Page 31 of Christmas Criminal

She looks so open to me. So ready to be kissed. Like her waist is calling out to my hands. The skin of her neck thirsting to be nuzzled. She takes a step toward me, and I recognize that this moment can go one of two ways.

I can throw an arm around her shoulders and hug her. A weird thing to do if I'm supposed to be helping her with community service, but probably better than the alternative.

Which is to weave an arm around her waist and tug her close. Turn us so she's pressed against her car. So I can step between her legs and hoist her up. Dip my hands underneath the hem of that little shirt she's wearing and feel the warm skin underneath. Press my lips against hers and taste that smart mouth.

She licks her lips, staring up at me.Begging me to kiss her.

I step away.

No. I will not be that guy.

I nod to her, nearly running toward my own car.

"Goodnight, Noelle," I call over my shoulder, my heart thumping.

She huffs, her brow crinkled.

She sounds unsure when she speaks. "Goodnight?"

I close myself in my car, taking a deep breath as I stare at the wheel in front of me.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

A moment later, she slips into her car, turning it on and waiting a moment as if to see if whatever freakout I had is passing.

I lock my doors, staring straight ahead, and wait for her to leave first.

7

NOELLE

Tuesday, December 10th

"She's back!" Christina exclaims as I walk into our apartment. "Have you suitably repented for your sins?"

She's sitting on the couch in front of the Christmas tree, knitting a scarf that will no doubt end up in either my mom's or my pile on Christmas morning. Her blonde hair is tied up in a bun on the top of her head, and she's wearing one of her many Christmas sweaters. A Pentatonix CD plays through the sound bar, a glass of wine on the table in front of her.

"I have suitably repented for my sins," I tell her. "Although I have probably one more week before I can get all my hours in."

She throws her arms around me when I lean down to kiss her cheek. "And then you get to hang out with me until Christmas!"

I laugh. "Yes, then I get to hang out with you until Christmas." I nod to the leg she has propped up on a stack of pillows on one side of the couch. "How's your leg? You need anything?"

She shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. Thank you, though."

I move to grab her computer from where it's propped on the couch next to her, and she closes it quickly, moving it to the coffee table before I can.

I grab myself a glass of wine in the kitchen and join her on the couch, taking the place of the pillows underneath her cast.

She eyes me as I sit. "So Mom told me the math teacher you're doing community service with is hot."

I bite my lip. "I mean, he's fine."

She's quiet for a moment. "Only fine?"

"Okay, he's attractive."

She takes a sip of her wine, gesturing for me to continue. "So? Did you do it?"

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