Page 3 of A Little Merry

“I like marshmallows. The tiny ones,” I told her, envisioning them floating on the top of my warm cup, looking all melty and luscious. “They seem friendlier.”

“And that’s what we all need. Friends,” she said, grinning as I stood next to her and realized she couldn’t have been even five feet tall. Just a tiny little thing but full of spunky fire. “Now, let’s get you home.”

“You really don’t have to… I mean, I’m fine if you have somewhere else you need to be,” I said, thinking I’d done enough already to derail her night.

“Sweetheart, it’s past midnight, and it’s snowing. Where on earth do you think I should be besides right here with you, heading back home?”

I slipped my arm through hers, and we headed to our apartments over Laughing Goat coffee shop directly across the street.

We walked arm in arm and at one point, I think we skipped. She made me feel like a kid again, filled with Christmas possibilities.

Once we arrived at our building, she punched in the code on the keypad, the door buzzed for us to open it, and we dashed inside and up the stairs, excited about our hot chocolate. She dropped me off at my door and said, “You go on inside and get comfy. I’ll be right back with the cocoa and marshmallows.”

“You’ve really done more than enough,” I told her.

“Oh sweetie, we’re just getting started,” she said and took off for her apartment down the hallway.

Merry 2

The view from my new, super-cute, second-floor apartment on Moon Street took my breath away. It wasn’t a view of snow-capped mountains, the ocean, or even a bustling big city.

It was a view of the town square I’d just come from, where red bows, snowmen, a bright red sleigh, wreaths, and strung lights glittered brighter than the lights on Broadway and dazzled me every time I glanced at it.

I could sit and gaze out at that view for hours. I even fell asleep while sitting on this windowsill on my very first night here, but right now, I had a neighbor coming over with hot cocoa.

I had to have this apartment because of this view. I couldn’t pass up the large windowsill where I could sit and gaze out on that perfect small-town square. I’d surrounded the extra wide windowsill with pillows and a knitted blanket so I could open the window a bit to let in the street noise and stay nice and cozy.

I slipped out of my coat, knit hat, scarf, and red boots, and turned on my little fake fireplace I kept in the corner of the room. Then I pulled out my phone, selected Christmas music on Spotify, and synced my JL speaker so that Michael Bublé’sFrosty The Snowmanfilled my apartment with Christmas. I didn’t have a tree up yet, but I hoped to by the end of the day or tomorrow, if I got too busy.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

That was quick. “Coming, Noelle!”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Coming!” I repeated, a little concerned about her urgency, thinking she must be worried about me. “No need to worry, Noelle. I’m absolutely fine.”

I swung open the door ready to show her that there were no side effects from my fall, but it wasn’t Noelle. Instead, he was possibly the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He had longish dark hair that sort of curled around his adorable face, with the dreamy deep-brown eyes. They were the color of milk chocolate. And that body… holy mama! Broad shoulders and a bare chest that was completely ripped. He wore white pajama bottoms that sat so low on his hips, it was sinful to look at… but I did, anyway. I swear my favorite pink silky panties were instantly soaked through. He took up my entire view and must have been at least three or four inches over six feet tall.

The man took my breath away, not to mention my mind and body.

Wow… just wow!

“Can you please, if you have any compassion at all, can you please turn the frickin’ music down? You may love Christmas, and I get it, but it’s after midnight, and we have a policy in this building. No loud music or noise after eleven. I realize you’re new, but it’s right there in your lease, if you took the time to read it. Did you?”

I couldn’t speak, at least not right away. “I um… Did I what?”

“Read it?”

“Could you please repeat the question?”

My mind and body still whirled with the view, and now, knowing this Latin god lived in my building had my stomach shaking.

Could I pick ‘em or what?

“Look. Some of us have to work in the morning, and because of that little necessity of life, we need our sleep. So, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all,” I said, trying my best not to allow my eyes to wander down his chest and dream about what was hidden under those flimsy, low-riding pajamas.

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