Page 75 of Just Add Mistletoe

“Lori, you really didn’t have to do this.” But he sat down and began to eat anyway.

For some reason, it brought her immense satisfaction to be taking care of him this way. Not that he couldn’t do it himself, but she wanted to serve him. Feed him. Nourish him. She sat next to him, and he linked her fingers with his free hand.

“Don’t feed the cat,” Lori warned when Tiger meowed like he was starving.

Malcom paused. “You’re telling me you ate this same meal for dinner but didn’t give him one piece of chicken?”

“I didn’t. I gave him two pieces.”

Malcom laughed. When he finished eating, he tugged her chair closer. “I promise I didn’t come over here to get you to feed me.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said. “I don’t think that. I mean, I’m a passable cook, but nothing that would motivate a person to drive over so late at night.”

“Mm-hmm.” He lifted his hand and brushed his thumb along her jaw. “What’s with the Christmas PJs?”

Lori glanced down at her person. Yes, it was true, she was wearing one of her pairs of Christmas PJs—this particular set had multicolored Christmas trees on them. “Well, Thanksgiving is over.”

“It’s not even December yet.”

She gave him her sternest look. “Christmas is in twenty-eight days. It’s practically over.”

Malcom laughed, then he tugged her onto his lap. Just as she grasped his shoulders for balance, he nuzzled her neck.

Lori decided she liked Malcom late at night in her apartment. His presence filled the space with everything delicious.

“So, what are you doing tomorrow, sweetheart?” he murmured against her skin.

His endearment sent warm goose bumps across her skin. “Do you even have to ask that? Decorating for Christmas.”

He lifted his head. “The store? I thought I saw the window decorated when I pulled up.”

“Oh, the store is already finished,” she said. “I’ve got to decorate my apartment, and if I have time left over, your place. Which is technically my parents’ place.”

His smile appeared. “Wait, is that part of the rental agreement?”

She stroked her fingers through his hair. “There isn’t a rental agreement, so I can do whatever I want as the landlord. Don’t be surprised if there’s a Christmas tree in the living room when you get home.”

“Hmm.” He kissed the edge of her jaw. “I’ll see what I can do to help. Right after I check on the condo project.”

“Yeah, right after you save the world, or more specifically, Everly Falls.”

He drew back with a wince. “Don’t let my mom hear you say that. She’s still holding out hope for Bronson and me to start a new company together, and for me to date Penny.”

He’d said some of this on the phone, but hearing it in person made Lori realize that Malcom’s issues with his family were still battering him.

“Invite your parents out here,” she said on a complete impulse. She heard herself say the words, but couldn’t quite believe it.

Malcom stared at her. “You want them to come here?”

“Yeah,” Lori said, her impulsiveness growing more confident. “You can show them around the job site, and they can meet your friends.”

“What about my girlfriend?”

“They should definitely meet her. I mean, if we’re really calling ourselves boyfriend- girlfriend, which you constantly do, then I might as well meet them sooner than later. Not that I think I’m going to charm your parents on a first meeting, but at least it will give them a face to talk about behind my back.”

Malcom smirked, running his fingers along her jaw. He leaned in and kissed her, softly. “I’d love for my parents to meet you, but only if you really want to. You told me your shop has a full Christmas schedule.”

“It does,” Lori said with a shrug. “But I have Marci, and we talked about hiring a couple of teenagers for afternoons and evenings. So whatever works for your parents, I can swing it. When your dad can travel, of course.”

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