Page 40 of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe
Something flits behind Carver’s eyes, and one corner of his mouth tugs up. “The old farmhouse across the bridge? Peabody’s place?”
“That’s the one.”
“So.” Carver keeps his eyes locked on mine. “Does this mean we’ll be enjoying your presence around Abieville more often?”
“NO!” Three and I both blurt again.
“My parents are planning to list the house as a vacation rental,” I explain. “I came to town for a few days to help with the process. Temporarily.”
Three grunts. “In other words, she’ll be gone by Christmas.”
“Ah. That’s too bad.” Carver flashes me a grin. “I would’ve liked to see more of you, Sara Hathaway.”
“Well, you won’t.” Three’s voice is gruff, and I totally get it. If I had a sister with a longtime crush on the same guy, I’d hate to see him grinning at another woman too.
“As long as you’re here now…” Carver jerks his chin toward the mistletoe archway. “How about a kiss for the kids, Sara? For old time’s sake?”
I gape at him. Is he seriously asking to kiss me right now? Charity or not, the man is little more than a stranger. And for all I know, Three’s sister still wants him. I’d never break girl code, no matter how many years have passed since I’ve seen Nella. But before I can turn Carver down, Three edges right up against me, using his body as a blockade.
“Not gonna happen,” he says, except it comes out more like a growl. He’s even more protective of his sister than I thought. And my heart swells a little at the proof of it.
“Whoa.” Carver guffaws. “I wasn’t asking for Sara to kissme. I was talking about you two.”
“OH!” My whole upper body is officially on fire now. When I glance at Three, his teeth are clenched. But I shouldn’t be surprised. He ended things between us when I was handing my heart to him on a silver platter.
Why would he want to kiss me now?
“That’s okay!” I dig in my purse, hands trembling. “I’ll just donate the twenty dollars.”
“Thanks, Sara,” Carver says. “We sure do appreciate your generosity.” He nods at the cork board. “But Stanley really does want the photo evidence up on the wall to inspire everyone else to be generous too.” He hitches his shoulders. “Come on, folks. Surely you can offer one innocent little peck between friends. It’s for the kids.”
“For the kids?” I squeak.
Three shifts his jaw. “Just charity,” he says. “It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
Carver grins. “Yes, it does.”
I gulp.It does?
“Your kiss pic means more money for the kids,” he says. The next thing I know, he’s corralling Three and me toward the platform. I eye Three sideways waiting for him to launch an objection, but his expression remains stony and unmoved. He probably just wants to get this over with.
It doesn’t have to mean anything.
My heart pounds against my ribcage as we climb the steps to the stage. The archway is twinkling with lights and dotted by sprigs of holly and red bows. Carver arranges us directly below a good-sized bunch of mistletoe. As Three turns to face me, I swallow against the lump gathering in my throat.
“We can make this quick,” Three mutters under his breath. At least he’s breathing. I feel like my lungs stopped functioning the minute Carver suggested we kiss.
“Wait till I give you the signal,” Carver says now, backing away, holding up the camera. “I need you both in the frame. Okay, get closer, you two. Closer. Closer.” He scoffs. “Come on, man. She’s not gonna bite.”
Three and I inch nearer to one another until he’s towering above me, and I have to tip my head to meet his gaze. His blue eyes dip to my lips, his pupils dilated like big black olives. My lashes flutter against my will.
“You all right?” he asks. His Adam’s apple travels the length of his throat.
“It’s for the kids,” I whisper. “Just charity?”
“Yes.”
“And afterward we’ll never speak of this again?”
