Page 50 of Yuletide Hero

“Are we an us? I mean, that kiss was … amazing … but does it mean that we’re, you know, a couple?”

Since he knew that Hayley needed to hear it said out loud, he didn't beat around the bush. “Yes. As far as I'm concerned it means we’re a couple.”

As soon as he said the words, he felt her relax. “I've waited a really long to hear you say that. I didn't think I ever would.”

There was no point in hashing out why she hadn't said anything about her crush, or he hadn't told her that he knew she had a crush on him, it wasn't important. What was important was that now both their feelings were out in the open, acknowledged, real, and they could start moving forward.

“I guess Jay Turner turned out to be good for something,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear, trailing his fingers down her slender neck, and settling them on her shoulder. “If he hadn’t decided to blame you for taking Kinsley then I might not have realized just how deep my feelings for you ran.”

“Sometimes things just have a way of working out for the best. Even the bad things.”

As much as he knew Hayley was happy—thrilled—for them to finally be a couple he could feel that she was still tense. One good thing couldn’t erase all the stresses of the last few days.

“Lie down,” he instructed, standing up.

“What?” Hayley’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“You look like you need a massage.”

“A massage?” She arched a brow, her lips quirked up into a smirk.

“Hey, these hands that you were just complimenting aren’t just good at playing Operation,” he said, holding up his hands and grinning at her. This was why he could envision a future with Hayley when he couldn’t with any of the other sweet, pretty, kind women he had dated before. They were friends, real friends, that had fun together, and this awkwardness of crossing out of the friend zone aside, they were comfortable together. That was the kind of foundation he wanted to build a life on.

“Okay,” Hayley agreed, stretching out on her stomach on the couch, her long dark hair fanned out across her back and down over the side of the sofa like a waterfall in the dark.

“Beautiful,” he murmured under his breath as he perched beside her.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing,” he said because he knew Hayley didn't see herself the same way that others did. It wasn't that she was self-conscious about her looks, nor was she vain. She didn't wear a lot of makeup, just enough to highlight her already long lashes and large eyes and accentuate her plump lips, and she didn't spend a lot of time on her hair, usually leaving it hanging loose. She was stunning, but she didn't let it define her. It was one of the things he loved about her, and he knew that she wouldn’t want constant compliments on her appearance.

“Liar.” She giggled.

“I was just saying that you were beautiful, and don’t go disagreeing,” he added when she took a breath and was about to speak. Hayley kept her mouth shut, and he started to knead her shoulders, she was even tenser than he’d thought. Knowing she was sore and bruised from the events of the last few days, Brian kept his touch gentle while still giving her muscles a good working over, getting rid of the tightness and the kinks.

“Ahh, that’s so good,” Hayley sighed contentedly again and settled deeper into the couch cushions.

“I know what would make it better,” he said.

“Oh yeah?” she asked, sounding a little suspicious.

As well she should. “Why don’t you take off your sweater? It’ll give me better access.”

“Better access?” Hayley propped herself up on one elbow, amusement dancing in her eyes. “To what?”

“You. All of you.”

Although her cheeks pinked in that adorable way they always did when she was anxious or embarrassed, she pulled her sweater up over her head and dropped it on the floor beside them, leaving her in just a pair of sweatpants and a simple white cotton bra.

“Brian?”

“Yeah?”

“You're staring.”

“Oh, yeah.”

She laughed, but it was a nervous laugh, and to put her back at ease, Brian leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips, then put his hands on her shoulders and eased her back down so she was lying on her stomach again. Beginning at her shoulders, he massaged his way down her body, working the back of her neck and then down her spine. Skipping her backside and legs, he jumped down to her feet, rubbing them from heel to toe.

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