Chapter 33
He stared at her in shock. “You can’t mean that,” he said faintly. And then he was gone.
When Tessa made it down to the dining room, breakfast was nearly over. Her arms, shoulders, and back ached so badly from last night’s snowmobiling, it’d been almost impossible to pull her sweater over her head.
“Well, look who decided to wake up,” Jess said as Tessa slid onto the stool next to her.
“I slept like shit last night.” She winced and stretched her arms. “It’s been a few years since I went on such a long snowmobile ride. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck p>
Jess frowned. “Aw, Tessa, I didn’t think of that. We should’ve started you with a shorter ride p>
“No way. I’d crawl back on my hands and knees just to see that view again. The last few years, all I’ve done is work, eat, and sleep. I forgot how good it feels just to do something for fun. It made me
realize how much I miss my old hobbies p>
“Why’d you stop p>
Tessa hesitated. She was still unpleasantly aware of the distance
between her, an outsider, and the locals. Even Jess, who’d been one
of the most friendly to her, was not really comfortable with her. It had been made abundantly clear last night when she and Elena
wouldn’t tell Tessa what was going on. But even in ordinary conversations, it was there. They were all friendly and kind and earnest, but even so, there was a guardedness that they tried to cover behind easy smiles and nimble changes in conversation. A lot
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of people might not even see it. But Tessa was an expert at fooling people with those same tactics.
“Too busy living it up in the big city?” Jess prompted when Tessa’s silence had gone on too long.
Her guess was so far off the mark, it spurred Tessa into answering honestly. “Got sucked into a bad relationship. Lost interest in the rest of my life.” She shrugged. “Anyways, when I packed to move to Longtooth, I didn’t pack any of my hobby stuff because I thought I’d stopped caring about it. Now I’m realizing that I just… forgot.” Forgot how to enjoy things. Forgot how to feel anything.
“What hobbies?” Jess asked. “You might be able to get some of the stuff around town p>
“I used to knit.” Tessa plucked at her sweater, an Icelandic sweater with the traditional decorative yoke. “I actually knitted this. And
most of the other sweaters I own p>
“You did this? Wow.” Jess fingered the colorwork on the sleeve.
“Getting knitting stuff should be easy. Give Declan some cash next
time he makes a run to Fairbanks or Anchorage, and tell him you
want yarn and knitting needles p>
The thought of asking Declan for anything made her stomach curdle. “I’m not going to do that,” she said flatly.
Jess’s expression flickered–Tessa could see her decide not to argue.
“Fine. What else did you do for fun p>
“I liked baking. Just to relax. But that’s not really an option here p>
“Why not p>
Tessa gestured at the kitchen door. “This is a commercial kitchen. Even if Natasha were willing to let me play around back there,
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there’s probably some health code against it p>
Jess snorted. “This is Longtooth. There are no health inspectors. And there isn’t a soul in the entire Valley who’d complain about how Natasha handles her kitchen.” The door suddenly flapped open, and Jess turned. “Hey–Natasha! Can Tessa use the kitchen to bake for fun p>
Natasha set a mug in front of her and filled it. “Tessa, you didn’t tell me you like to bake!” Her eyes lit up. “Of course you can use the kitchen. Today p>
“Oh, I–well, thank you–but I don’t actually have anything planned. I didn’t even buy any ingredients p>
Natasha scoffed. “I have ingredients. Do you know how to make a
babka p>
“I’ve eaten babka, but I’ve never made it before p>
Natasha smiled. “I will teach you to make my grandmother’s babka.
It is how I stole Arthur p>
“You stole him?” Jess echoed.
Natasha looked smug. “Oh, yes. He came to Poland to meet a girl
whose family knew his family. Both families expected they would
marry. But I found him, and I decided he was mine. Poor Anastazja
never had a chance p>
“Natasha!” Jess sounded scandalized, but she was grinning broadly.
“I never knew you were such a minx p>
Just then, Arthur came into the dining room carrying a bucket full of
tools.
“Arthur!” Jess called. “Is it true–did Natasha steal you from another
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woman p>
Arthur smiled good–naturedly. His gaze settled on Natasha,
something steady and reverent reflecting in his eyes. “She didn’t
have to steal anything. I was all hers the first moment I saw her p>
Natasha’s wicked little smile softened. “Arthur,” she said quietly.
He winked at her. “If you ladies will excuse me, there’s a burst pipe
that needs my attention p>
Tessa watched the entire exchange with a strange little ache in her
chest. It grew and grew until something inside her seemed to crack. She had to look away.
“So,” Natasha said, a little breathy, her cheeks slightly pink. “We will
make babka. After breakfast p>
Tessa nodded, still trying to get past the strange emotional charge
that Arthur and Natasha’s love for each other had imparted. “Okay.
Thanks, Natasha p>
“There you go,” Jess said, nudging her. “That’s one hobby restored. Now we just have to get you some knitting supplies p>
There was no way Tessa was asking Declan to go out of his way to get anything for her. She’d order them online, pay the extra charges, and wait the ten thousand years it took for deliveries to reach the interior of Alaska. Declan was going to be the delivery boy either way, but in this case, he’d just be bringing a load of packages to the post office, and Tessa could pick up her stuff from Wade.
(6)
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.