Page 25 of Booked for the Holidays
Don’t be that desperate girl,I remind myself before shrugging out of his embrace.
“Thanks.” I clear my throat before proceeding to walk again.
This time, the smooth soles of my boots slide, then the stiletto heel follows with a skitter. If these stiletto boots were a problem before, they’re even worse now that the snow has picked up. I stare down the icy, snow-covered path back toward my apartment. I’d wanted to impress Liam, to combat the embarrassment I felt last year, by wearing these sexy boots andnow the only safe way home is to crawl. The irony isn’t lost on me.
“You have a few options,” Liam says from behind me. “Piggy-back or Fireman’s carry?”
I whirl on him, staying focused on keeping my balance. “Excuse me?”
He shrugs, all smug in his perfectly weather-appropriate boots. “You know those boots won’t make it another foot, let alone four blocks. So, which will it be?”
I lift my chin. “Neither. I’ll just crawl. With dignity.”
He chuckles under his breath. “Right. Very dignified.”
“I’ll be fine,” I huff, though I’m already wobbling again as I try to take a step.
He raises an eyebrow. “Right. Totally convincing.”
I stop, heel skidding slightly, and curse under my breath. I could insist on powering through, but I’ve nearly fallen twice, and pride isn’t worth a broken ankle. I exhale sharply, then gingerly turn to face him again.
“Fine,” I mutter. “But if you drop me, I swear to?—”
He grins, stepping forward. “Piggy-back it is.”
“Hey! I didn’t say which one?—”
“Too late. I’ve made an executive decision.”
“Liam—”
“Up you go, Firefly.”
He bends down and places his hands on the outside of my thighs, then lifts me up and onto his back. Instinctively, my arms wrap around his neck, pressing my front flush with his back.
I sigh, tightening my grip around his neck. Loving the feel of being this close to him and hating myself for it at the same time.
“You good back there?” he asks.
I make a non-committal shrug, but to shield myself from the falling snow, I lower down closer to him. My head now tucked against the side of his, breathing in the scent of his cologne—balsam wood and pine with a hint of cinnamon. The urge to run my nose along the sliver of skin between his coat collar and the nape of his neck is strong.
I’m so distracted by all the Liam overload that I don’t even realize we’ve made it the four blocks to the shelter of the awning that is shared by my store and my apartment entrance.
Damn. I wish that walk was longer.
Click.
The sound of a photo being taken catches me off guard.
“What was that?” I jolt slightly on his back. “Did you just take a picture?”
“You looked cute.” He glances over his shoulder with a smug grin. “Couldn’t resist.”
“Delete it.”
“Nope.”
I wiggle, trying to slide down, but he hikes me higher and laughs.
