Page 102 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

“What the heck was that?”

“Mistletoe,” he shrugs, simply walking away. Whistling as he goes, he puts his hands in his pockets and puts a swagger in his step.

“What? Where?” Continuing his whistling, he walks out leaving me to glance around the room in paranoia. “Key!”

“It’s no use, Little One, you won’t get any answers out of him.”

“And what about you?” I ask Teddy while hip checking the fridge closed and moving over to the counter to deposit my goods.

“My lips are sealed.” Miming the motion, he subtly directs my attention towards the fridge. There, hanging from the ceiling, is a sprig of mistletoe.

“He’s going to do that everytime I go in the fridge isn’t he?” He grins and I shake my head, smiling to myself. I may make out like it’s going to be a nuisance, but we both know I love it.

Making his way round the counter, he gets out the chopping boards and knives. “So, what are we working on?”

“Let’s start with the appetizer prep. Oh, can you get me the cheese and summer sausage, please?”

“Sure thing.” I bite my lip, waiting in eager anticipation.

I step towards him just as he reaches out for the handle. “Mist-”

“Mistletoe!” Key shouts from upstairs.

“Holy reindeer and snowballs,” I squeak, my hand flying to my chest. Teddy chuckles and turns back towards me, stroking a hair away from my face. “How does he even know?”

“He’s probably used some of the cameras we bought with us to rig up the mistletoe sites.”

“There’s more?” I whine, good naturedly of course.

“There sure is, so you better watch out.”

Drawing me in close, Teddy’s hand engulfs the side of my face. Leaning into his touch, I stare up into his blue eyes. Sparkling with mischief and something deeper and more meaningful, they look like a deep lake sparkling under the sun's rays on a midsummer's day.

“I don’t know whether I want to. I’m kind of liking this whole surprise thing,” biting my lip coyly.

“I must admit, I thought it was going to be an annoyance having to hear his grating voice every time. But now-” Teddy leans down, brushing his lips against mine. “I can see the appeal.”

Closing the remaining distance, we share a soft kiss that feels like it lasts a lifetime. My heart soars and butterflies fill my belly just like they did the first time I ever shared a kiss.

These three men came into my life like a battering ram, yet their presence has made the softest intrusion and brought about with it the most pleasurable and happiest moments of my life so far. I’m so very grateful for fate for leading them to me.

All too soon, Teddy pulls away, drawing a whimper of disappointment from me.

“There will be more, Little One. But we need to prep dinner for tomorrow, don’t we?”

“Oh, crap!” Glancing at the clock, I groan. “Yes, yes we do. Quick get the veggies out and-”

Teddy laughs once more, placing a sweet kiss on my head and corralling me back to my station. “You get working on the gingerbread and I’ll sort the veggies.”

“Mistletoe!” Key’s shout comes again when Teddy gets back to the fridge.

“If you want this one to count, you better come down and slap a fat one on me yourself, pretty boy!”

We exchange smiles and Teddy throws me a wink as he kicks the fridge door shut and comes over with his arms ladened with vegetables. What’s even more entertaining, is Teddy hasn’t even had time to put them down on the counter when the sound of thunderous footsteps fills the room.

Barreling into the kitchen, an out of breath Key searches out Teddy, who’s frozen in shock at my side.

“Where are you, big boy?”

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