Page 16 of Her Paramedic
Talia shook her head. “Not currently.”
“Come to Maximus’ party with me.”
“Mm, I wouldn’t want to crash the festivities.”
He raised a brow at her. “You wouldn’t be crashing. You’d be coming as my plus one. We’d head out the morning of the thirty-first and return on the first.”
“If we show up together, they’ll think we’re dating,” she teased.
We are.“You could tell them we’re friends.”
“Do you kiss all your friends?”
She was still teasing him, and Slate couldn’t help himself as he softly kissed her lips. “Just you,” he spoke against them.
She hummed. “I’ll think about it and let you know.”
They went back to making their ornaments and engaged in a different conversation.
Their last stop was the Riverwalk. Slate thought it would be the perfect place to end their time together. There were shops, bars, and restaurants. The boating section was closed, but it wouldn’t be the only time he brought her.
“What’s the plan?” she asked as she looked around.
“A short walk, taking in the art, and dinner. We can stop in a few shops afterward.” In one of her texts, she stated she might want to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.
“Sounds perfect.”
The sun had already set, and despite the weather and the bustle of the Riverwalk, the soft illumination gave it a warm feel. They viewed the artwork, taking in the statues, stone benches, and murals. They took pictures at the fountain and the historic flood wall. He let her choose which restaurant they went to for dinner, and after asking him if he had a shellfish allergy, she chose Blue Ocean Sushi Bar.
After dinner, they stopped in a few stores, and she found two Christmas presents before they returned to his house. It was going on ten, and he knew she needed to head home. He’d toyed with the idea of her staying with him for the night so she wouldn’t have to drive back so late, but he knew she would turnhim down. He also didn’t want her to think he was pushing her boundaries by doing so.
When they arrived at his house, he put her shopping bags in the backseat of her car.
“I had fun,” she stated, standing at the opening of the car door.
“So did I. I’m hoping you’ll let me take you out again soon.”
“Let me know when you’re free,” she responded with a smile.
“Will do, gorgeous.” Slate leaned in, stopping himself short, and kissed her temple. “Let me know when you make it home. Goodnight, Talia.”
“Goodnight, Slate.”
He watched her drive away and turn off his block before entering the house. He chose a show to watch until Talia told him she’d arrived home safely.
5
“Where do you want this, Ma?” Slate asked, holding up the little Santa Claus.
“On the mantle, please.”
It was Christmas Eve, and he was visiting his parents for the holiday. Since he had worked the night before, he’d arrived that morning, and they were decorating the tree and the living room. It was a tradition his mother liked to keep, so they always decorated when he arrived, regardless of when that was.
His dad was currently stringing lights around the tree while his mother separated the ornaments. Christmas was never a significant affair for them, with most of the family spread out. It was typically the three of them, and they’d see the rest of their family at their summer gathering.
Christmas classics filtered through the speakers, his mom humming along, while he placed the rest of the decorations around the living room and hung the stockings on the fireplace mantle.
“How’s the new car coming along?” his dad asked while they added ornaments to the tree.
