Page 80 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“You were expecting somewhere else?” Jace asks.

“I thought it would be a little more romantic than this.”

He snaps his fingers. “Hang on a second.” He hurries over to the electrical outlet and flicks off the Christmas lights. With a quick movement, all the lights go dark so we can’t tell we’re in a storage room anymore.

I’m not sure if this is better or worse. If Jace had tried to kiss me yesterday, I would’ve explained why this is an incredibly bad idea.

It’sstillan incredibly bad idea. But I’m sleep deprived and just punched a plastic Santa, so I feel like I could do anything.

As his hand slides from my cheek to chin, he tips my face up to his. “You’re thinking about backing out of this, aren’t you?”

I feel so called out right now. “How do people kiss someone they hardly know?”

“You mean without thinking of the consequences? Happens all the time.” In the dark, I can barely make out Jace’s smirk.

“Willingly? Without being under the influence?”

Jace laughs, which makes my stomach feel funny in a good way. “Yes, really. Some people even find it fun.”

“I’m sure I’ll find it fun with the right person.”

“Just relax.” He’s still touching my chin, sending chills down my body.

“Did you know that when you tell someone tojust relax,that makes them do anythingbutrelax?” I say.

“Okay, then focus on something else.”

The only thing I’m focused on is the closeness of his skin, the way his fingers stroke my jawline, making everything in me whimper.

“For me, I think about the other person,” Jace says. “Like right now, I can’t see the green in your eyes, so I’m imagining it.”

“You remembered my eye color?” I don’t know why it surprises me that Jace would know this. Until now, I didn’t think he paid any attention to me.

“Of course I knew. I also know what you look like when you sleep. It’s the only time you look peaceful.”

I tilt my head. “When did that happen? Are you the Edward Cullen type?”

“Only the one time at the Pine Paradise.”

“You mean...” I let the words hang between us, because I’m too afraid to ask.

“Yeah, I know what happened that night...” He gives me a sheepish look. “It wasn’t intentional, but I also didn’t hate it.”

I laugh with relief. “Good. Because I didn’t hate it either.”

I can see the inky black of his eyes, the dark pools I want to fall into. He steps forward, wraps one hand around my waist, and slowly closes the gap between us.

“Anytime you’re not enjoying this, we can stop...”

“No, that’s okay,” I say quickly. “I need to get this over with.”

“Over with? You sound like you’re getting your teeth cleaned.”

“Believe me, this is so much better than the dentist,” I say, seriously.

“Is it weird that we’re talking about the dentist before your first kiss?”

“No weirder than the fact I just punched Santa.” If we’re going to do this, it might as well be now. Since Jace has probably kissed hundreds of women, he won’t even remember it. Which means if I mess up by bumping his nose or missing his mouth and hitting his chin instead...I can’t even go there.There are too many things that could go wrong right now.

---