Page 57 of Christmas Wishes

“The icicle lights look great along the gutters too, and the rope lights are sized to line the windows and door.”

He turned his eager eyes toward me. “Like a gingerbread house!”

“Want to do that?”

He nodded, threw his arms around my neck, and kissed me. I pulled him in close and deepened the kiss. My self-preservation instinct triggered all the alarms.Nothing about this feels casual.I’d spent so long convincing myself that no one would care about me after my ex left. Then, Nico got sick, and I’d focused all my attention on him and keeping the business going. I’d let the part of me that craved affection and partnership wither away. Then Keaton had come along like a monsoon, nourishing me into new life.

After getting extra bundled up, we carried the lights outside. The wind had died down enough to make it safe to put up a few things. It was still freezing but not as biting.

I set the tub I’d loaded next to the front door. “Okay, safety talk.”

Keaton shivered. “Damn. Your bossy voice is hot. Give me a moment.” He closed his eyes and licked his glossy lips, which sent most of the heat in my body to my groin. “Okay, continue.”

How was I supposed to think clearly after that?

“We’re only putting lights on the first story. No ladders in this weather. I’ll knock icicles off the gutters before we go near the house. I’m on board with decorating, but we’re going to do it safely, which means minimally.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” He saluted me. “I want to knock the icicles off.” He rubbed his hands together. My ski coat swam on him, and his cheeks and nose were turning red underneath the hat and earmuffs. He looked adorable.

“Okay.”

I gave Keaton the rake and started directing him on what to do.

“Riggs?” He had anAmerican Gothicvibe, except he was holding a rake instead of a pitchfork.

“Yes?” I paused before going to get a shovel to work on clearing the path.

“I’m from Minnesota. I know how to remove icicles.”

My laughter came out in misty clouds. “Point taken. I’ll stop mansplaining cold weather and shovel while you work on that.”

Once I finished shoveling, I began hanging the icicle lights on the first story hooks Nico kept in year-round.

“Tree’s done,” Keaton called.

I looked over and frowned. “They’re usually spaced wider,” I blurted without thought.

He placed his hands on his hips, which looked funny with how low the coat hung on him. “Don’t you mean, ‘thank you?’ Or ‘that looks nice?’”

I wanted to pick him up, press his back against the garage, and kiss his sassy mouth. “You’re right. Thank you. That looks nice.”

He nodded. “Good job on those lights. They look good.”

I turned back to the gutter and lifted the light pole up to hang the strand on the next hook.

“Hey.” I hadn’t noticed him walk over to me. He stood close as snow fell on the trapper hat I’d lent him. “I can change it to be more like Nico had it. That would be no problem. I should’ve asked how you wanted it first.” His voice was quiet and sincere.

Was he trying to make me fall for him? Jesus Christ. I leaned the light pole against the house and turned to him. “Thank you for offering, but no. It’s okay that it’s different from how he did it. Sorry I reacted like that.”

“You never need to apologize for how your grief manifests, beefcake.” He stretched up and kissed the tip of my nose with his cold lips.

The smile didn’t leave my face as I finished hanging lights.

Chapter30

Riggs

I staredat the snowball in my gloved hand, then at Keaton. “This feels like a trap.” The wind and snowfall had died down significantly. Thankfully, the worst of the storm had passed.

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