Page 26 of Stuck in Christmas

Was it possible he got mad and left?

I thought by telling him about the Restaurant Report before he found out about it that he would appreciate me coming clean. That was the case until he stuck a handful of snow down the back of my jacket. Now it was on like Donkey Kong. He was going down.

I tried to think about him going down in a smexy way, but the holiday movie gods were having none of it.

Ugh.

I ventured out from behind my cover. “Eli?” No sign of him. But, my money was on the former Marine using stealth to attack me next. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I felt movement moments before Eli grabbed me and spun me around, holding me tight in his arms. “I’ve got you, now.”

The movement made me dizzy. I wanted him to stop and keep going all at once. I laughed.

Eli stopped but held onto me. “I love how your face lights up when you laugh.”

I pressed my hand against his cold cheek. “Do you forgive me for the report?”

“I should be thanking you for it.” Eli pressed a kiss to my forehead, then released me. “That reportshowed me that my ducks werenotin a row. I was trying to force the opening a week sooner than it should have been. It made me slow down and do things right.”

A warmth bubbled up in my chest. “Then, you’re welcome.”

Eli pointed above our heads. “Look up.”

I glanced in the direction he pointed and gasped.

“Mistletoe,” Eli said.

“So, you’re ready to concede the snowball fight to me? The victor?” I asked breathlessly.

Eli nodded and leaned in to kiss me. I knew it would be earth-shattering and amazing. But the problem is, I’m too doggone competitive for my own good. I smashed the snowball in my hand on Eli’s head. And to add insult to injury, I booped him on the nose before taking off running.

I looked back to find him chasing me with a goofy grin, and I was not watching where I was going. I ran smack into a candy apple stand, toppling right into…

…A freaking snowbank.

“Son of a… snowball.”

Part Eight

Thirteen

The sun shimmered off the fresh layer of snow, and I could hear laughter and shouts drifting down the hill. Wrapped in my coat, I felt my cheeks flush with excitement as I glanced at Eli, who was already flashing a grin that promised a day full of adventure. It seemed like everyone from town was racing down the slope, their sleds carving through the sparkling powder and leaving trails of joy in their wake. With each step we took up the hill, my heart raced faster, filled with anticipation.

A sledding montage.Also a staple in holiday movies. And since I knew this sledding trip would include Eli holding me close as we careened down a hill, how could I say no to that?

Even if the thought of landing in wet snow was the last thing I wanted to do today.

“I didn’t realize Mississippi had hills,” I said, nearly out of breath. The hill we climbed was a little steeper than it looked from the ground. You’d think with all of this running around in my holiday hell, I’d be in better shape. Ugh. Maybe some twisted former personal trainer was behind this.

“We keep it a secret.” Eli winked as he grabbed my mittened hand.

I snort-laughed and waved at the crowd. “Not a very good secret if every kid from miles around knows about it.”

“Well, it’s not every day we get snow, and when it happens, you have to get in your sledding.” We reached the top of the hill, and Eli placed the sled on the ground. “We’re here.”

“I can’t remember the last time I went sledding,” I said.

Eli stepped closer, his warmth reaching me through multiple layers of clothes that I mostdefinitely was not thinking oftaking off. And I wasdefinitely notthinking about the smooth skin and hard muscles Eli would have under those layers of clothes because that would be against the holiday hell rules. Much like imagining the talented things he could do with his tongue.Definitely notthinking about the lessons he picked up along the way. If the way he kissed was any indication.

“I could do it for you,” Eli interrupted my smexy thoughts.

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