Page 43 of Christmas Criminal

Nick hums. "Sounds like a great way to raise a daughter who thinks egg-throwing solves problems faster than communicating."

I turn to look at him, my best glare plastered across my face.

"I'm going to shut up now." He pauses. "But I'm also going to rest easy because I've said my piece, and if you don't want to listen, that's fine."

I raise an eyebrow at him.

He takes a deep breath, letting out an overdramaticahh. "What a beautiful night to have freed myself from the stress of holding onto something I should have just said."

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "Point taken. I'll think about it."

"Think about it or don't, it's up to you. I'm just very happy to have said it."

I roll my eyes. "Very subtle."

When I look up at him, he's grinning again.

And as much as I don't want to think about all of the wonderful childhood trauma that causes me to throw eggs at my dad's house instead of speaking my truth, I just… can't help but smile right back at him.

"How'd you learn to be such a good communicator, Saint Nick?"

He shrugs. "I wouldn't say I'malwaysgood at communicating. I mean, sometimes I really suck at it."

I cock my head to the side. "How so?"

He shakes his head. "I've been told I'm emotionless at times. Which isn't true. But I can see how the way I work sometimes gives that impression. I'll say something before I let myself get truly upset about it. And when someone tells me they're upset, Idon't really react. I just try to figure out a solution.Everyonehas emotions, but some people show them very differently."

I nod, detecting a hint of defensiveness in his words. "I see your emotions."

He raises his eyebrows. "You see my emotions?" he asks, deadpan.

I nod. "Yeah. In the way you push your glasses onto your head and run your hand over your face. When you grin, sometimes it reaches your eyes and they go all squinty, but sometimes you kind of raise an eyebrow a little bit. Just the littlest bit, and it's somewhere between happy and–"

He looks at me, making that exact face like he's daring me to say it. Thatthatface is something different. An intense focus, coupled with something like fascination.

I shrug, swallowing my words. "I don't know. It's an emotion that feels uniquely you."

He nods. "Guess I should restrain myself a bit, huh?"

I laugh. Because yes, he is on the stoic side. But there's no doubt in my head he's full of all sorts of emotions. I see them running so subtly across his face.

I shake my head. "Don't you do that. You're perfect just as you are."

He laughs, and this grin reaches his eyes. "Okay, well, no need to lie to me."

"What? I'm serious. Sometimes I feel big emotions and I go too far. Sometimes you feel big emotions and others still have to search them out. Both are okay."

He gives me a quick nod. "As long as the former doesn't result in any egging."

I roll my eyes, knocking him on the shoulder, and decide this is probably enough emotion talk for the day. Or else I'm going to end up pantsless and pawing at him because there is somethingabout the way this man insists that he has emotions that makes my heart swell.

Fuck whoever made him feel self-conscious about that.

If I only had an egg…

"So I take it you don't have much family drama around the holidays, Saint Nick?"

He shakes his head, looking out over the crowd as we weave between people. "Nah, I don't."

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