Page 26 of Christmas Promises

“I’m suddenly kind of nervous.”

He took her hands for a second before letting them go just as quickly. But he remained close, peering into her eyes. “Don’t be. You’re going to be a big hit. Everyone will love you as much as I do by the end of the evening.”

He seemed to realize he said the wordloveand started to backtrack. “You know what I mean. Not love but affection.”

“It’s okay,” Laney said. “Old friends like us can use the wordlove. Even though we were apart for too long, it still feels the same between us. At least to me.”

“To me too.”

They stood for a moment, looking at each other, grinning. Laney lifted her chin, her gaze moving to his mouth. She wanted to kiss him. In the worst way. How could that be? She was supposed to be on her honeymoon right now. Yet here she was, all about another man.

But this was Nolan. He was familiar to her. Exciting, too. He was just right.

“What is it?” Nolan asked softly.

“Nothing. Not really. You look nice, that’s all.”

“As do you. In fact, you’re beautiful tonight. As always.”

She’d dressed in jeans and an old sweater with a snowflake pattern over the front, figuring she would be getting icing on whatever she wore. Regardless, she thanked him. “This is my ugly Christmas sweater.”

“For real Max has an ugly sweater party every year,” Nolan said. “I predict you’ll have an invite by the end of the evening. Come on. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

She glanced up to see that a sprig of mistletoe hung from the chandelier that lit the foyer. It was her chance. A mad, ill-advised chance, but she didn’t care. Not after everything that had unfolded over the last few weeks.

He turned toward the back of the house, but she grabbed his hand at the last moment.

“Yeah?” Nolan asked. “Are you okay?”

“I was wondering if you would be interested in going on a date with me.”

His mouth dropped open, but only for a split second. He recovered quickly. “I would like that very much. Tomorrow?”

“Sure. Or anytime.”

“I’ll make reservations for dinner at a really special Italian place,” Nolan said. “I mean, if you like Italian?”

“Whatever restaurant you pick is fine with me. I’ll be happy to be by your side, wherever it is.” She smiled, her mouth trembling slightly as she pointed up to the mistletoe. “Also, there’s this. And I think it might be bad luck or something if you didn’t kiss me.”

He gaped at her. “Now?”

She flushed, hot, her cheeks flaming as if she had a fever. Maybe she did. A fever named Nolan Hayes. “It doesn’t have to be now, but I was just wondering if, in general, you would like to kiss me.”

Nolan’s eyes danced. “I can say without hesitation that there’s nothing I’d like more. With or without the looming threat of bad luck derived from thwarting the mistletoe tradition.”

She let out a sigh. “Oh, good. I wanted to ask because I’ve been hurt, obviously, and I’m feeling kind of vulnerable and needy. I didn’t want to be hoping for a kiss if you weren’t interested. And I wanted you to know that even though I’m fresh from the breakup and everything, I’m moving forward with my life. Dating and all that.” Goodness, she was babbling. “I mean, dating you. Not anyone else. If you want to, that is.”

He laughed, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. “You’re one of a kind, Laney Gray. Should we kiss and get it over with, so we don’t have to wonder all night?”

She nodded, her mouth too dry to speak.

He flashed an almost boyish smile, one that sent a flutter through her chest.

Nolan tilted his head, studying her for a moment. “I haven’t kissed anyone in a while. Three years actually. Since Jill.”

“I don’t think it’s something you forget how to do.” Laney had kissed someone as recently as last week. Little had she known, Josh had been kissing Dahlia too. The thought made her feel slightly ill. Never mind. She shoved those thoughts aside. Right now, it was about Nolan. He was the one who stood before her, offering himself to her.

Laney’s breath caught as he stepped closer, the space between them shrinking until they were only an inch or so apart. She could feel the heat radiating from him.

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