sugar Cookie
By Lady of Spain
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight
Thump, thump, thump—the rhythm repeated itself on the hood of the Rabbit, sounding like a pesky woodpecker with a dull beak. Great timing, I was just about to slide the drip pan under her. Damn those two.
I slipped out from under the car, and looking up from my position on the dolly, confronted the two most annoying best friends on the planet.
Grinning like the fool that he was, Quil brayed, "I bring you tidings of great joy."
Big whoop. I pretended to be excited. "You won the lottery?"
"No, my man, but you did."
"Right …" I muttered, flatly.
"Really … I have it on the best authority that the Cullens have pulled up stakes and moved on to a happier hunting ground."
"Yeah? Well, I'll believe it when I see it with my own eyes."
Quil huffed. "Would I lie to you?"
"Frequently, whenever the mood hits," I groused.
"Now if you'll excuse me …" I began pulling myself back under the belly of the Rabbit when Embry leaned over me and finally commented, "It's true. Paul told us."
"Oh … Paul, that's different then. He's just chock full of late-breaking news. Now I can believe it. Phfft!"
Embry straightened up, saying. "What a freakin' grump. C'mon, Quil, let Mr.-Know-it-all find out for himself."
If only that was true. I'd have Bella all to myself, instead of this tip-toeing along the treaty line whenever the filthy leech felt generous enough to open her cage, and give her permission to see me. But for now, I'm gonna change the oil, take a shower and make supper. Then on to the Swan's place; Bella will be making sugar cookies tonight, and I'm invited to help.
Bella's house was all lit up with muti-colored bulbs around the perimeter of the roof. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree shone through the front picture window, and the sound of carols playing in the background wafted toward me as I strolled up to her door.
It was sickening how my heart stuttered every freakin' time I saw her. My tongue would tie up in knots, and my stomach would lurch, and still I couldn't stop myself from being with her. Jeez, love sure sucked sometimes, and sucked even worse when the girl I pined over was in love with an actual—bona fide—sucker. No foolin'.
Bella came to the door dressed in her skinny jeans, and a long sleeved red pullover. Around her waist was a cute little apron, decorated with holly leaves. Her hair was pulled back in a pony tail, I guess so it wouldn't accidentally get mixed in with the cookie dough. It was a little chilly when I walked into her living room, and her cheeks were rosy because of it. I would sure miss that if Eddie boy got his way. Lousy tick!
Her smile was only for me tonight tho', so I put thoughts of the bloodsucker out of my mind. Ugh, that smile nearly brought me to my knees. Why did she havta seem so glad to see me? It would hurt that much more when I had to leave her again.
Pointing over her head at the nearest cabinet, Bella said, "Can you reach the cookie sheets? They're in the top of the cupboard, way in the back."
"That's what I'm here for" Among other things … lots of other things …
I got them down without having to strain a muscle. She was waiting patiently as I handed them over. Looking smug, I boasted, "Done."
"Show off!"
"Hey, I can't help it if I dwarf your puny 5'3"."
The hands immediately went to her hips. "I'll have you know that good things come in small packages, mister."
With a smirk on my face, I blatantly raked my eyes over her and replied, "I can see that." Do I ever!
She sashayed—and boy-oh boy could she sashay—to the table and placed the sheets on it. "Okay, enough with the flirting, muscles, get over here and help me stir the dough."
I creamed the butter while she added the sugar and the eggs. Peeping over my shoulder, she said, "That's good; now for the flour and vanilla."
Her hands were all full of flour to sprinkle onto the cutting board when the ribbon holding the pony tail slipped off, and her hair came cascading down to her shoulders. With a tongue click, she turned to me. "Jake, can you please re-tie my hair for me? I don't want to get any in the cookie batter."
She hadta ask? "Sure, sure." I was an expert at pony tails, having sported one myself.
Combing through those gorgeous mahogany locks with my nimble fingers, I lifted it from the creamy-smooth skin at the nape of her neck. Huuuuh … so soft … Focus, Jake, focus.
I lightly brushed the sides of her face with my fingertips, drawing all the hair back, and re-tied the ribbon to hold it in place.
"Thanks."
"Welcome"
Bella rolled out the sheet of dough, and I helped cut out the circles with a cookie cutter. After arranging them on the pan, the first of them went in the oven.
While they were baking, Bella and I washed up the gooey bowls and utensils. She washed; I dried. As the last of the dishes got put up, the timer on the stove chirped and the cookies got placed on a rack to cool. Jeez, the smell was killin' me. I reached for one, and Bella smacked me on the hand—if you called that a smack. It was more like a light pat. "Don't touch them. They're hot, stupid."
"Won't bother me any. Wolf thing, remember?"
"It won't burn you?"
"Nope!" I'm already on fire anyhow, and you're the cause of it.
Just to make her happy, I dropped it back on the cooling rack, and waited. As I waited, Bella popped the next batch into the oven.
We sat together on the couch, and I finally got to bite into my cookie, only wishing I could nibble on a real cookie. I finished the first in three bites, and asked, "Can I have another one?"
"Of course you may. That's why I baked them."
I greedily picked up the next cookie, when Bella commented, "You know, I had another reason for you to come here tonight."
Swallowing first, I then remarked, "Don't tell me—you couldn't reach far enough to get the star put on the top of the tree."
She slapped at my arm. "No, silly. I wanted to give you your Christmas present."
Oh crap, I haven't even finished carving her gift. "Bells, there's still three more days 'til Christmas. And anyway, I haven't wrapped your present yet."
"Mine's not wrapped either." She actually winked at me then.
What? The last bite stuck in my throat. I had to swallow hard to get it down.
She moved right into my personal space, her face inches from mine, and I instinctively jerked back. What the hell? I was so shocked that my usual fresh manner just up and flew away.
Bella's arms were around my neck, and she pulled me closer, then her lips met mine and I was jolted with a bolt of electricity that nearly knocked me off the couch. When she let go of me, my mouth remained an open canyon, and my eyes blinked in amazement. With her cheek flush to mine, she whispered, "Merry Christmas, Jacob."
Drawing slowly away from me, a smile graced her lips, and she explained, "I told Edward we were through. I had enough of his running my life. So they all left, and now, I've chosen you."
I was speechless. What could I say in response to that freakin' bombshell? I'd waited so long to make her mine, but now it seemed surreal. What was wrong with me? I thought that if this ever happened I'd be a lot more aggressive. Instead, I was feeling bewildered.
Her smile faded. "Well, say something, Jake."
My tongue finally came to life as I awoke from my trance, and I stupidly mumbled. "Can I have another one?"
She gave a little giggle. "Of course you may."
This time, I cooperated fully. My hands were in her hair, untying the ribbon, and making sure it tumbled down her back again. I pressed her to me, barely allowing her any breath, and listened to the beat of her heart as it raced along in sync with my own. Holey guacamole ... my raging hormones were gushing through my arteries at light speed. Steady, Jake, steady …
Jeez, sugar cookies and honeyed kisses. I'd need to brush my teeth when I got home. All this sweetness was bound to give me cavities.
My confidence was restored by the time I was ready to leave. Bella leaned on the door post to say goodbye and I just couldn't resist. One more kiss was all I needed … one more for the road. I gazed at that sweet thing, and blurted, "Give me some sugar, cookie."
And she did—boy, did she ever.
The End