rational thoughts and threw them out the window.

Shane: Eclairs. You want to come help me?

Carmen’s tummy grumbled and nodded. She got and apron for herself and washed her hands.

Shane: All you have to do is.

Shane moved behind Carmen and gripped her hands on the pastry bag. They squeezed out the gooey pastry. Carmen almost melted into the pair of strong arms that held her in place.

When they broke apart she let out an angry sigh. Shane smiled putting the dough into the oven to let it cook.

Shane: Cream next.

She got the cream ready and a whisk. Carmen whisked and whisked but no solid light cream came into formation. All she succeeded in doing was spilling everywhere.

Shane: Here, let me help you.

Shane held Carmen’s hand in one hand and the bowl in the other and they whisked until they had some hint of fluffy whip cream. Then she taught Carmen how to gently fold the light

cream. The oven beeper went off and the blushing Carmen hurried to take out the tray. Her loud scream made Shane jump.

Shane: What’s wrong?

Carmen had burned her fingers trying to get the hot pan out from the oven. Shane pulled her away from the hot oven and over to the sink. She held Carmen’s hand under cold water.

Shane: Stay right there.

Shane got the first aid kit and threw everything out of it until she found some ointment for her burns. She had to hunt around for the bandages she threw out of the box. Carmen

smiled at the flustered Shane. Shane took Carmen’s hand and dried it off with a clean towel and put the ointment on it. Then wrapped it around neatly with bandages.

Shane: You sit and I’ll do the rest.

Carmen: I’m not crippled I can still help.

Shane: Just sit.

Carmen smiled watching Shane go back and clean up the first aid kit. She then took out the perfectly baked eclairs. Shane was filing them up with cream and topping them off with

chocolate when she felt a cold wet smudge on her face. Carmen’s left hand had plastered some of the whip cream onto her cheek.

Shane: HEY!

Shane grabbed the escaping Carmen in her arms and scooped some cream up and wiped it on her nose. Carmen giggled nonstop.

Carmen: Let go of me. You’re stronger, it isn’t fair.

Shane didn’t let Carmen go, but loosened her grip. Carmen stopped her squirmming too. She turned around to face Shane. The green emeralds stared into her brown eyes. She moved

closer and licked the whip cream off of Shane’s cheek. The room was silent except for their breathing. Shane shivered down her spine feeling her lips so close to her own. Shane

kissed Carmen’s nose taking off the whip cream and they looked back into each others’ eyes. Their breathing growing fast and the heat between them rising.

Shane: You want to try some of my cooking?

Carmen laughed and nodded. Shane picked up an eclair and fed it to Carmen. The crust was crispy and the cream was soft. Everything melted into her mouth. Carmen moaned at the

deliciousness.

Shane: Good?

She nodded vigorously.

Shane: I’m glad.

She wiped the cream from Carmen’s lips and kissed her.