Page 13 of The Princess Home for Christmas

She enjoyed the thrills that ran up and down her back at his breath near her ear. “Of course. I’ve only added to its magic.”

“You certain you wish to have them over?” His eyes held a strange intensity.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I? They seemed delighted.”

He hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “I’m sure it would be the most magical thing in the world for them all.”

“Perhaps they can add to it even.”

He squeezed her hand. “Perhaps.”

“Um, Thomas.” She raised her eyebrow. “Are you holding my hand in public?”

He held on tighter, perhaps to prevent her from pulling away. “This isn’t public. This is among family and friends.”

She looked around. “Looks pretty public to me.”

He shrugged. “So it does. Perhaps you’ve noticed…” He leaned in close again, which she loved, his cologne lightly touching the air around her. “I don’t care what the public thinks.”

She stepped even nearer, knowing the press had strict instructions to capture exhibits only. “I do.”

He sighed. “I know and I can’t figure out why.” He made to pull away, but she shook her head. “We’re okay in here.”

A wicked glint lit his eye. “Ooh, so this is secret hand holding? Sneaking it in under the radar?” He laughed. “That makes it ten times as fun.”

He turned to face her, close enough to make her catch her breath. “So, what other secrets can we sneak in while in the magical gingerbread haven?”

She paused, enjoying the delicious electricity that simmered at his nearness. Then she swung his hand in hers. “Hush now, you’re distracting me from the exhibits.”

They made their way through every row and Dahlia delighted in them all. She and Thomas pointed out details to each other as if they were children and as they got closer and closer to the end of the last row, she slowed.

When she turned to him, he smiled. “When can I see you again?”

She let out her breath. “That’s what I was gonna say.”

“How about in five minutes?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Be my date at the cocoa and caroling tonight?”

He tilted his head. “You sure you want that?”

She considered what it would do to her privacy. “Come with your family, we will host everyone and people can easily assume what they’ve always known. We’re old friends.”

A flash of disappointment crossed his face. Then he lit up with a grin. “They’ll assume we’re old friends until I put the moves on you.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Remember my moves? I’m pretty suave.”

“OK, no one uses that word, suave, about their moves. And yours were never anything like whatever that word is supposed to mean.”

He laughed. “Oh no?” Then he stopped. And sighed. “No, I don’t suppose they were.” His face looked so deflated, she couldn’t help it, she stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “But they’ve improved since then.”

She hurried out of the building and waved to the crowd that had gathered, then stepped up to the microphone. But all the while she was filled with the magic of Thomas. Could this really be happening? Could Thomas be as exciting as he seemed? She wanted to give it a try and find out.

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