Page 19 of It's Mother-Pucking Christmas!

Too late for any of that now.

“And yet he’s still going to be twenty minutes early for a girl he claims not to care one iota about.”

I should have just waitedin the car and walked in at the appointed time.

But the cafe seemed busy, and wasn’t it better to go ahead and claim a table so Dakota and I didn’t have to stand there awkwardly waiting for the hostess to seat us?

Or you make a weird prank even more uncomfortable for yourself.

I checked my watch. It was two minutes until five thirty. Still no sign of Dakota.

I sat at the table that had so many Christmas candles, wreaths, and ornaments on it that there was barely any room for my beer.

She’s not showing up.My leg bounced. It was just a trick. Maybe Dakota was in league with the Arctic Avengers, and they were all about to jump out like one of those prank YouTube videos. I should pay and get out.

I chugged the rest of the beer and pulled out my wallet. As I was looking around for the waitress, I saw her.

Dakota did a double take when she walked into the Christmas-themed café.

What the fuck?she mouthed when she saw me.

9

DAKOTA

He stood up automatically when I approached.

“I got us a table,” he explained, holding out a hand to me.

“We hugging or a handshake?” I gave him a confused look.

“I’m helping you with your jacket,” he said as he removed my coat with the barest brush of his warm fingers along my neck.

Ryder slid my chair in behind me as I sat.

“You really are a Boy Scout.”

“You’re on a date with me,” he replied, like that explained things.

I glanced at the empty beer bottle on the table. “Ah, shit.” Eyes narrowing, I grabbed his arm, sliding up his sleeve, ignoring the way the muscles under my fingertips jumped at my touch. “Yep. Five thirty.”

“You’re late,” he said, before he could stop himself.

“Late? The hell? It’s 5:29,” I argued as he took his hand back. “I’m early.”

“If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.”

I glared at him.

He stared mulishly back.

“All right, Boy Scout.” I leaned back and crossed my arms. “I guess I’ll be five minutes early for our next date.”

“I was twenty minutes early.”

“I was still in bed twenty minutes ago.”

“With your—” He clamped his mouth shut.

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