Page 5 of His Curvy Candy Cane

“Elise! I’m so glad you’re here. I want to introduce you to my friends.” Camille placed a champagne flute in my hand and held hers up. “Cheers!”

We tapped glasses, and both sipped.

Camille introduced me to the ladies in town, along with some other people, and when we landed back at her table, her boyfriend, Zach, was talking to the last person I wanted to see.

Okay, maybe he was the only person I wanted to see, but the first sounded better.

“Ethan, you remember your next-door neighbor, Elise, right?” Camille said as she pulled out a seat for me, directly between her and Ethan.

I snuck a glance at Camille and wondered if she planned this all out, but I pushed the thought from my head. Tonight was about having a good time, not silly little crushes.

Crush? Who said anything about a crush?

“Of course. The magical woman who can fix her own car. I’m impressed.” He held up his beer and clinked it against my flute.

“Thanks.” I straightened my spine and pushed my shoulders back before downing the rest of my champagne. It’d been a while since I drank anything, and the bubbles went straight to my head. “Thank God for YouTube videos.” I chuckled.

“Don’t tell me YouTube will put me out of a career.” Ethan grinned, and all I could focus on was his delicious-looking mouth.

I needed another drink, stat.

As the night went on, I lost count of how many times my flute seemed to fill itself. My cheeks flushed, and I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.

The night flew by with endless food, talking and meeting new people, and playing fun Christmas games, like guessing the Christmas song by sounding out the picture.

Near the end of the party, only Ethan and I sat at the table as others dispersed and left. He laughed over the rim of his glass, and his eyes shone bright. I hadn’t noticed how green they were until now.

“I think they’re disgusting. Appalling. The mint flavor needs to go.”

“What flavor of toothpaste do you use, then? Do you not like minty chocolate?”

I scrunched up my face and pretended to gag. “No. All mint is a no-go for me. After years of gagging while brushing my teeth, I finally found a vanilla one I don’t mind. The fruity flavors do not taste good, trust me.” I stuck my tongue out.

Ethan couldn’t stop laughing. Apparently, he found my aversion to mint amusing. “What’s so funny? Isn’t there some food or flavor you don’t like?”

“I don’t know. I’ve just never heard someone say they don’t like mint. I pretty much like everything, except beans. Hard no. But candy canes are my favorite holiday candy.” He winked as he unwrapped one and popped it in his mouth.

“Ew. Okay, I think it’s time for me to go,” I teased.

“Why?” he asked as he leaned forward.

I got a whiff of the minty smell and waved my hand in front of my nose. “Gross.”

Ethan threw his head back in laughter.

“I’m glad you find this so amusing. I’m about to go find a big ole bowl of beans somewhere and stuff your face in it.”

He only laughed more.

So I grabbed my purse and stood. Very shakily, might I add. I was definitely toeing the line between tipsy and drunk.

Ethan wrapped his large hand around my small one. His hot skin seared my own, and I nearly gasped at the crazy amount of tingles running up and down my arm. “Wait.”

When my eyes met his, the sincerity I found in them was hard to miss.

“Don’t go yet. We need to finish off the night with some hot cocoa. It’s a tradition.”

“A tradition, hmm?”

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