Page 6 of Merry & Wild

“How’s your mom doing?”

“She’s actually really good. Not ready to date or anything, but she’s not quite so visibly sad as she used to be. It’s been a rough couple of years for her. Thanks for asking.”

She smiles up at me and then loses her footing again, and I can’t catch her this time. Down Joy goes, right into the snow of the snowbank.

“Well, so much for impressing the hot guy from high school.”

“Who’s that?” I ask and laugh when she sticks her tongue out at me. “Now, that’s charming. Here, let me help you up.”

She takes my outstretched hand, but instead of letting me pull her up, she yanks me down beside her in the soft snow.

“Hey!”

“We can lie down here for a minute, and I can wallow in my embarrassment.”

I grin over at her, loving the way our breath puffs out in the cold. “Your cheeks are pink.”

“I’m sure they are. I wish the stars were out tonight.”

“Instead, you’re getting covered in snow. Before long, I’ll have to dig you out with a shovel.”

“It doesn’t feel cold.”

“Youlookcold,” I counter.

She turns her head to the side and watches me with somber chocolate eyes. “Thanks for the pizza.”

“Thanks for hanging out with me.” My eyes drop to her lips, and she licks them in response. “Do you have any objections to being kissed?”

“No.”

I cup her face and feel the cold of her skin through my glove as I lean over to press my lips to hers.

It starts out…cold.But as our skin warms, I sink into her, and she leans up to wrap her arms around my neck and hold on to me.

She makes a little mewling sound in the back of her throat, and I know without a doubt that I’m done for. I can’t get enough of this girl.

“Come home with me,” I growl against her neck. “Let me take you home.”

CHAPTER 4

JOY

“You want me to gohomewith you?”

“Hell yes, I do,” he says and kisses his way down my neck. “Before I make love to you right here in the snowbank in the middle of town.”

Honestly, that doesn’t sound so bad. With all these Christmas lights twinkling, and the snow falling around us, it doesn’t sound badat all.

But I’m not one to typically do something like this. Idon’tscrew on the first date.

“You think that’s a good idea?”

“Possibly the best idea I’ve ever had,” he replies, but then he pulls back and stares down at me with intense eyes. “But if you’re not game, I apologize. I might be getting ahead of myself here.”

I can’t take my eyes off his lips, remembering just moments ago when they were on mine, on my skin, and all the delicious sensations they sent through my body.

I’ve had a crush on this man all my life. Why should I say no?

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