Page 93 of The Grump

I threw my head back, laughing. “You’re trying to bribe me using my own eggnog?”

“I mean, the problem would be that we’d then need a designated driver,” she pondered.

“We could just Uber, or I’m sure one of my brothers wouldn’t mind chaperoning us. Here’s a thought, actually.” The ideas were free-flowing now—which also never happened to me. I never dealt in what-ifs or imagined futures. I was a facts man. But this was fun. “We could go in a bigger group.”

“Does Bella go caroling?”

“Yeah, she does. Anthony and Beckett go with her, sometimes Zachary too.”

“I see. So, they’re easily corrupted when it comes to caroling.”

I nodded, moving closer to her once more. “Yes. But I’m easily corruptible too. For certain things.”

“Not caroling.”

I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

“Oh, you’re such a Grinch.”

“Stop saying that or I’ll kiss you right here in the middle of the street,” I growled.

“And you think I don’t want that? What gave you that idea?”

I pressed my lips to hers the next second. Though I couldn’t kiss her the way I wanted to because we’d make a spectacle of ourselves, and there were kids around.

When I straightened up, I noticed two of the kids watching us.

“Don’t want to be a bad influence on those kids,” I said, nodding to them.

Bailey turned to watch and giggled. “Whoops, we’re drawing attention to ourselves. So, you’d like to be a role model, huh, Mr. Grinch?”

“You call me that one more time...”

“And? What do I get?” She batted her eyelashes. “You’ll throw me over your shoulder and take me to the penthouse?”

“I so fucking will.”

She bit her lower lip.

“Why don’t we move toward the car?”

“Good idea.” Her voice was uneven.

I was going to spend the night pleasuring this woman. I was already making plans.

Fuck, I needed to change the topic right now or else we’d never make it to the penthouse.

“So, what other Christmas traditions does your family have?” I was genuinely curious about it.

“Mom and Dad weren’t big on celebrating growing up.”

I couldn’t let this opportunity pass. “And how do you feel about that?”

She elbowed me lightly. “I think it’s a missed opportunity. Christmas should always be celebrated, no matter if there are kids in the house or not.”

“My grandparents and parents agree with you.”

“You act like you’re completely different, yet you have your traditions with Bella.”

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