Page 9 of Christmas Kisses

"Okay. How about tonight we go on a mini date? On my break from work. We'll practice more then."

"Thank you.” She fans herself with her hand. “I've got to go put my head inside the refrigerator now."

She gets up and moves faster than I've ever seen her towards the back of the coffee shop. Now, I'm left with thoughts of her and how I will use these dating lessons to make her mine.

Chapter 4

Sam

Ican't believe I asked Ben Hoffer to give me dating lessons. What's worse, I didn't realize I was so ultra-polite. I was shocked when he asked me if I was attracted to him. I didn't know how to answer that. I've just started noticing him more. He's definitely attractive, but I don't know how I feel about him. I hardly know him.

One thing is for sure, I'm looking forward to the mini-date we have planned tonight. I think I might even go home and change during the afternoon lull. I want to tell Brandy, but I don't want her to tell me this is a bad idea. With her, you never know where she'll stand on an issue.

In the middle of the afternoon, before I go to change, I receive the quote from Hoffer Handyman Services.

It's reasonable and a little low, to be honest, but who am I to complain? I follow the instructions to make the down payment and then leave for my place. I keep thinking back to how easily Ben handled my embarrassment. I felt like I was blushing the entire time we sat together.

I spend the rest of the afternoon thinking of questions I can ask him on our make-believe date. I carry a small notebook in my apron pocket, and every time I think of a question, I add it to the list of others I've noted down. It's silly, and I feel like a teenager doing it, but I acknowledge the fact that it's making me feel something deep inside.

Six o'clock can't come fast enough, and when that darn bell rings, announcing a new customer, my heart skips a beat. Why am I reacting this way? Isn't the Mayor the man that I want? I wave to Ben as he holds the door open for Amy to leave. He's wearing a tool belt that looks totally adorable on him, and he's got a toolbox in his hand. I wonder if the Hoffer brothers make a sexy calendar for the new year. They totally should.

"Hi Ben, welcome back. I'm going to be in my office doing some paperwork. Serve yourself as much coffee as you want, and the pastries that are out are game, too. Feel free to knock on my door when you're on your break. Oh, I mean, when you're picking me up for our date."

He gives me a big smile that makes my heart flutter slightly.

"Oh, thanks. I will."

I reluctantly go to my office. Honestly, I should have stayed out there doing some organizing or cleanup so I could check him out while he was working. It's too late now, so I sit down behind my desk and start inputting old vendor receipts. I work in segments of forty-five minutes, then take a break for fifteen. I check in with Brandy and see that I've got a message from themayor's assistant saying they saw the fliers I've put up around town.

Gosh, I sure am happy they acknowledge my hard work. As if. They don't care. They are not paying for this event. I start to get angry all over again when there's a soft knock on my office door.

"Come in."

"Are you busy, or do you want to go out on a date?"

My cheeks start to burn. "I'm good,” I say. “This is boring work."

"If I were an insecure man, I'd take offense to that."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. That's not what I meant at all."

He's at the doorway with half his body hidden, which I find weird. He then smiles at me and brings his hidden hand out, which is holding a bouquet. It's a mishmash of flowers that bloom in the winter, and I'm sure he got them from Lilah's shop down the block. This moves me more than anything else he could have done. But wait, this is fake, isn't it?

"They're beautiful, Ben. I love flowers. Thank you so much."

He places them on my desk and offers me his hand.

"Come on, or we'll be late."

I place my hand in his, noticing again how his warmth envelops me as soon as our fingers touch. Standing next to him, I can also smell his delicious aftershave, making my body hum in pleasure. Ben looks at me funny, but he tugs me along until I see one of the tables all set up for our date.

"How did you manage all that?" I ask.

"I won't name names."

Oh god, did he tell Amy about our date? I'm mortified. Amy is discreet, though, so I'll be okay. I think.

He pulls my chair back so I can sit, and then he sits across from me.

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