Page 40 of All I Want For Christmas

“Anyway,” Blue said, determined to steer this conversation away from the gas station guy’s fond memories of sixty-one minute hook-ups. “What snacks did you get?”

“Chips. Peanuts. Ho Hos. You know, in honor of Christmas. And a pre-made margarita mix and bottle of tequila so you can close your eyes and pretend you’re on the cruise.”

That was sweet. Really sweet. Even though all the tequila in the world couldn’t fix the fact that she was freezing her ass off with swollen feet from cramming them into her shoes with socks in the middle of the boonies of Kentucky in a motel that probably had Magic Fingers beds.

But she was willing to give it a shot.

“Thanks. Let’s get some cups and napkins then too. And could you please change the radio station in here?” she demanded, whirling to the gas station guy as the fifth Christmas song assaulted her ears and took her over the edge.

“To what? It’s Christmas Eve. I like Christmas songs.”

“Well, I don’t.”

His eyebrow shot up. ‘That’s un-American.”

Blue debated using her scarf to strangle him. “What does being an American have to do with Christmas?”

“We invented Santa.”

“We did not!” Blue opened her mouth to launch into a recap of all the cultures who had a Santa figure in their lore, but Christian shoved in front of her and dropped the basket on the counter.

“Go on and get the napkins, gorgeous. We should head out before the roads get worse.” He nodded at the gas station attendant. “It’s been a long day.”

“Tell me about it.”

Was she really being dismissed? To go get napkins? Blue narrowed her eyes. Okay, she realized Christian was just trying to prevent a confrontation between her and the guy behind the counter, but she still didn’t like it. She was cold and tired and now that Christian mentioned it, she was hungry. The fact that it was extremely likely she was going to miss her cruise had her suddenly feeling like she wanted to cry.

This was all just further proof that she and Christmas didn’t mesh.

“Did you change your mind about napkins?” he asked when she didn’t move. “And hey, look what I got for you.” Christian slid reindeer antlers onto her head and grinned. “Now that’s adorable.”

She stood there, seething just a little. A lot. She was wearing reindeer antlers. With jingle bells. “Are you fucking kidding me?” she demanded.

“Not in the least.” Then he leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose.

Just like that.

All familiar and comfortable and sexy and cute.

Blue was so caught off guard that by the time they left the gas station five minutes later, Christian whistling a Christmas song as he carried the bags, she hadn’t managed to spit out a single word.

And she was still wearing the antlers.

Christian beeped his car open and tossed the bags in the backseat, pleased that he had managed to catch Blue off guard. She had clearly been on the verge of losing it big time, and he knew she had good reason to. But hell, it was Christmas Eve and they might as well make the best of it, so he had wantedto snap her out of her bad mood. Plus, she’d looked so cute and pissed off in the antlers he hadn’t been able to resist kissing her.

He wasn’t sure he’d cheered her up, but he had definitely silenced her. That was a start. She had just stood there dumbstruck while he’d paid for everything in his basket, plus two travel mugs for their makeshift margaritas.

When they got in the car, she finally spoke. “Where are your antlers? If I have to wear these dumb things you should be wearing them too.”

“Mine’s even better.” Christian dug around the bags on the backseat and pulled out a headband with a giant felt Christmas tree on top and shoved it on his head. “See?”

Her mouth twitched, but she held back her laugh. “Very nice. How long do we have to wear these?”

“Until midnight on Christmas Day.”

“Good luck with that.”

“I don’t need luck. I have charm.” Christian shot her a grin and made his Christmas tree bounce.

---