Page 52 of Stocking Stuffers
“Whew, that could have gone horribly wrong,” the lead singer said as she reached the mic again. Then she started another verse of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”
“Will you dance with me?” Sasha asked, her cheeks pink and her hands shaking.
He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t believe she was here for him. He pulled her close and held her like he couldn’t, wouldn’t ever let her go.
She rested her temple against his cheek, and they swayed to the sweet music, caught up in their own world, their own song.
Once the song was over, Perry kissed her ear. “I want to show you something.”
“Is it dirty? Because I’m in for dirty.”
Laughing, he tugged her deeper into his arms. “No. We’re not hiding behind that. I’ve always dreamed of bringing a woman to the Soiree. I don’t want this to end yet.”
She ducked her head and snaked her hands up his back.
“I don’t want it to end either. You look handsome, by the way. I love the suspenders and bowtie. And see, we match.”
She held up her sleeve of satin. The deep shiny green matched the darkest forest on his plaid bowtie.
Pressing his forehead to hers, he said, “We match. We fit. Follow me. I’m going to show you the prettiest place on the property tonight.”
She tipped her head back and met his eyes. A slice of fear flickered through her gaze.
“Don’t be scared,” he said.
She smiled. “Lead the way.”
Perry held tight to Sasha’s hand as he led her through the house. Candlelight made her skin glow.
“We need to grab our coats.”
They made their way to the coat check to retrieve hers. It was that same green trench. The color on her reminded him of Santa’s elves, especially with her pixie-ish face. She was gorgeous—vibrant and fun and sunny. He grabbed his coat and scarf from the coat closet by the front door.
His heart felt too big for his chest, and he couldn’t stop kissing her. In fact, they’d had to stop every twenty feet so he could press his joy into her lips again and again. Eventually, they made it to the back door. He opened it and escorted her out into the cold.
There was still snow on the ground but not as much as the days before. The temperature was below freezing tonight, but the sky was clear and the moon bright. Christmas lights lined the walkway to the gazebo. An older couple was snuggling on the swing on the back porch, but other than them, they were alone out here.
They reached the gazebo, which was alight with warm lanterns and candles. Several heaters kept the small circular space toasty, despite the biting cold outside. A speaker piped in the music from Cherry and the Pits.
Sasha turned in a circle, her skirt swirling around her legs, and his pulse hitched, his heart soaring. She stopped with her back to him, gazing toward a huge white pine tree dripping in snow and colorful Christmas lights.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “I can admit that now, right? That you guys here at Winterberry know how to make Christmas beautiful.”
He needed to see her here among the candles—her cheeks and nose rosy from the cold, lights reflecting in her big blue eyes, so he turned her slowly back toward him. He tipped her chin up, and she parted her kissable lips.
“You’rebeautiful.”
The corners of her lips quirked. “What if all this between us is Christmas fever? What if it wears off?”
“It won’t,” he said. “For me, it won’t.”
“You’re so sure after two nights together?”
“Aren’t you? Because you just stood up on a stage in front of a large crowd and admitted your undying devotion,” he teased.
She playfully pushed him away, then reeled him back in and kissed him soundly on the lips. “I’m sure. More than I’ve been in a long time. It’s not me I’m worried about.”
He cupped her cheeks and thumbed her berry-red bottom lip. He had gloves in his coat pocket but preferred the warmth of her skin to the scratchy wool. “You inspire me. You brighten up every room you’re in. You’re hilarious and brash and beautiful. I want to spend as much time in your orbit as possible. My life is in shambles, and I know it’ll take time to earn your trust. And I also know that nothing is guaranteed. But, Sasha, I’ve never been so positive that someone is special and that what we feel for each other is special. I knew it the moment you dropped the Pulse 2 on my sister’s hardwood floor.”
