Page 6 of His Curvy Candy Cane

Ethan nodded as he stood and now towered over me in height. “One I kind of want to share with you.” His deep voice vibrated somewhere between my legs, and the feeling made my breath catch in my throat.

“Okay.” I found myself saying, though I very much should’ve called it a night and gone home.

“I’ll make sure there’s no peppermint in sight. But I do think candy canes are delicious in hot cocoa,” Ethan said as he dipped his head lower toward mine.

His eyes searched my own, then dropped to my mouth and back up again. My entire body hummed to life.

With his free hand, Ethan ran his thumb over my top lip and down to the bottom one, pulling my lips apart ever so slightly.

I nearly burst into flames on the spot.

CHAPTER FOUR

Ethan

I’d resistedfor long enough.

Since the moment I saw her, I’d wanted to kiss her, touch her, and love her.Claim her as mine.

My hesitations were based on my past, but how long could I ignore the pulsating desire between us?

It drove me crazy how often she ran through my mind every day, but I couldn’t shake the thought of how special she was. Maybe I’d never figure out what it was about her, but one thing I knew for sure was that I waited, and my feelings hadn’t subsided in the least bit.

Our first kiss needed to be special, not at the town Christmas party where anyone could see. I wasn’t letting her out of my sight for the rest of the evening because I would get a kiss from her before the night ended. Without the town as an audience.

Instead, I took her by the hand, led her outside, and gave her a tour of the Christmas village.

“Did the place you lived before moving here celebrate the holiday like this?” I asked her as she looked around with wide eyes full of wonder.

“No, not at all. I mean, the city was decorated of course, with a large Christmas tree in the center, but nothing like this. I was never big on celebrating it myself, either, for various reasons. But coming here…it awakens a spirit inside you. It’s almost contagious.”

“Believe me, it is. I loved it when I was a kid, but after my father passed away, I kind of lost the joy in it. Only recently have I started to enjoy it again.”

“I’m sorry about your father, Ethan. That must’ve been hard.”

“Thank you, it was. My mom was never around, so he was my whole world, you know?”

Elise averted her gaze for a moment, and when she looked at me again, her eyes filled with tears. “I get it. More than I’d like to, unfortunately.” She sighed before she continued. “I never knew my parents. Grew up in the system, was never adopted, and when I left the orphanage at eighteen with a boy I thought loved me, I couldn’t have been more wrong. So the holidays were always a source of pain for me. But I want to change that narrative now. When I become a mom one day, I want my kids to experience the joys of the holidays.”

“Damn, Elise. I’m so sorry. I-I had no idea.”

“No apology needed. How could you know? The guy I thought loved me turned out to be a huge asshole. I stayed for a while, afraid of where I’d go or what I’d do for money. But eventually, when I couldn’t take his hurtful words any longer, I left. Had to grow up quickly. It was definitely a reality check of life on your own. But I made it.”

“You certainly did make it. And I’d say you did pretty well. Appleridge is a great place to call home. And the perfect place to find joy in the holidays.”

“I’m starting to see that.” Elise’s smile was full of melancholy, and I wanted to wrap her in my arms and never let go.

“I’m sorry life hasn’t dealt you many good hands. But I’m confident this town will bring a lot of positivity to your life.”

Elise giggled, and it was both cute and sexy at the same time. “You really enjoy living here, huh?”

I nodded. “It’s home. It’s all I’ve ever known.”

“Makes sense why people stay. The warm hospitality of the residents has pleasantly surprised me.”

“I agree. The feeling of community, of having everything you need right around you, and knowing people will be there for you when you need it is irreplaceable.” I loved how Elise liked the same things I treasured about Appleridge. “Some people hate it, but not me.”

“How could anyone hate it? It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

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