Page 9 of Holidays and Handcuffs

She bites her lip, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I’m sorry, I—" She stops herself, frustration coloring her face.

"You really can’t help it, can you?" I ask, trying to hide my amusement. Her lips trapped between her teeth are doing things to me she probably doesn’t even realize.

She shakes her head, still biting down on that lip, completely unaware of how much restraint I’m exercising right now just to keep my hands to myself.

Clearing my throat, I look away from her lips. “I know you said you don’t feel like dinner, and that’s okay. But what if we just went out for a bit? You’d be surprised what some fresh evening air can do for your spirits.”

She lets out a small, tired sigh, her lips curling into a shy smile. “Is it that obvious that I’m stressed?”

I nod, offering a gentle smile in return. “Sort of. It’s only written all over your face.”

Her smile fades slightly, and she looks down at the floor for a second before meeting my eyes again. “I guess I haven’t been doing a great job at hiding it.”

“Hey,” I say, stepping a little closer, “you don’t have to. Not with me.”

She looks at me for a moment, her eyes softening, then nods. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well,” I grin. “Maybe I know the perfect spot for stargazing. It’s actually great for stress relief.”

She raises her eyebrows, looking surprised. “Stargazing? I’ve never done that before.”

“You’re about to get your first experience,” I say with a wink. “Promise, it’ll be worth it.”

She bites her lip, and for a second, I think she’s going to decline, but then she gives a small nod.

“Alright…”

“Great.” I almost pump my fist in triumph.

She pauses, glancing back into her apartment. “Just give me a minute to get changed. Do you want anything to drink while you wait?”

I shake my head. “Nope, I’m all good.”

She flashes a small smile before disappearing inside to get ready. While I wait for her, I pull out my phone and order food for us to pick up on the way.

A few minutes later, she steps out, dressed in a thick knitted sweater dress, a scarf wrapped loosely around her neck, and knee-high boots.

“Hope you still like chocolate chip cookies? I ordered some and hot chocolate, and a couple of those mini strawberry donuts.”

Her face lights up in surprise. “Yes, of course, I still love those! How did you know?”

I shrug. “I remember you loving them when we were kids.”

“You do? I never thought you noticed me back then. Except for that night…”

I step towards her, my height towering over her; I can see her fight the urge to back up towards the wall. “I always noticed you, Emily. You areverynoticeable. I’m sorry if the way I left Auburn made you think differently, but I hope you’ll let me show you that I never stopped thinking about you.”

“Oh…” she gasps, her cheeks reddening, and for a moment, neither of us moves, just staring at each other. Her lips part slightly, and I swear all I can think about is how much I want to close the distance between us and kiss her.

But my phone buzzes, pulling me back to reality. It’s a notification about our order being ready. I clear my throat, forcing myself to look away from her.

“We should head out,” I manage to say, though my voice feels tight. God, I feel like a nervous teenager.

“Yeah,” she replies softly, her tone just as breathless as mine.

We both walk out of her apartment in silence, the crisp winter air greeting us as we step outside. Once we’re in the warmth of the car, I feel at peace knowing she’s at my side, knowing I can be there if anything happens. What haven’t I been able to protect her from all these years? Emily is a small woman, someone who wants to make sure everyone else’s needs are met before her own. That stops tonight though. She doesn’t know it yet, but now that I’m here, I’m never going to let anything happen to her.

“So, tell me about your day,” I say as I start the car, pulling away from her place. The scent of her perfume fills the space between us, lavender. I inhale, taking it all in as I drive.

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