Page 10 of Miles & Mistletoe

“They’re so precious.”

“They keep us on our toes.”

My head perked up as Nikola’s deep voice chimed into the conversation. I swore I saw stars in the man’s eyes as he peered down into Devyn’s phone screen, gazing adoringly at his three children. The look didn’t change one bit as he raised his eyes, meeting his wife’s.

“We’re leaving. Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Langton. Zerlinger.” Nikola nodded at Ian and I.

“Nice talking with you, Stacia. Enjoy your stay in New York,” Devyn tossed over her shoulder as her husband practically dragged her toward the door.

“He was anxious to get out of here. Talk didn’t go well?” I questioned Ian.

“Went very well. He just despises these things almost as much as I do.”

I looked at Ian who was staring ahead. His perfectly square jaw was outlined by the neatly trimmed hairs of his beard. “Dance with me,” I blurted out before even thinking.

Ian turned to me. “What?”

“Nat King Cole’s ‘The Christmas Song’ is playing. It’s a universal rule that whenever this song is playing, you can’t sit it out.” I didn’t know what’d come over me. Probably the nostalgia of the holiday season. I truly loved this time of year. And if I was forced to spend it with this grouch I was going to make the best of it.

To my surprise, Ian put up no argument as he guided me toward the dance floor, pausing once we were in the middle to wrap a long arm around my waist. I moved into him willingly, placing my free arm around his neck just as Nat King Cole’s deep voice began singing of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I was impressed with the ease at which Ian took the lead and kept in step with the music.

I was doubly impressed and caught off guard when Ian stepped back and easily spun me around in a circle just as Cole sung about kids from one to ninety-two.

“You’re pretty smooth there,” I complimented.

“Took ballroom dancing as one of my electives at boarding school.”

“Really?” I questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“It was either that or swimming and I chose dancing.”

My mouth parted to ask another question but we were interrupted by the assistant to the mayor of New York City. He told Ian something in his ear.

“I need to speak with the mayor briefly.”

“Go, I’ll be all right.”

He nodded before heading off.

I walked off the dance floor and found a waiter who passed by holding a tray of eggnog with nutmeg sprinkled on top. Unable to resist a glass of eggnog, I swiped one. As soon as I took a sip I realized it was a spiked version of the traditional holiday drink. However, it went down smooth. I enjoyed this more than the champagne I’d tasted earlier.

Feeling a little out of place, I moved to where I saw a glass door opening that led to an outdoor patio space. It was quite chilly in New York this time of year and I was wearing a sleeveless dress, but I needed fresh air more than I needed to feel warm. Stepping over the door’s threshold I felt a little bit lighter as the music faded to the background and the murmurs of the people inside fell away. I inhaled deeply, looking up into the night sky. I always admired New York. For a while I’d wanted to move here once I turned eighteen. Growing up in Connecticut, it was popular among the younger crowd to move to the City once we graduated high school.

“Enjoying the scenery?”

I turned to see Ian standing only a few feet away from me. I hadn’t even heard him sneak up on me.

“The City’s beautiful this time of year.”

“So they say.”

I shook my head. “Cynical much?”

“Absolutely.”

“How can you not be overcome by the joy in the air this time of year?”

“Easily. People constantly holding their hands out will make a cynic out of anyone.”

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