Page 25 of Taylor

She made her way into the bathroom and stopped dead in her tracks. There on the bathroom counter was her dildo. She had put it there when she thought he was gone. And thinking back, she hadn’t used the upstairs bathroom all day... but he had. Dropping her head in her hands, she groaned.

But... he had made this proposition after he saw it, so maybe it wasn’t all bad. Still, she took it and went and stashed it under her pillow. She didn’t need him seeing it for a third time.

She was showered and shaved and curled up in her bed with a book when there was a gentle knock at her door.

She hopped out of bed, collecting herself before answering the door.

There was Taylor. His hair was swept away from his face like he had just run his hands through it. He was wearing his Magic hoodie, with his name and number and gray sweatpants. Alice fought the impending swoon because he looked so good.

“Shall we?” he asked, putting his arm out for her.

She looked at his arm, then up at him through her lashes. Giving a small nod, she slipped her arm into his as she bit back a smile.

As she came to the landing, she peered down into the living room.

It almost took her breath away. More Christmas lights were strung up all over. The whole room twinkled with the combination of colored and white lights. On the coffee table were two plates of pasta and salad, along with a bottle of wine and glasses and two tall taper candles. And on the TV was the start screen forTheMuppets Christmas Carol.

She was going to cry, and she sucked in a breath to push away the tears.

“What do you think?” a gentle voice said behind her.

When his hand found the small of her back, the tears threatening to pour down her cheeks made their exit. At least she didn’t have any makeup on.

She turned to him, and concern took hold of his features.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing... absolutely nothing.” She took it all in. “It’s perfect.”

“Shall we?” He gestured toward the stairs.

They made their way to the couch. He pushed play before uncorking the wine and pouring each a glass.

She couldn’t help but laugh to herself. The mixture of lights and the elegant dinner served while watchingThe Muppetswas too much.

He smiled at her.

“This is perfect, really. I can’t imagine anything better.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“How could I not?”

They ate and watched the movie, one glass of wine turning into two, turning into cuddling on the couch. She felt so good with his arms around her. Nothing this new had ever felt this comfortable before.

“I’m really glad you ended up here.”

“Me too,” he said as he kissed her head.

She scolded her traitorous heart for swooning.

As the movie ended, her nerves twinged, and she was in no hurry to get off the comfy couch.

“What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?” she asked.

“Hmmm... I think it’s pretty stereotypical for a ten-year-old boy, but the year I got a Playcube. I must have played Monsters of the Realm for weeks. Growing up, my life consisted of hockey and video games. Socializing was never something I was good at, but I could kick ass on the ice and in video games.”

“You seem pretty good at socializing to me,” she said, looking up at him.

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