Page 25 of The Christmas Romance Wish

Under that stubble, Alex was hiding a strong jawline. He shaved and he’s like an entirely different person. Well, not really, but he has full, masculine lips and his dimple is more prominent.

Every second spent with Alex is like being stabbed with icicle daggers because he’s taken. Dramatic, I know.

We exchange pleasantries and flustered, I say, “Seasons fleetings. I mean greetings. I mean this weekend breezed by. Whew. So fast.” I risk short-circuiting and rambling, so I close my mouth.

“Hope everything was okay in the cabin,” Alex’s voice rises with a note of concern.

“It was heating. Hot. You’re hot. I mean I am.” I hide behind my scarf. “I’m fine. Nothing to see here.”

Just lock me up in the penthouse tower now. I’m not good at this. Granted, the banter with Pax was fine last night, but I’m not attracted to him. He’s exactly like Ryan except in his looks, like a brother.

If Alex is anything like my brothers—at this point, I’m prepared for him to think of me as a little sister, considering the whole BM thing—I brace myself for teasing.

But it doesn’t come.

Instead, with a dimpled smile, he asks, “Want to meet Ginny before you leave?”

No, I do not. But this time, I’m able to control myself. Instead of telling Alex how I feel, I say a simple, “Sure.” My attempt at being mature sounds strangled, like Santa getting stuck in the chimney with a belly full of cookies.

“Bundle up. Looks like the weather is turning. The temp dropped overnight.” He passes me a travel mug.

Our fingers brush as they did when he took my suitcase. The bah humbugs wake up. They’re so lazy, sleeping in until now. Sheesh. But they may as well go back to sleep. I take a sip of the coffee and jolt at the flavor.

“You made me a peppermint mocha?”

There goes Alex’s dimple, teasing me with what I can’t have.

We both slouch into our jackets and head outside. Armed with my trusty beverage, I am prepared for anything.

Including meeting my crush’s girlfriend.

Alex

CHAPTER 7

The first six months post-retirement, I was always on alert until I adapted to life downrange. It took a little while, but I no longer had to sleep with one eye open or wonder what fresh horror or trash I was going to encounter on any given day.

While in the service, I used other words to describe my daily circumstances but am trying to clean up my language now that I’m around civilians and Emmie.

The guys were under strict orders not to say anything inappropriate during the weekend. Thankfully, they seemed to get most of it out of their systems while on the ruck.

She seems a little out of sorts this morning, and I worry she was lonely or uncomfortable down in the cabin.

Eyes on the sky, I consider the weather and wonder if, for once, the forecasters undershot the severity of the incoming storm.

“I have a few things to do before we head out. If you’d like to tag along, you’re welcome to, then we’ll pop in and say hi to Ginny. If not, enjoy a few more minutes by the fire.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing a day in the life of Lexman,” Emmie says.

I chuckle because a woman has never called me that. It’s cute,coming out of Emmie’s mouth. “You got a snapshot of what it’s like to be around some of the guys in the book.”

“They painted a colorful picture.” Emmie tugs on her gloves.

“We’re all different post-service, but I hope the trip out here was worthwhile.” It’s too bad we didn’t get more time together, but it quickly became clear that I had to keep my distance.

“It was the perfect escape. I’d like to come back to this area and check it out. Maybe look into real estate for when I want a break from the city.”

My pulse trips. “Really?”

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