Page 78 of Merry Me
“Walk,” I said again, quietly.
She hesitated. And then, without a word, she reached out and offered me her hand.
I didn’t hesitate.
I took it.
Warm. Steady. Familiar.
And mine.
Not in the way I wanted—not yet.
Because what I wanted was to kiss her until her knees gave out, to pull her into my chest and never let her go again, to burn down every second we’d lost and start over from the ashes.
But I didn’t do any of that.
We didn’t kiss.
We didn’t say forever.
We didn’t fall into each other like every instinct in my body was screaming to do.
Instead, we walked out of that kitchen side by side, our hands intertwined like a lifeline. Like a promise no one had said aloud yet—but one I already felt sinking into my bones.
And for now?
For this fragile, borrowed second?
That was enough.
But fuck, I wantedmore.
CHAPTER 15
NATALIE
There were only a few things I truly feared in life.
One: spiders. Because—obviously.
Two: embarrassing myself at karaoke.All right,Iconquered that one this week.
And three: mistletoe.
Yes, mistletoe.
Specifically, mistletoe hung by bed-and-breakfast owners in dimly lit hallways when I was trapped with my infuriatingly sexy ex-boyfriend who was actively campaigning to reclaim my heartand possibly destroy my sanity.
Which was precisely how I found myself now—standing there like a deer caught in festive headlights—beneath a deceptively innocent sprig of green, staring up at it like it might explode in a puff of glitter, while Easton lounged beside me, leaning casually against the wall like this was just another day in paradise.
He looked annoyingly perfect, of course. Tousled hair. The hint of scruff. That one rogue curl flopping over his forehead like it had been sculpted by a rom-com god. And the grin. That smug, sparkly-eyed, full-of-trouble grin that promised chaos and kisses and at least three types of regret.
“Mistletoe,” he observed unnecessarily.
“You planted it here,” I accused immediately, narrowing my eyes at the offending greenery.
He had the audacity to look faux-offended. “Planted? Like I’m out here gardening with holly and wire in the middle of the night?”
