Page 65 of Just Add Mistletoe

“I think I’d love to go to Florida to talk about tools with your dad,” he said, then brushed his lips against her cheek. “Will there be food too?”

“Of course there will be food.” She turned her face so that the next brush of his lips made contact with her own.

Malcom drew her closer, bringing their bodies flush as they continued to kiss. Someone laughed in the other room. Sounded like everyone was enjoying themselves, but he didn’t want to move away from Lori.

When she drew back, her lips were redder and her cheeks pink. “We should join the others, or they’ll wonder what’s going on.”

“What is going on, Lori?” he asked, lifting a hand and touching the stud earrings in her ears in the shape of little teacups. “I think going to your parents’ for Thanksgiving puts us at boyfriend-girlfriend status.”

Lori gave a little shrug. “We’ll see. It might just be tool talk.” She drew away and stepped out of his arms, but he grasped her hand before she could get too far.

“Let’s go out tomorrow night. Dinner somewhere. Just us. As much as I like your friends, I’m feeling selfish when it comes to you.”

“They’re your friends now too,” Lori corrected.

“Our friends,” Malcom amended. “You pick a place.”

She turned more fully toward him. “Okay. I guess we’re really going to date, then?”

“You did invite me to Thanksgiving.”

“True.”

He leaned down for another kiss, which was over way too quick. Because apparently Lori had an agenda to get him fed for the night. “Okay, I’ll think of a place,” she said, then drew him out of the room with a hand.

Once everyone ate and took off, Malcom drove Lori back to her apartment. “Thanks again,” he said, as they turned onto the street.

“Did you leave the trailer lights on?” Lori asked.

Malcom noticed the lights just as she spoke. He knew he hadn’t because he’d purposely turned them off now that the place was empty. Tomorrow, a semi would haul it off the lot and to wherever Bronson wanted it. He had yet to reply to Malcom’s text about it. Ironic that his brother should ghosthim.

He turned toward the trailer. “That’s Penny’s car.” Adrenaline shot through him. What was she doing here? He hadn’t talked to her since the blowup with Bronson. “Maybe she’s going to handle where the trailer is going since Bronson hasn’t answered me.”

“Should we call the cops?” Lori asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Malcom said truthfully. He wasn’t afraid of Penny, but who knew what she would do. The cops still didn’t know who’d ransacked his place.

“Wait here,” he said as he parked the truck.

“I’m not waiting in the truck while you face that terrible woman,” Lori said, and opened her door before Malcom could say anything else.

She grasped his hand as they headed toward the trailer.

Malcom’s heart thumped hard—he had no idea what to expect. When he opened the door, he found Penny inside, leaning against the counter, talking on the phone.

The instant she saw him, she straightened. “I need to go, Bronson.” She clicked off and stared at him, then her gaze moved to Lori.

“You’re still with her?” Penny said in a steely tone. “I thought she’d be temporary.” Her gaze bore into Lori. “Congratulations, honey, you’ve made it about ten times longer than I predicted.”

“Penny,” Malcom cut in. “What are you doing here?”

“Returning this,” Penny said, holding up his laptop.

“You took it?” he asked, disbelief pulsing through him. Was he really surprised, though?

“No, it was dropped off at Bronson’s house,” she said.

Malcom narrowed his eyes. Did Penny really expect him to believe that? “Like on the porch? The driveway? Or did the thief ring the doorbell?”

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