Page 27 of Deck the Fire Halls

“Yeah. Merry Christmas.”

CHAPTER FIVE

ROB

“You were right about everything,”I said.

Soren and I were walking home. It really wasn’t far and the snow wasn’t too icy—I only almost slipped a few times—and despite the cold, it was a beautiful night.

“About everything?” he asked. “That the Flames are better than the Canucks? Because yes, that’s correct.”

I snorted. “Okay, so not everything.”

He shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “About what then?”

“Tonight,” I replied. “That it’d be fun. That the whole town would be as pretty as a Christmas picture. That the group of guys you were introducing me to were great. That Gunter’s organization is something I could be interested in.” Then I shrugged. “And that Hamish is a little weird.” I waited for his eyes to meet mine before I laughed. “Just kidding. He seems totally nice.”

He grinned at me. “He is. His husband is too. Ren.”

“From the hardware store,” I added. “See? I’m learning.”

Soren grinned. “You’ll be a local before you know it.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“I’m glad you and Gunter hit it off. I thought you might, and he’s been working hard at getting his little center up and running.”

“I’m going to stop in on my day off,” I admitted. “Well, one of my days off. I have four days off a week, which is more than I’ve had in the entirety of the last decade, so...”

“Four days off in ten years?” He made a face. “No wonder you said you were burned out.”

I gave him a sad smile. I was about to say it wasn’t the hours that got me in the end but didn’t want to ruin the mood. “Yep. Actual days off. I won’t know what to do with myself, so helping out seems like a good place to start. Gunter said it was rewarding. He retired early and wanted to give something back. That’s kinda remarkable.”

“Some people’ll surprise ya,” he said as he stopped walking. “There are some truly decent people in this town.”

I looked up and down the street. Houses with warm Christmas lights in their windows, looking cozy against the dark and cold, and utter silence. It was so peaceful and serene. Hell, even this street looked like a scene from a Christmas movie.

Then I realized we’d stopped in front of his house. “Oh.” Then I noticed he also had Christmas lights in his window. “You have lights up.” Then I realizedsomething else kind of horrifying. “Am I the only one who doesn’t?”

Soren chuckled. “Maybe. But you just moved in, so they’ll keep the pitchforks at bay for a few days.”

I made a face. “I better get busy on my days off. Tell me, where does one buy Christmas lights in Hartbridge? Is the Home Mart my only option? Should I notify the pitchfork hoards that I may have to order them online and to expect a short delay? And a tree. I guess I’ll need one of those too, lest they forgo in-house inspections, and I won’t be burned at the stake in the town square.” I faked a gasp, my hand to my chest. “Oh my god. Is that Hartbridge’s deep dark secret? Little town appears perfect on the outside but harbors an insidious underbelly of Christmas rituals, and anyone who doesn’t conform to supply the most perfect Christmas decorations will be sacrificed to the Christmas elves.”

Soren snorted. “Yep. That’s it. Christmas elves come kidnap you, and while there’s not burning at the stake, they will torture you with Mariah Carey’s Christmas hits album, non-stop until you beg for mercy.”

I clutched at my chest. “Oh, the horror.”

He smiled, his breath leaving him in a plume of steam. The tip of his nose and ears were pink. His eyes met mine and for a heart-stopping moment, neither of us spoke. I almost asked him if he wanted to come in for a drink, or a kiss, or an entire night of wild sex... It shocked me that I’d think that. That I would even want that.

And yeah, I think I wanted that.

Hell yes you do, Robinson. That thump-thump of yourheart right now is anticipation and desire. I know it’s been a while, but you remember how those things feel, right?

“I better go,” Soren said quietly. He looked a little torn and I regretted my indecision. He took a step back. “Before, um... before...”

“Before?”

He took another step back. “Before it gets late. Or something.” He almost tripped on a clump of snow by his driveway.

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