Page 22 of A Not So Merry Ex-Mas

I pick up the mug and smile at the snowman on it. Just before I start pouring coffee into my mug, I stop. I hold the carafe out toward her. “Should I be worried this is poisoned?”

“Guess you’ll just have to try it and see.” She turns her twinkling gaze into mine and takes a sip. “Milk is in the fridge if you want some.”

I swallow hard, then pick up the carafe and pour. I add some milk and teasingly take a cautious sip, making her shake her head and laugh.

Mission accomplished.

I take a full sip and relish in the liquid heat that spreads through my body, finally breaking through the chill from the storm.

“Mmm. This is perfect after being outside. Thank you.”

She quietly scrambles the eggs, and I stand quietly admiring her profile for a moment. There’s a steady heartbeat pulsing in my throat. My hands are itching to reach out and touch her. I quickly put my mug on the counter, grab plates from the cabinet and set them on the table.

I pull out the drawer with the silverware just as Noelle steps over, and we collide. Every nerve ending in my body fires, triggering my heart to race and my mouth to go dry.

“Sorry,” I say just as she says, “Excuse me.”

I put the silverware on the table and all but run from the kitchen. I need space. If I stay in the same room as her, I can’t guarantee that I won’t be able to stop myself from doing something that will damage this newly established truce.

“Breakfast is almost ready,” Noelle yells after me.

“I’ll be right there! Just want to put a few logs on the fire.”

And try to put out the fire that’s burning within me, begging to press my lips to yours.

I force my breathing to slow down and work to pull myself together. I rub my palms against my pants, grab two logs and place them on the top of the pile.

I don’t get up right away. Instead,I watch the flames as they wrap themselves around the wood.

“Will you go out with me?” I spit out, just as Noelle starts explaining the Lewis Theory.

“What?” The look of surprise in her hazel eyes and the pink tinge in her cheeks have my mouth moving into a lopsided grin.

She’s moving her mouth, but no words are coming out.

“Will you go out with me?” I repeat. “Just you know because I’m ‘Cole. So hot. Nichols.’”

I watch her pink turn to a bright red, and a huge grin spreads across my face. She bites her bottom lip and covers her face with her hands.

“Noelle.” I put my hand on her wrist and gently pull her hand away from her face. I like the feel of her hand in mine and instead of letting it go, I continue to gently hold on to it. “I like you and wouldlove to take you out. Sooo…will you go out with me?”

Her unsteady gaze holds mine, and for a moment, the world stops as the green in her hazel eyes pops.

“Yes.” A lopsided smile crosses her lips. “I would like that. But on one condition.”

“Anything.” She quirks an eyebrow at me. “Seriously, anything.”

“Anything?”

“Yes!” I shout, and everyone turns to look at us.

“Okay, you must stop reminding me that I made a complete fool of myself the first day I met you.”

“No, you didn’t.” I frown.

“I totally did.” She looks away from me, and I watch the blush creep back up.

“You were enchanting.” She looks at me, eyes wide, and I grin. “Sincerely.”

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