Page 9 of Blame It On The Reindeer

“That’s the same thing I said when you started talking about the Frozen Palooza.” He winked as if I would find him funny.

I didn’t. He was downright infuriating, and I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the dick and steal his reindeer.

“Frosty Fest,” I snarled, hands planted firmly on my hips.

“Tomayto- tomahto.”

“No,” I growled, shaking my head as I followed him into the kitchen. “You don’t get to dismiss it as something stupid that you make fun of. Frosty Fest is an amazing event that helps hundreds of people every year. You don’t get to discount it just because you’re some cranky grinch who hates Christmas, Brody.”

He opened the refrigerator and then closed it, locking his eyes on me.

“How do you know my name?”

My eyes fluttered rapidly as I tried to figure out where that came from.

“What?”

“How do you know my name? I didn’t tell you.”

He leaned against the counter, arms folded over his chest as he studied me.

My face heated with embarrassment, knowing I was going to have to come clean about how I knew so much about him.

“It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s name,” I countered, trying my best to appear unphased by his question.

“I don’t know yours.”

“Well, that, my friend, is because you didn’t bother to ask.” I pointed my finger at him, spinning it in circles as I tried to stay focused. “I don’t want to keep bringing it up, but your manners kind of suck. I mean, who has several conversations with someone and doesn’t even know their name? Sheesh.” I looked away before I made more embarrassing noises, my blush already showing how uncomfortable I was to be put on the spot.

“Yeah, well, we haven’t had an actual conversation until today. You just keep showing up and forcing yourself on me.”

My jaw dropped at his words.

“I did NOT force myself on you,” I objected, stepping closer to him as I poked a finger at his chest.Man, that’s hard.“I never asked you to hoist me in the air and put your face right by my lady bits. You did all of that yourself. If anything,youmight be the one forcing yourself ontome.”

I stepped back, needing distance between us to keep the fog from taking over my head. There was this pull I felt every time I got too close to him, and even though I was curious about it, I also knew I would be the one to get burned.

“I had to lift you to get you unstuck from the post—which you wouldn’t have gotten stuck on had you not been forcing yourself onto my property and looking around when you weren’t invited.”

My mouth opened to contest what he was saying, but the words wouldn’t come out.

“Do you eat meat?” he asked, suddenly changing the subject as he opened the fridge again.

“Meat?”

Was he subtly flirting with me? Was meat code word for something else? I had no idea what he was packing, but I could possibly be interested in checking out his sausage—if that was what he meant.

“Steak, specifically.”

I shook my head, feeling like my brain cells were depleting quickly.

“For dinner,” he continued, unamused. “I’m making steak and baked potatoes for dinner. Do you want some, or are you one of those who only eat organic plant stuff?”

I took a deep breath in, hoping the oxygen would restore my ability to think clearly around this man.

“Yes, I eat steak.”

“How do you like it cooked?”

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