Page 29 of Just Add Mistletoe

Malcom picked up the pen and wrote down both of their names on the next line, then he put in parenthesis:Call me at this number . . .

“We’re not staying all night?”

He chuckled. “We can if you want.”

Lori glanced over at the table with his brother and the others. Penny hadn’t touched her dessert, and although she seemed to be talking to her sister, her eyes were definitely on Malcom.

“Not unless there’s second dessert.”

“Now you’re talking,” he said in a low voice. “I like a woman who doesn’t skip dessert.”

Lori raised her brows. “Now whose standards are low?”

He only grinned.

Applause broke out for the end of whatever the MC had said, and the music started again. They continued down the line of tables, and Malcom signed up for two more things. Lori bid on a book basket.

“We should dance,” Malcom said. “You know, solidify our date, then get out of here.”

“You’resoromantic,” she said with a laugh.

He led her to the dance floor, where a few other couples had started dancing.

“Is she watching us?” Lori asked as she moved into his arms.

His hold was loose, one hand resting lightly at her waist, the other hand clasping hers.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Probably.”

Lori kind of liked that his eyes were trained on her. “What was she asking when you walked back from the stage?”

“Oh.” Malcom blinked. “She wanted to know how long we’d been seeing each other.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Three weeks—because that’s technically true. We met three weeks ago. She also said it was cute to see me in a fling. Then she said that if I wanted to have a more substantial date, I should have invited her. I pointed out that she was already invited. To which she said that she could tell you weren’t all that interested in me—and were probably in it for the free meal.”

Lori scoffed. “Wow, I don’t know if I should be offended or impressed. She totally nailed it. You did promise a good meal.”

“I did.” Malcom’s smile made her pulse jump around, or maybe it was how he pulled her a little closer.

He also slowed his movements, just a tad slower than the beat of the song. “How’s the dancing? Is it better than you expected?”

Lori laughed. “You’re a passable dancer. And you smell nice. Cologne?”

“Just my shower wash. You’re so full of compliments. I like it,” he teased. He drew her closer again, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes and relax into him with a smile.

His subtle scent was nice, and his arm around her was nice, and the bristle along his jaw was nice . . . well, everything about him was nice.

When the song ended and switched to a faster tune, Lori felt reluctant to stop dancing, even though her high heels were starting to pinch. She opened her eyes to find Malcom’s gaze intent on her.

“You totally had me convinced,” he said in that deep voice of his.

“About what?” she asked.

“That you’re actually enjoying this date—and not just because of the food.”

Lori tilted her head. “What’s not to enjoy? Even with Penny in the equation, you’re a good date—I mean, a good dancer. Because this isn’t a real date.”

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