Page 31 of Say Yule Stay
“Is thisjustfor the waffles?” I taunt, shaking the can from side to side as I saunter back toward him.
“It can be for anything you like but I was thinking,” he tells me, shoving a big bite of waffle into his mouth before continuing, “we’d frost the cookies today.”
“Festive.”
“And I plan on licking it off you.”
“No objections here.”
“Didn’t think so.” He winks and then we’re quiet for a minute, both of us eating as the music plays and a fire roars in the living room. It’s cozy and exactly what today should be like.
“We should watch a movie.”
“Nothing from that channel that has all the same plotlines.”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“Your brother likes them,” Walker points out and I can’t hold back my laugh. “Do you remember when he went to that casting call in Chicago? The producers needed extras, and now every time it plays he makes me watch it.”
“He pauses it to take a picture of himself and texts it to me, so I feel your pain.”
“He’s exhausting.”
“But so damn lovable.”
Walker shakes his head. “You’re not wrong.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
26
WALKER
“Have you heard anything else about the job?” I ask as Lacey lies next to me on the couch, her leg draped over mine and our hands clasped together where they rest on my chest.
“They want me there on the twenty-seventh.”
“What are they paying you? I’ll offer you double. Just say you’ll stay. Or we can make ityule—you know, keeping in line with the holiday spirit.”
She grins but I’m not kidding. I’d do almost anything at this point to get her to stay. And who doesn’t love a good dad joke?
“To do what?”
“Manage our books? I can get you set up right here in town. You can work for us exclusively, or I’ll handle all your start-up paperwork and you can be a badass running your own business.”
“Walker.” My name is a warning I readily ignore, brushing her hair back from her face and cupping her cheek.
“Look, I know it’s reckless to ask you to stay, but I don’t want you to go. I want you in my space. In my bed. And I’d be doing us both a disservice if I didn’t tell you I’m falling for you. It shouldfeel sudden but it doesn’t. It feels—you feel—like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Sitting up, Lacey sighs when her lips press against mine, the kiss seeming more resigned than content.
“How about a compromise?” she offers, and my heart sinks but I nod, because if there’s any chance of this working, I can’t be the only one making demands.
“What if we try long-distance for a while? Maybe I decide that I hate the job in Chicago and then we can reassess?”
Her hazel eyes are full of equal parts hope and uncertainty, so I paste a smile on my face and press a kiss to her forehead.
“Okay, baby, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
