Page 40 of The Grump

I nodded. “Fair enough.”

“The Cajun display is one of my favorites. The Night before Christmas,” she murmured. “I love the attention to detail.”

The wooden house was simple enough, but all the illuminated figurines around it were quite a work of art. They worked well together.

“Want me to take a picture of you with it?” I offered.

“Oh no, I have a million. Do you want me to take a picture ofyou?”

“Not necessary.”

“Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes.

“What’s on your mind?”

“I’m just trying to piece things together about you, and I’m getting a very confusing picture.”

I chuckled. “I wish I could clarify it for you, but I’m not my usual self with you.”

She tilted her head but didn’t say anything else.

She was even more attractive than usual with her beanie, mittens, and red cheeks. They made her green eyes pop even more. Her dark hair was sticking out in all directions from underthe beanie. I wanted to kiss the living daylights out of her right there and then, so I stepped closer and then stopped.

“Xander.”

“Hmm?”

Her voice was uneven. “If we aren’t taking pictures, we should move out of the way before someone yells at us again.”

“I keep forgetting we’re in public when I’m this close to you,” I admitted, and she licked her lips. That did nothing to soothe my need for her, but we did move along.

After another fifteen minutes of walking, Bailey started to shiver for real.

“Damn it. It really is too cold,” she said.

“How about we head back to our cars?” I suggested.

She pouted but nodded. “Good idea. I don’t want to catch a cold during the busy season. You just never know with the weather.”

She raised her hands to the sky in desperation, dropping them back when others started to look. “Last year I was wearing a short-sleeve sweater. That was fine. Did you park in the lot closest to the snowman?”

“Yes.”

“So did I.”

“I’ll give you my jacket.”

“No way. I’m not even sure how you’re not freezing, but don’t take it off.”

“I can use my arms to keep you warm.” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“I won’t say no to that.”

That’s when I realized she really had to be cold. We quickened our pace, and I rubbed a palm on her back in quick moves, then repeated the motion down her arms.

When we reached the parking lot, we headed straight to her car.

“Who needs more layers when I’ve got a hot-as-hell LeBlanc next to me?”

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