Page 23 of Stuck in Christmas

“Um. No,” Eli said.

I looked up to find him staring at me again. “I find that hard to believe. You’re the chef-owner of a hot restaurant in New Orleans; not one woman has tried to capture your heart?”

“Oh, they’ve tried.” A shadow grazed Eli’s face, his smile faltering just a touch. “They are enamored with the glitz of dating a restaurateur, but they don’t like the hard work, long hours, and dedication it takes to run a successful restaurant.”

I thought about what he’d said since we met. The conversations he doesn’t remember, and the one from today. “Sounds like you miss the grind.”

“Actually—I’ve enjoyed the slower pace of town while helping out Ms. Bonnie.” He gesturedaround the cozy kitchen, the warmth of home evident in the flickering lights and rustic decor. “It’s nice not having to be at the restaurant fourteen hours a day, seven days a week. And because I hired good people, they can run the day-to-day operations while I’ve been here. I’ve had a lot of time to rethink my priorities.”

“Such as,” I prompted.

“Life,” he trailed off.

“Liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” I held my breath.

“Pursuit of happiness… and love.” Eli stepped around the counter into my space. The closer he stood to me, the stronger the magnetic pull I felt. It was like we couldn’t stay apart.

“Love,” I whispered, and my heart raced.

“Love,” he repeated, his voice low and sincere.

Eli brushed a lock of hair from my face, his fingers grazing my skin, sending shivers down my spine. There was something electric in the air, a connection that felt both exhilarating and frightening. I leaned toward him, my heart thundering and soaring simultaneously.

I forgot about my day set on repeat. I forgot about cookies and Christmas and holiday jewelry.

The only thing that existed was us at that moment.

Eli’s soft lips brushed across mine as my eyes fluttered shut. His flour-dusted arms and hands circled my waist as he pressed for me to open to him, which I gladly obeyed. His tongue hesitantly swirled into my mouth, teasing. I tilted her head to deepen the kiss, moaning at the pure decadence of it. His kiss became more frenzied, and he pulled mecloser until there wasn’t any space between us. My body thrummed with need, and I could feel the pulse of my heartbeat - everywhere.

It felt surreal—making out with the hottie Marine in a kitchen surrounded by dozens of holiday cookies and dough ready to be shaped into more. For a brief moment, I worried that this would cause problems with the county health inspector, but then I remembered I was stuck in a holiday movie, and no one worried about health inspections in sugary-sweet holiday movies.

And they certainly didn’t get tingly in theirnether regions.

I frowned.

In their…Velvet room.

No, that’s not the word.

Cozy Cove.

Mystery box.

What the fudgesticks?

I stepped back, my frown deepening. “Eli. I have to ask you something.”

He still maintained a tight grip around my waist and seemed reluctant to let me go, but I imagined the gentleman former Marine wouldn’t allow himself to manhandle a woman in his kitchen. “Anything, Renee.”

“Are you able to cuss?”

Eli laughed. “Um. Yeah. I can cuss. I was a freaking Marine, for crying out loud.” He frowned. “I was afarkingMarine.FlickingMarine. What the heck?”

“That’s what I thought,” I said. “Listen. I must tell you something that will seem a little out there.”

A serious change in demeanor flitted across Eli’s face. “I’m all ears.”

I began to pace the kitchen. “I think we’re stuck in a—” In a dizzying moment of panic, my foot slipped on a patch of loose flour on the floor. Eli reached out to grab me as I stumbled backward, but he couldn’t stop me from falling right into…

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