Page 27 of Merry Kissmas

“What do you want to know?”

“I don’t know.”She shrugged.“Tell me a food you hate that most people love.”

I chuckled and shook my head.“Pizza.I’m not a pizza guy.”

She balked.“How is that possible?Maybe you just haven’t had the right pizza.”

“That’s what everyone says.If it has dough, cheese, and sauce, I’m not a fan.”

She dropped her feet to the cement to stand, pretending she was going to walk away.“Sorry, I gotta go.”

I tugged on the back of her light jacket, and she fell to my side, laughing.

“Fine, I’ll try pizza,” I said because I’d do about anything to keep her right next to me.

“Look how we’re compromising.”She laughed again, and I tried to commit the sound to memory.

“So, what can’t I force you to eat?”I swung my arm over her shoulder to make sure she didn’t leave.

“Chocolate cake.”She cringed.

“I’m not really a cake person, so you’re safe there.”

She flipped around and propped one leg up on the bench, staring at me as if it might actually be the last straw.“How do you not like cake?”

“You just said you didn’t.”I chuckled.

“Chocolate cake I don’t like.But give me a white cake, a yellow cake.One filled with strawberries and whipped cream.”Her eyes rolled back in her head like they had when she came this morning.

“You’re making me jealous of cake.”

Her hand splayed on my chest, her fingers trailing down the front of my shirt.She did that often, and I was really starting to love the casualness and closeness I felt.

“Oh, well, I like other things more than cake.”Her fingers continued their trail, dipping under the waistband of my jeans.

I looked around, but no one was paying us any attention.“Keep it up, and I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and lock you in my flat.”

Her head reared back in laughter.God, she was beautiful.I couldn’t believe she’d agreed to spend the day with me.

We finished our coffees, continuing to rank foods from our favorite to our least, never agreeing on one.

After throwing away our cups, we walked through the city, me pointing out little things to her.Every time her eyes lit up with interest, my chest puffed out, loving that I was the one introducing her to my city.

She pulled me into a small shop that looked more for tourists than locals, and I trailed behind her as she browsed.I couldn’t stop looking at her, committing her facial expressions to memory.Her excitement, her smiles, the way she would glance over her shoulder to make sure I was still there.I’d been closed off to almost everyone throughout my life, never allowing anyone to really know me, until her.It was as if she had a spell over me.I felt slightly out of control, and I didn’t care.

I twirled a display and picked up a keychain that said I Heart London with the Union Jack on it.

“What’s that?”Brynn came over and rested her head on my shoulder.

“A keychain I’m going to buy for you.”

She picked it out of my hand and ran her fingers over the words I Heart London.“You don’t have to buy it for me.I can buy it.”

“So, you like it?”I was unsure if she’d want it, but I felt she could take it home with her and remember our weekend.

I had no idea how long she was staying in London.If she was doing some kind of tour through Britain and Europe like so many Americans do.I should ask, but doing so would ultimately bring up the future and the fact that we didn’t live in the same country.I was afraid to get too deep and ruin our time together before it was necessary.

“I love it.”She went up to the checkout, and I slid my credit card across the counter.

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