Page 104 of The Thief Who Saved Christmas

I’m still embarrassed, but I would also like to get to the bottom of this. “Not really. He seems to…he definitely would like to. I can…you know…tell, and he’s been making his workouts even longer in the morning. The internet tells me that’s a sign of sexual frustration. But there’s something holding him back from taking things further.”

“He’s worried about Weston,” she says thoughtfully.

My mouth puckers at the mention of his name. Now that I’m with Ryan, who treats me like I matter and listens to me and touches me like he’s the luckiest man on earth because I want him to, I realize that Weston never cared about me. I, most certainly, never cared about him. The only thing he liked about me was his ability to talk me into doing and saying what suited him. The only thing I liked about him was his disinterest in involving himself in my hobbies.

I want to believe that Weston no longer cares about me or the B&B. I actually saw him from a distance the other day when I was at the grocery store. He didn’t attempt to approach me, even though I was alone. Surely that’s a sign that he no longer cares…

“Yes,” I agree. “And Ryan still hasn’t told me everything about his past. I think he’s worried I’ll judge him or throw him out.”

I wouldneverdo that. I know Ryan’s a good man, no matter what he did or was involved in. He’s shown it to me, my friends, my guests, and even my cat every single day he’s been here. He’s taken over my heart so thoroughly, there’s no piece of it left that doesn’t contain an echo of him.

“So maybe tell him you won’t judge him,” she says. “Or you can also give him a big, wrapped box of condoms. That would work too.”

I smile at her, feeling a deep fondness. My friendship with Cynthia has evolved so much over the past month. And with Joe too. Ryan was the catalyst. I don’t think he realizes how much he’s brought us all together.

So tell him, a voice in my head insists.

“I want it to happen tonight,” I say, my voice quavering slightly.

She gives me an unimpressed look.

“It’s going to happen tonight,” I try.

“That’s the spirit.” Cynthia pulls me into a hug. “And I’m going to take you lingerie shopping after my shift later, because there’s no way you’re going to get your seduction on in one of your grandmother’s old nightgowns.”

Little does she know…

The day passes quickly.The estate sale is a huge success, and afterward Cynthia picks me up to go lingerie shopping.

“Are you getting another Mrs. Claus costume?” Ryan asks me before he leaves for work, wagging his eyebrows up and down.

“Something like that,” I say cryptically and give him a very thorough kiss before he goes.

Idochoose something like that—a scandalous red satin nightgown edged with lace. Or at least I think it’s scandalous until I see what Cynthia picked out for herself—an outfit that’s made solely of purple straps but covers nothing important.

“What’s the point of wearing anything at all?” I ask when she holds it up for display.

This makes her laugh and give me one of her fond looks, and then we make our purchases. I have run out of time to launder the outfit before wearing it tonight, but at least it came in a sealed package.

It’s six o’clock—a couple of hours before Ryan gets off work—so Cynthia drops me off at the Curio parking lot. It’s stuffed with cars, just like last weekend, and there are still parents coming by with their kids.

I head inside, and Ada nods at me from her position at one of the front registers. She has another two cashiers tonight, and they each have a line of customers to serve.

“Our boy’s doing well,” she tells me, which makes me grin at her, even though she’s already returned her attention to the woman in front of her.

When I get to the back, my usual unicorn blow-up chair is waiting for me, and I smile when I see the little cardboard sign sitting on top of it:Reserved for Ms. Claus.

Ryan sees me sitting down and blows me a kiss, and I feel a swell of emotion inside of me that makes me realize what should probably have been obvious to me already.

I love him.

I love him, and I want all of him.

Tonight.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

RYAN

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