Page 49 of Miles & Mistletoe

“I know. But in truth I didn’t believe what Jamie had told me. Not at a gut level. I took the easy way out. At least, what I thought was the easy way out. Turns out, I ended up hurting myself more … and you.” He moved closer.

“What?”

“Look, I’m new to these feelings. I don’t have friends, not because of what my father taught me but because friendships seem to come with attachments and those get messy. And if I can’t even maintain a friendship, how could I be everything that you wanted me to be?”

“I didn’t want anything but you!” I insisted.

“I know! That was the problem. Most people don’t want me. They want Ian Zerlinger, the CEO of Zerlinger Beer. The mogul, deal maker, decision maker, and whatever other adjective they use to describe who they think I am. You asked for more without even realizing it.”

“And you got scared,” I stated, finishing his sentence so he wouldn’t have to.

“Yes, but that wasn’t your fault.”

I scoffed. “I know it wasn’t my fault.”

Ian dipped his head and I saw the edges of his lips turn upwards into a smile. My stomach rumbled with the butterflies that always appeared at seeing his smile.

“No, it’s not your fault. It’s mine. For being a coward. So much so that when Jamie approached me with her obviously duplicitous story, I took it at face value. I didn’t question it because it gave me an easy out. And as a result I spent Christmas day cooped up in my office, miserable.”

“How miserable?” I asked, giving him a side-eye.

“Extremely miserable. I picked up the phone to call you at least thirty times.”

“I didn’t have any missed calls,” I retorted saucily, hand still on my hip.

“I chickened out.”

“Ian Zerlinger, big ol’ coward.”

“You made me this way,” he stated, moving closer and taking my hand into his.

My entire body warmed at his touch.

He lowered his forehead to mine. “And now I’m asking you something I’ve never asked another human being. Forgive me?”

“Why should I?”

“Because I’m sorry and it’s Christmas.”

I grinned. “Christmas was almost a week ago.”

“Okay. How about because I love you and I’ll spend every day you allow me to, making it up to you?”

I gasped and pulled back, looking him in the eye. He looked at me straight on, unwavering, not a hint of hesitation in his voice or his gaze.

I swallowed and dropped my gaze. “My mother asked me if I loved you.”

Ian cupped my chin, raising my face to meet his. “How did you respond?”

I sighed. “I told her I don’t know how, but yes. I fell in love with you in the span of a month. How the hell does that even happen?”

A smile opened up on Ian’s face. “How could you not?”

I began giggling, but it was cut off when he pressed his lips to mine, stealing my breath, per usual. I moaned into his mouth, having missed his kisses.

“Wait,” Ian demanded, pulling back.

“What?”

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