Page 21 of The Naughty List

“Pretty sure your ego doesn’t need any more boosting.” She grips my arm but her attention is pulled away when she notices Chad laughing hysterically. I look over, following her gaze to see him and Oliver doubled over. My stomach instantly sours but I shake my head of the thoughts and try to draw Kate’s attention back to us.

“What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?” I ask. She looks at me and then gazes off into the distance like she’s thinking about the question.

“Probably just being home with my family. I don’t see them enough.”

“You ever consider moving back here?” I ask and I’m praying her answer is no.

“No, not a chance. I am still very much in the need to spread my wings and fly and find out who I am phase.” She giggles a little.

“That sounds corny but I just mean I still haven’t figured out my career and I know that if I come back here, as much as I love my family, they’ll guilt me into working at my dad’s company because it’s safe and predictable.”

I unhook her arm from mine. “What are you doing?” she asks as I pull her till she’s facing me.

“You trust me?” I smile.

“Absolutely not.”

I grab her hands and begin to skate backward and she follows, a smile spreading across her face.

“Oh God, this is what my dad used to do with me when I was a kid and couldn’t skate.” She laughs and I spin her around slowly. She lets go of my hands and takes off. I chase after her and catch up to her just as she loses her balance and tumbles to the ground, taking me along with her. We lay in a pile on the ground, laughing.

“Are you okay?” I ask as I reach forward and brush her hair out of her face. She licks her lips, her eyes settling on mine as she nods her head. She’s stopped laughing and so have I. Every time I look into her eyes my pulse races, my heart feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest, and my stomach clenches with excitement.

“Kate,” I say just above a whisper as I lean forward and catch her lips with mine. It’s barely a kiss, a hint of a kiss as our lips brush.

“I think I’m ready to call it a night,” she says, getting to her feet. “If it’s okay, you mind passing on the Christkindle market?”

“Of course.” I take her hand and lead us back off the ice where we turn in our skates and make the walk back to my SUV. I want to ask her what’s wrong but I already know the answer. The moment the air thickened between us and our lips touched, reality came crashing back to her and she looked at me like I was just Damon Wells, her boss.

The car ride is quick but silent. So is the walk back to her room.

“You want to drink cocoa by the outdoor fire pit? It’s only just after nine.” I agree and we make our way down to the kitchen. I step onto the deck and turn on the fire while Kate makes us each a mug of cocoa before joining me outside.

“So Miss Flowers.”

“Oh, back to Miss Flowers, huh?” She gives me a coy smile.

“Kate. What would be your dream job?” She lets her head fall back against the high back of the Adirondack chair, the steam from the hot chocolate in her mug rising and then disappearing.

“I still don’t know but—” She hesitates briefly. “Don’t laugh but I’d love to do something with theater or acting still. I just love everything about it.”

“I think that’s great; I’d never laugh at that.” I furrow my brows a little at the thought that she thinks I’d make fun of her dreams.

“Well, it’s not exactly corporate America, kicking ass and taking names like you, my dad, and my brother. Besides, you’ve never really been the type to encourage me to follow my dreams, more like ‘get my damn coffee and so help me God if you spill it on my laptop again, I will ruin you.’” She says the last part in a mocking tone, like she’s impersonating me.

“Man, your boss sounds like a prick,” I joke, then take a sip of my cocoa.

“So was finance always your dream? What does your dad do?”

I feel my chest tighten the minute she starts asking about my family. “Yeah, I was always good with numbers and I knew I didn’t want to do general accounting or just mathematics. I enjoy business as well so it worked out well for me. My dad is in construction. He didn’t go to college which is why he insisted I go. Still made a good life for himself though, supported us,” I say, hoping my answer suffices.

“Is it just you or you have any siblings?” she asks with genuine curiosity.

“This could seriously use some whipped cream,” I say with a smile. “Have any?”

“I’m sure we do. Let me check.” She gets up and walks inside, returning momentarily with a can of Reddi-wip.

“Hey, not to change the subject, but…” No, please do, I think to myself and feel a bit of relief at her comment. “I always hang out with three friends from high school when I’m home. It’s our chance to catch up since they still live here. You’re more than welcome to come but I also don’t want it to be boring or awkward for you to hang out with more strangers.”

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