Page 45 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
Haven’t seen me in a while? More like you stopped noting my existence. We work in the same hospital, dumbass.“Fine.”
“It’s kind of strange that you’re here,” he continued. “I’ve been thinking about you lately.”
“Who is this?” Jensen asked in my ear, his tone suspicious.
I wasn’t sure how to answer him with Tucker standing there, so I took a sip of my champagne. “Why would you be thinking about me?”
Glancing away, he shrugged. “You know, life goes on, but we can always look back and wonder if we did the right thing.”
“Oh god, he’s your ex, isn’t he?” Jensen asked.
“Mm-hmm,” I said.
“You were always one of the good ones, Natalie,” Tucker said.
“One of the good ones? What does that even mean?” I asked.
“I’m just saying, you’ve been on my mind. And seeing you tonight feels like fate.”
“Fate? We weren’t pulled apart by the tides of history. You cheated on me with one of the medical assistants at work.”
“All right, he’s done,” Jensen said in my ear.
“I know, I made a mistake. But you can’t hold that against me forever.”
“Actually, I can.”
When he opened his mouth to say something else, Jensen’s hand slipped around my waist, and he drew me close.
“There you are, darling. So sorry to leave you alone.”
Looking up, I met his eyes. He gazed at me with an intensity that made my breath catch and my heart flutter.
“It’s all right,” I said.
He turned slightly to look at Tucker. “And you were just leaving.”
It wasn’t a question or a mere suggestion. Tucker’s eyes narrowed in anger, and for a second, I wondered if things would get ugly. Jensen moved his hand from my waist and took a subtle step in front of me. But his body remained relaxed. If he was worried, it didn’t show.
With a glare, Tucker turned and stalked off.
To my surprise, he didn’t head for the bar or find someone else to talk to. He walked right out of the ballroom as if Jensen’s command held the force of law.
“Well, that was unpleasant.” Jensen softly brushed a strand of hair off my face. “Are you all right?”
His gentle touch made my skin tingle. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Good.”
The piano player began a new song—“White Christmas”—and it seemed to catch Jensen’s attention. He slipped his arm around my waist, drawing me closer, and took my hand in his.With his eyes on mine, he shifted his feet, and we started to dance.
“Would you like me to ruin his life?” he asked. “After all, it’s almost Christmas, and I hardly know what to get you.”
I laughed. “Tempting, but no. Guys like him usually make themselves miserable enough.”
“The bloody prick actually cheated on you?”
“Yep. One minute he was all, let me whisk you away and give you an amazing new life. And the next, he was bending some MA over his desk.”
