Page 33 of The Christmas Ring
If only he would kiss her and tell her how he really felt, how he couldn’t imagine being only her friend.In time.Give it time.
“I like this.” He leaned back enough to see her face. “I don’t want to let you go.”
“Same.” She put her hand alongside his face. “This doesn’t feel real.”
“But it is.”
She could feel Ben’s breath near her hair. A joy welled up inside her.
“Walk me to my truck?”
Vanessa nodded and he took her hand again. This time he slid his fingers between hers and they walked more slowly than before. Because Vanessa could tell she wasn’t the only one. Neither of them wanted to say goodbye. Not for one day.
Not now. Not ever.
All Ben wanted was to kiss her goodbye.
But he wouldn’t dare think about it. Not unless he knewfor sure that she was ready. His plan was straightforward. He would take her to dinner tomorrow night and ask her to be his girlfriend. If she was okay with the timing, then after that there would be no more wondering.
And a year from now, who knew?
They reached his truck at the quiet end of the street, and he slid his bags into the back seat with the others. Then he turned to her. “I’ll pick you up at your house tomorrow. Five o’clock okay?”
A slight hesitation crossed her face. “Text me. In case I haven’t had time to talk to Sadie.”
“She’s shopping?”
“Yes. At the mall with her friends. She asked me to go.” Vanessa lifted one shoulder. “We keep missing each other.”
“Maybe tonight, then.” He didn’t want to push. But there had to be some way to get past this part. “It’s still true. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“You’re patient, Ben.” Vanessa took his hand this time. “Thank you.”
He had to get on the road, but not before holding her once more. He eased his arms around her waist, and she slipped hers around his neck. Like a couple of teenagers slow-dancing in the gym, they stayed that way.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow.” He let himself get lost in her eyes. “Our first date.”
“I was wondering if you’d ask me.” Her eyes shone. “You know, since we were only friends.”
Like gravity, he felt himself being pulled to her. But just when they might’ve shared their first kiss, a sidewalk Santa walked by, ringing the loudest bell Ben had ever heard.Over the sound he motioned his thumb at the guy. “I know that bell.” Ben had to practically yell over the sound. “Eighteen twelve.”
“That right?” Vanessa raised her voice, too. They both laughed.
“Merry Christmas, folks!” The Santa waved at them. “Merry Christmas!”
The moment broken, Ben stepped back. He kissed Vanessa’s forehead and climbed into his truck. “I’ll text you when I get back to town.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to Sadie tonight.”
In response Ben only smiled. He started his truck, waved once more, and drove away. The minute he hit the highway, he did something he’d been doing a lot of lately.
Counting the minutes until he could see Vanessa again.
Sadie watched the man’s truck drive away, and then she saw her mom get into her car and head the other direction. Sadie dropped to the sill of the store’s front window and covered her face with her hands.
What had she just witnessed? She tried to draw a full breath, but she couldn’t. Her heart was in her throat and her lungs felt too tight. The images played in her mind again and made her dizzy.
She had been looking at a purse near the front window when the same couple walked by, the one Cami had seen earlier. Only this time Cami and Ella were trying on jeans at the back of the store.
