Page 14 of Her Christmas Fix
“He’s a local seagull with more personality than sense.” Griffin grins, and butterflies dance across my middle. “His favorite pastime is stealing Christmas lights. I don’t know where he keeps his hoard, but I bet it’s impressive.”
“Edgar,” I repeat with a smile of my own. “I like him already. More than raccoons anyway.”
“That’s fair.” He elbows me gently. “I’ve got no plans Friday night. You want to check it out?”
His tone is casual, but the question makes my stomach clench. “I do, but...” I trail off, not wanting to sound paranoid.
“People might recognize you.”
“Yeah.” I hate how petty that sounds. I don’t know why I care so much that Griffin doesn’t think I’m enamored of my own celebrity. Those worries seem so far away, but if I let the fame find me here…well, my stay might be temporary, but I’m not willingly giving up this feeling yet.
We both turn at the sound of footsteps behind us.
“I’ll be damned. Griffin Meyer out before the sun? This must be a special occasion.”
“You’re hilarious, Kendrick,” Griffin mutters.
The guy who approaches is Griffin’s age with kind eyes and a knowing grin. He’s wearing a Salty Dog Diner t-shirt under an open jacket has the former military vibe rolls off him in waves.
“Noah, this is Monika,” Griffin says, and I can hear the subtle warning in his voice. “Monika, Noah Kendrick. He thinks he’s funny.”
Noah’s eyes widen slightly, and I see recognition dawn on his handsome features. I want to shove the discarded sunglasses back on my face like that will make a difference. I brace myself for some sort of scene, but he extends a giant, tanned hand.
“Nice to meet you, Monika. Welcome to Wild Rose Point.”
“Thanks.” I shake his hand, surprised and grateful for how normal he’s acting. “Griffin told me The Salty Dog Diner serves the best breakfast in town.”
“You should come by sometime.” Noah grins. “I guarantee my coffee is better than Griff’s.”
I choke back a laugh at the subtle innuendo in his words.
“My coffee’s just fine,” Griffin says tightly, and I see twin spots of color bloom in his cheeks.
“It’s better than fine,” I say and…crap…why does my voice sound husky?
Noah’s jaw goes slack for a moment, and then his eyes flash with approval as he nods. “I actually need to get the pot in the diner brewing before we open. Nice meeting you, Monika. Maybe I’ll see you around again.”
“He seems nice,” I say as we start walking again.
“He is. Annoying but nice.” He places a hand on my arm before pulling back again. “He’s done a lot of good for a lot of people. And he won’t say anything about you being here. Noah knows how to keep his mouth shut when it matters.”
The tightness in his tone makes me think there’s more to that story, but I don’t push. We’ve spent the past three days together,but he knows way more about me and my past than I do his. To be fair, it only takes a quick Google search to learn about me.
Griffin holds his cards close to the vest, which makes me want him to show them to me all the more. I find myself stepping closer to him on the empty sidewalk, close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes.
“Thank you,” I say softly. “For this morning, for…everything.”
His breath catches, and the air between us crackles with that spark I’m finding it harder and harder to ignore. “Monika...”
I don’t know who moves first, but a moment later his hands are on my waist and mine fist in his jacket. When he presses his mouth to mine, I have to lock my knees so I don’t melt into a puddle of goo at his feet. The kiss is soft but…god…so thorough like he’s trying to memorize the feel of my lips against his.
A horn honks somewhere in the distance, and we both step back like guilty teenagers caught making out under the bleachers. Griffin’s eyes have darkened to the color of burnt honey, and I can see my need reflected in them.
“That was...” I start, then realize I have no idea how to finish that sentence.
“Yeah,” he agrees, running a hand through his hair. “It was.”
We stand there a beat longer, like we’re the only two people in the world. I kind of wish that were true and that our time together didn’t have an expiration date. Then Griffin clears his throat and starts walking again.
