Page 42 of Deck the Fire Halls

“Hamish said I should do it before you got here. If you were still coming here... I wasn’t sure,” I whispered. “I’m sorry about last night. You said no and I panicked. I was embarrassed.”

He swiped his thumb along my jaw before he reached for my hand instead. “I was an idiot. We had such a good night at dinner with all the guys and I kept thinking that’s what you need. That community, that group of great friends. You didn’t need me coming on toostrong. You just moved here, and you said you were burned out, and I wanted to give you time.”

I smiled at him. “You did a lot of thinking for me.”

He made a sad face, his eyes full of sincerity. “I’m sorry. I should have asked and not assumed. Believe me, I’ve been an ass at work all day. Doug told me to leave, to come and fix this or set the record straight... I don’t even know. I barely slept. I just wanted to make this right.”

He made it right, all right. My gaze dropped to his lips and I had to make myself look back at his eyes. “You did. And I’m pretty sure you made Hamish’s day. The whole group probably knows already.”

He chuckled. “He said something about BDE . . .”

I snorted. “He did.”

And he wasn’t wrong.

Soren fought a smile. “Do you know what BDE is?”

I nodded, embarrassed. “I do now. I also know that I’m neither young nor hip, and the lingo of today’s youth is lost on my aforementioned too-old self. I was also told I have no rizz.”

He barked out a laugh. “Who have you been speaking to?”

“A nice young girl at the youth center was imparting her wisdom on me. If I’m going to help out there, I’ll need the Urban Dictionary. Is there an app for that?”

“I have no idea.” Soren chuckled then looked over at the Christmas lights. “I am sorry about the lights. I wanted to help you.”

“I still have to decorate inside,” I whispered, fully aware that it sounded like the invitation it was. “I have atree now as well, thanks to Clay. If you wanted to help me?—”

“Yes. If you think I’m saying no again, you’re out of your mind.” His eyes scanned my face, drawing down to my lips. “I really want to kiss you again, and we probably shouldn’t be outside for that. Mr. Ling across the road is no doubt watching us right now. I mean, he’s a real sweet old guy and he loves some gossip, but he might not appreciate just how obscenely I’m going to kiss you.”

Oh shit.

My blood flushed hot and my skin prickled all over.

“Obscenely, huh?” Suddenly breathless, I glanced across the street, and I couldn’t see anyone peeking through windows or anything. But Soren was right. “We definitely should take this inside.”

I’d never wanted anything more.

My stomach was full of butterflies. My legs felt like Jell-O as I climbed the front steps and held the door open for him.

“I should take my boots off,” he murmured, bending over inside the door and pulling at his laces. I got a fabulous view of his trapezius and his latissimus dorsi as he did this, and I almost forgot my own shoes. Which were much easier than his, thankfully.

“Uh, can I get you a drink?” I asked.

He stood up straight and dropped his second boot to the floor, his eyes burning into mine. “No thanks.”

He looked at my lips and took a step closer.

“Can I get you anything?” I whispered, not capable of speaking normally, apparently. “I’m trying to remember my manners.”

He shook his head and touched his index finger to my chest, then dragged it up to my chin. “And I’m trying to forget mine.”

My breath caught, and my knees almost buckled. He lifted my chin, tilted his face, and pressed his body to mine, commanding and crowding me in the very best way. His lips were so close to mine, almost touching.

Almost.

My heart hammered, my lungs needed air . . .

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, his eyes dazed.

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