Page 36 of Maybe This Christmas
Emma set the frame back on the mantle.“So, where are we going next?”
He took a half-step toward her.“I was thinking we could stop by The Peculiar Pumpkin.Brandon used to own it before he and Sabrina opened the lodge.”
She bumped against his chest.“Oof, I’m sorry.I didn’t realize—”
Without thinking, his hand came to her cheek, still rosy from the cold.
Her beauty overtook him.She gazed up at him, her eyes bright, mouth parted.He rubbed his thumb against her cheek.
“Emma, if you don’t mind, I’d really like to kiss you.”
Once, Emma had wondered if she’d ever feel butterflies again.She’d assumed that they died off the longer you were with someone.It was natural, given the complexities of daily living.
But the way Caleb looked at her—there was no business there.All butterflies.
She realized she’d been staring at him without saying a word.It was his fault for having the kind of hazel eyes you could get lost in.
He cleared his throat and started to step away.“I’m sorry.I meant it when I said I invited you up here with no ill intention.I guess I…”
He trailed off as Emma brought her index finger to his lips.“I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you don’t strike me as the type to be underhanded, Caleb.If you wanted to kiss me, you would’ve done it in the van, on the street corner…or here.”
He reached for her hand and cradled it against his.“You’re right about that.”
Their eyes locked in another moment before Caleb leaned down, taking her face in his hands.
“Last chance to back out.”
Their eyes met.She exhaled and brought her hands to the front of his coat, pulling him closer as the kiss quickly deepened.Caleb kept one hand on her face, and the other looped around her waist, leaving no space between them.
Her feet came off the ground as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
It was as if time slowed down.She wasn’t sure how long they’d been kissing when he pulled away, leaving her gasping for air.“Why did you stop?”
He dropped her back to the ground before taking a step back.“I…don’t know what got into me.”
Emma rubbed at her newly bruised lips.“I think we both know what got into you.Please don’t overthink this, Caleb.That kiss was enough to build a dream on, but it doesn’t have to be anything if you don’t want it to be.I’m just here for the holiday, probably, maybe, remember?”
The words were half true to her.But he didn’t need to know that.The last thing she wanted to do was freak him out by saying Falling Leaves felt like home.
Especially if he was merely interested in a holiday fling.Caleb was a proper grown-up, complete with kids!She wasn’t sure she was ready for what came with that sort of relationship.
As if he could read her mind, he said, “I’m not the casual type, Emma.I’ve had three girlfriends in my entire life, going back to middle school.Sure, I’ve dated casually here and there—mostly setups by my friends and family.But I don’t do things halfway.I don’t want there to be a problem between us.”
He was so thoughtful that it bordered on being sweet andalmostannoying.This was not a man who would break her heart on purpose, which made her want him even more.
She stepped closer to him.“I would like for you to kiss me again, Caleb.But I understand if you’d rather not right now.Did you want to go to the Pumpkin place?The inn?That sounds fun.”She rested her hand on the crook of his arm.She could sense the muscle there even under several layers of winter clothing.
He slipped his hat over his dark hair.“I think that would be fun.But I’d also understand if—”
“Caleb.You did nothing wrong.I’ve known you for three days, and that’s long enough to know you’re an honorable man.I like spending time with you.”She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
“See?That time, it was me.Now come on, I’m dying to see what a Halloween-themed inn looks like all decorated for Christmas.”
She turned for the door, Caleb’s soft laugh echoing behind her.“Whatever you say, Emma.”
By the time they stepped back onto a frigid Silver Spring Street, any awkwardness had passed.She tugged her gloves back on as Caleb took her hand, leading her to the crosswalk.
“I don’t know why they have this—nearly everyone in town jaywalks.”He nodded to a group of tourists, giggling as they ran across to the other side of the street.
