Page 66 of Mistletoe Misses
“It’s my day to open the store,” I whisper, crossing the room to talk without tipping Sadie to our secret. He grabs my robe andtries to pull me into his tiny hiding spot. Despite my willingness to get up close and personal, I somehow find restraint.
Little footsteps pad down the hallway, and my finger presses to his mouth. She enters the bathroom and turns on the sink faucet.
“Come on.” Grabbing the front of his shirt, I pull him through the apartment and out the door. “If you need a break later, come see me downstairs,” I whisper and go to close the door.
“Wait,” he says, stopping the door with a hand.
Before I can ask why, his lips are on mine again, tormenting me in the best possible way. He makes me want to shout his praises to the rest of the town and destroy all the boundaries he’s set for our relationship. It would be his fault for melting my resolve with his unforgettable kisses.
“Just needed one more to hold me over.”
Pure torture. As he leaves me wanting like it’s no trouble at all, I curse him and hold my weakened body up with the doorframe. “Never stop doing that,” I whisper-yell.
He pivots to face me, all smug with the status as top man in my life, and the corner of his mouth tips up. “Don’t worry. I plan to do that and more next time I see you.”
“Is that a promise?”
Walking backward, he holds up two fingers in a pledge, then folds them into a fist over his heart.
And that’s just one reason why I will always love him.
???
“I’m here.” Kaitlyn waltzes through the store, her arms held wide to absorb all the praise for gracing us with her presence.
“You’re crazy.”
“Not exactly the welcome I expected for saving the day, but whatever.”
“You haven’t saved anything yet. I’ll reevaluate your worth once we’re finished.”
Her hands pop up to her hips. “Tough crowd today.”
With a laugh, I hand her a tray of paints. We have exactly one day to decorate the front windows for the annual Spectacular window decorating contest, and we’re wasting time. “Let’s get to work.”
“What’s the theme for this year? Snowy mountain views? Dog frolicking in the snow? Snow-covered forest with a tree decorated for Christmas?”
“Why all the snow scenes?”
“White is easy … no color mixing.”
“And lazy,” I tease.
“I prefer efficient. You only gave me one day, and great artists can’t be rushed.”
“You’ll live.” I flash her a playful grin, but it’s met with an eye roll. “Anyway, here’s what I want. I’d like a young Santa and Mrs. Claus under mistletoe on one window, and a little girl and white dog sitting by the Christmas tree, watching the happy couple on the other.”
Kaitlyn’s eyes narrow at me. “Is there something you’re trying to tell me without telling me?”
“Why would you think that?” I say in my best innocent tone, putting my acting skills to the test, and she buys it. Damn, I’m good.
“Because you’ve avoided anything remotely romantic, especially mistletoe, for the last four years,” she explains like I haven’t been present for my own life. “Wait a minute. Have you been withholding some hot news from me? Did you go to the kissing booth? I heard Maddox was there.”
I survey the store over my shoulder to make sure no one snuck in while I was occupied before returning to her, a sly smile peeking through. “Maybe.”
“Carmen Delilah Bennett. You kissed Maddox and didn’t tell your best friend. What the hell?” Her arms cross in protest.
“Sorry, a lot has happened over the last few days, and I’ve been busy.”
