Page 14 of Checked Out by the Grinch
“I think licking me off your fingers while you looked in him in the eye might’ve done the job.” She bites back a laugh.
“That was me on my best behavior.”
She chews the inside of her cheek as though she’s in thought about something more than what we’re talking about. “I appreciate you kicking him out, but you don’t have to stay tonight. He’s never broke in like that before. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
I take another sip of the cooling floral tea, buying myself time on how to respond. “I’d like to know you’re safe.”
“And I’d like you to come to the bedroom, snuggle with me until I fall asleep, and eat breakfast with me in the morning, butthat’s not what we’re doing here, Grayson. This wasn’t supposed to be an all night event. It was just two people doing something stupid together. That’s all. No strings, no keeping me safe, no cuddles until morning.”
I stand, sitting my mug next to hers. “You can call it what you want but it didn’t feel stupid when you were soaking my hand and moaning my name.”
She flinches, just slightly.
“I’m not asking for fairytales,” I continue, “but I like you, plum. I like you a lot and I want to see where this goes.”
“Why do you call me plum?”
“Because you’re soft and sweet in ways you don’t let people see.”
Her breath hitches, her gaze never leaving mine. Then finally, she says, “I’m sorry. I’m… I can’t do this. I have to think about Kade, and life is already so complicated. I… you should go.”
I nod once, jaw tight. “I get it. You’ve got a lot on your shoulders. I don’t want to make it heavier.” I step toward her, the heat rising between us. “I don’t need you to choose me tonight,” I lean in, my voice low, “but I need more of you. There’s no way around that now.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t speak.
I reach for my jacket, sliding it on without breaking eye contact. “I had fun tonight. You need anything, you call me.”
She doesn’t respond, but her eyes soften, and that’s enough for right now. It has to be. Besides, I’m not going far. I’ll stay parked down the street. I’ll watch her house, and hope she changes her mind.
Chapter Seven
Holly
“I’m pretty sure I’m the world’s biggest idiot.” I set Kade down in front of the reindeer barn as Evie and I crunch through the snow beside him.
It’s a gorgeous day for tree hunting. I’m trying to absorb every moment and memory as Kade runs his hand along the fence posts and points at Rudolf, but I’m still stuck on Grayson.
Why am I still stuck on Grayson? I can’t be stuck on some random man. I’ve got so many other things to worry about. I mean, I barely slept a wink last night. I need sleep. There’s too much going on not to get sleep!
“Girl, it sounds like he’s a nice guy. I mean, he fixed your water heater, he scared off your ex, placed your biggest order yet for bread, and made you come. I’d have cuffed him to my bed!” Evie snorts as Kade throws himself into a pile of snow, smashing his little fists together. “I get it. You want to put Kade first, and you should… but he’s never going to be happy unless you are. This guy sounds like he’s got it together.”
I stare toward my friend, my stomach churning at the thought of how idiotic I sounded last night. “I have no idea when I put up all these walls.”
“Umm… maybe when your heart got broken. Maybe when you thought you had a family and the jerk you thought you had it with cheated? I’m pretty sure that’ll do it.” Her cheeks turn redas the cold whips around in front of us. “You’re just going to have to take a leap again. If he hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”
“The man is a giant.”
“Don’t care. I’ll climb on boxes, and I’ll whoop his ass!” She grins wide as she speaks then raises her brows quickly as though she’s remembered something. “Since your book thing didn’t work out, I came up with another plan to save the bookstore. It’s not fool proof, but I’m thinking we do a Santa auction.”
“Santa auction, what’s that?”
“Like we get a bunch of hot Santas, and we auction them off to all the single women in town.”
“Why do I love this idea?”
“Because I thought of it.” She laughs and flips her hair back playfully as her satisfied breath puffs into the air. “I already put out an ad for eligible Santas in the Rugged Mountain Gazette. We’ll see what comes of it.”
I glance at Kade, who’s now trying to bury his gloves in the snow. “This is the exact kind of festive desperation we need. You’re a genius.”
