Page 135 of Holiday Friend Zones
I hadn’t really thought about what I want.I’m sure my mom will get me her usual winter-themed candle and thick, soft socks.It’s her go-to every year, but I’m not complaining.The smile she gets when I put the socks on immediately is enough of a gift for me.
“Bah humbug, then.”
“Okay, what do you want?”I look over at him, but his gaze is so intense on me that I strip my eyes off of him quickly.
“The same thing I’ve wanted for about a decade.”
“Which is?”
A small sound slips out of him.“I can’t tell you.”
My forehead wrinkles.“Why?It’s not like a wish where you aren’t supposed to tell anyone.”
“This one is kind of both, so I’m keeping it locked up for the time being.”
“Well then, I’m not going to tell you mine.”
He chuckles and hops off the counter.“Let’s get out of here.”
I stack all the stuff into the bins and put them in the corner, ready for us to grab tomorrow.“You know tomorrow’s going to be a nightmare, right?Don’t wear your fancy Deputy uniform unless you want it ruined.”
“My fancy Deputy uniform?”His wicked grin makes my heart pitter-patter a little.
I shove at his chest, and he pretends to falter back.“I think you wear it to pick up women.”I grab my purse and swing it over my shoulder, walking to the back door.
“You’d only think that if you liked seeing me in my uniform.”
“In your dreams.”I roll my eyes.
“Yeah, exactly.”
I open the door, and a gust of snow stings my cheeks, cooling my warming face from this conversation.
He shuts the door, and I lock up the country store before we walk around the building to the parking lot.
There’s a blanket of snow around us.
“Here.”He steps ahead of me, leaving two deep prints in the snow.“Step in my footprints.”
“Okay.”His stride is so long I have to half-hop to keep up.
I’m still focused on my feet when I realize he’s led me to his truck.
The engine is running, and I assume the heat is going.
“I can drive,” I say, turning toward my snow-buried car in the corner of the lot.Though it’s probably not the wisest decision to drive home in these conditions.
“We’re neighbors.Get in.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I climb in, and yes, the cab of his truck is warm.I try to recall seeing him starting it, but I missed it.Must be on one of those remote starters.
He doesn’t get in next to me.Instead, a big brush lands in front of my line of sight, and snow clears off the windshield.
After he’s done, he climbs into the driver’s side and removes his gloves, putting his hands up to the vent.“Shit, it’s cold.”
Luke looks really sexy right now, and that is not a good thing since I’m imagining unbuckling myself, straddling him and warming him up myself.
