Page 3 of Christmas in Vines

All it would mean was that I helped her out in a difficult situation and that I was happy to have been at the right place at the right time. But God knew I would carry the memory of that kiss for years with me.

I couldn’t kid myself; if I had met Willow at a club or a party and we’d shared that kiss, there was no question that I wouldn’t be taking her home to tear up the sheets.

All I could do now was to be happy that I helped her out, and hopefully, she would keep in contact with me about being safe from that conceited douchebag.

I found the bunkhouse I was supposed to use—number fifteen—parked on the curb and got out. Hauling the duffel bag from the backseat, I stepped and got the keys in hand. The modest duplex was more than I had imagined Clarkston would provide for their people—but then again, what had I expected? Tents and an outhouse?

The house had a single light over the doorway, and I stepped in to see a long corridor down the middle of the house; I saw four doorways in the hallway—I guessed I was bunking with three other guys, none of whom I supposed were there already.

Or maybe they were asleep?

My room was number two, and I opened that one to see a clean bunk, dark linens on the single bed, a dresser, and a table with a lamp on it. It looked like a simple setup for a seasonal worker, and I dropped my bag on the bed and then flicked the light on.

As I did, my phone chimed, and I slid it out of my pocket.

Hi KISA, I’m home and safe with my dad. And he’s got a shotgun.

“KISA…what the heck is that?” I asked myself. It was clearly Willow, and I was glad she was safe, but I wanted to know what she meant by that, so I texted her about it.

KISA? Is that some government code name I don’t know about?

I kicked off my boots and sprawled on the bed, with a knee up, while watching the three dots dance the tango.

KISA is Knight in Shining Armor.She replied.

I grinned.Does that make you a Damsel in Distress?

What would she say to that? I watched and waited while the dots danced…

ChapterTwo

Willow

Ihonestly didn’t know what to say to Tyler—what could I say? Every time I decided to reply, I changed my mind, which was why Tyler probably saw the dots dancing a million times. I could not get that kiss out of my head. How was it that I didn’t know the man from Adam, and the moment his lips had touched mine, I’d seen supernovas?

I got that he’d done it to make it clear to Maxwell that I’d moved on, but…God, I still couldn’t wrap my head around what had happened.

Tonight, yes, I wasn’t in the best place.

Dropping the cell, I curled up in my bed and reached for the cup of chamomile tea on the bedside table. Tyler had stepped in right when I hadn’t known I needed and defended me from Max.

I’d seen stuff like that on TV and the rare romance novel I read, but I had never expected it to happen to me. It wasn’t the kiss alone; Tyler wasn’t hard on the eyes either. Even in the darkness, I could make out his features, too—the sharp shape of his nose and the strong lines of his jaw and cheekbones. It helped that he was at least three inches taller than Maxwell, and had been able to look down on my ex with such contempt and scorn.

My phone pinged.

Call me up if you need me to stand in for your BF again. I wouldn’t mind punching Mcdouche.

I laughed.I wouldn’t mind seeing it either. Thanks, Tyler.

No problem, sweetheart.

My heart lurched into my throat at that; how had he just unlocked a part of me without even trying? I loved pet names; they did something warm and mushy to my heart. It was the one thing I could say was girly about me. Sweetheart, love, honey, and baby; were all my kryptonite.

I’ll keep that in mind. Good night.

His reply came a second later.Sweet dreams.

I dropped my phone and cradled the cup with a chuffed smile on my lips. I’d never been so…unexpectedly thrilled in months.

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