Page 46 of One Night Seduction

“If you want her, you better knock off this charade with Kelly, and soon.”

“Why soon?” I question as he takes half a step back towards the shop.

“Because I’m wearing her down, and if she falls for me, I won’t be letting her go.”

With that, he slips into the shop while I’m left frowning on the sidewalk. A million thoughts run through my mind, and I have absolutely zero time to process any of them before everyone begins spilling out of the shop. Kelly and Marissa have cream and black shopping bags from the store in hand, smiling like their purchases are a victory of sorts.

Kelly slips her arm through mine, and we begin walking down the sidewalk for a little before a gasp comes from behind us. We turn to see Arianna’s eyes full of excitement as she nearly drags Tyson’s arm out of its socket towards the store infront of them. Kelly makes a disgruntled noise under her breath because if she’s not interested, no one should be, right?

Goddamnit, she’s a spoiled brat. I can’t believe it took me years to actually notice.

Looking up at the sign as we step inside the shop, I notice that it’s the Christmas store. All year long, this store is up and has people flocking to it. Inside sits trees, ornaments, décor, and the largest Christmas town display you’ve ever seen. Or at least that I’ve ever seen.

Everyone fans out, all heading in different directions. Kelly heads to the right as I keep moving further and further into the store. I’ve never been a fan of Christmas. Maybe because our parents passed away on Christmas Eve. Tends to spoil the mood.

Arianna, though. She loves it. I remember her constantly baking, singing Christmas carols through the house, and binging Christmas movies for days at a time. It’s funny, all these little details that I’ve catalogued over the years but never really realized that I did. All these little quirks and facts about her that some part of my brain decided were worth tucking away, keeping safe.

I stop a few feet short as her and Tyson are looking at the snow globes. He smiles, pointing at one before his attention is drawn to something across the store. He leaves her side, but she hasn’t even noticed, too enraptured with the item in her hands. I can’t help but take a few steps closer, the curiosity of what could hold her interest so intensely too overwhelming to ignore.

When I’m only a step or two behind her, I’m able to look over her shoulder and see what she’s holding. It’s a silver-plated base with a little cabin, trees, and a family out front. As she tilts the snow globe, the snow falls, dusting the entire scene. The white glitter swirls, and I don’t need to see Arianna’s eyes to know that she’s transfixed.

“Beautiful,” I murmur.

She nearly jumps out of her skin, gasping as the snow globe goes flying. I reach out, grabbing it easily before it shatters. Her breathing is ragged, eyes wide as I offer the snow globe back to her.

“I didn’t hear you,” she says, her eyes glued to mine.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t, I just…you’re fine.”

I nod, attempting to offer it to her once more. She grabs it from me, looking at it once more before placing it back on the shelf. Frowning, I glance at her.

“You’re not going to get it?”

“Why would I?” she asks.

“You like it.”

Arianna shrugs. “I like a lot of things, doesn’t mean I need it.”

“But you want it,” I point out.

She doesn’t argue. Instead, her eyes move from the snow globe to me, a heaviness dimming her bright blue orbs.

“Just because you want something doesn’t mean it’s good for you. A want and a need are two very different things.”

Her double meaning strikes a nerve, and before I can speak, she’s making her way back to the front of the store. I’m left standing there for several seconds, unsure how to process her words, when the sound of the door chime catches my attention. Looking across the store, I see everyone beginning to file out. I take a step in their direction before I pause, looking over my shoulder at the snow globe.

Fuck it.

I snatch it off the shelf, bring it up to the counter, and pay for it before I’m back out on the sidewalk where everyone seems to be waiting. Murmurings of eating echo through the group, and everyone decides to head back to thehotel to drop off their purchases before meeting up for dinner.

Kelly glances down at the bag in my hand with an excited gleam.

“What do you have there?” she asks with an expectant smile, like I’m about to surprise her with something.

“Nothing,” I say, as I tighten my hold on the bag.

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