Page 10 of Mr. Naughty And Mrs. Nice

She rushes out of the room, still wearing the sweater.

“I’m buying that sweater,” I tell Elena as I grab Jemma’s black shirt from the changing room and follow her out.

I quickly pay for it and catch up to Jemma on the snowy sidewalk outside.

“That was humiliating,” she says when I grab her arm and turn her around. She looks like she’s in a Christmas card with the colorful lights behind her and the thick snowflakes drifting down, sticking to her hair and shoulders. The beautiful sight tugs at my heart. “I’m sorry I’m still wearing the sweater. Hold on, I’ll give it to you.”

“I have to see you again,” I say, hearing the desperation in my voice. I suddenly remember that I’ll be gone for the next week and my stomach drops. I can’t leave now…

“You want to see me again?” she says, genuinely shocked. “After that debacle?”

“I do.”

She sighs as she looks around and then looks into my eyes. “I just want you to know that I never do that… I’m a virgin actually.”

The sound of that almost brings tears to my eyes.

“Let alone in public… where I work… I guess I was just a bit lonely because of the holidays.”

“Lonely?”

“My family is back in Arizona.”

“You don’t have any plans for Christmas?” I ask, so giddy I can barely contain myself.

She looks embarrassed. “No.”

“Come with me.”

“What? Where?”

“I’m staying at my parents’ house for the holidays. Come with me.”

She laughs as she looks at me like I’m a crazy person. “You can’t be serious.”

I just stare at her.

“You are serious.” She laughs again.

“You don’t have to go to work now,” I remind her. “And my mother is anamazingbaker. Gingerbread cookies, yule log cake, a Christmas tree, roaring fires, red wine.” I’m trying to think of all the stupid stuff that Cassie loves about Christmas. “Michael Bublé singing classic Christmas songs. How can you say no to that? It will be a true fairytale Christmas in Vermont.”

“Vermont?!You want me to go toVermontwith you?”

“Absolutely.”

“For aweek?”

“Yes.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Maybe,” I say honestly. “I was the most sane person you’d ever meet until I laid eyes on you. Now, I’m feeling a little nutty, but I’m going with it. It feels good. I feel alive like never before. What’s the Christmas season for if not taking a chance on love?”

She can’t help but smile.

“Is your mom really that good of a baker?”

“The best.”

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