Page 28 of Mistletoe & Mischief

When she turned back, Brad was closer to her than ever. His nose was only an inch or two away. Her heart pounded with nerves.

“Maya,” Brad whispered, touching her back. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. At school, I’m so distracted. All the kids know it, too. They keep asking about you.”

Maya laughed softly. “Do they?”

“Kids always know what’s up,” he explained. “I don’t know how. Adults have lost that connection.”

“I wish we could get it back.”

Brad bowed his head. “I wish I could kiss you.”

“Why don’t you?”

Brad tilted his head. “I’m scared, I guess.”

“I’m scared, too.”

“I mean, you just got out of something serious,” Brad reminded her.

Maya laced her fingers through his. “I know. It’s fast.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “But being here has helped me see just how poisonous that relationship always was. I want to start over. And I want to do it slowly. With you. If you’ll have me.”

She couldn’t believe how open she was with him. This had never been her style.

And then, as the soft snow piled up outside and a sharp wind crashed against the mansion, Brad pressed his lips upon her. His strong arms enveloped her, and she was cast into the warmth of this brewing love, her eyes closed, his lips opening wider. The fire cracked and spat in the fireplace, and Maya wrapped her arms around Brad as tightly as she could, frightened the violent winter winds would take him away. But when their kiss broke, they pressed their noses against one another, neither capable of speech. It was clear he wasn’t going anywhere. And Maya wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve such a tremendous feeling. It kept her alive.

ChapterTwelve

Brad woke up at five-thirty. Curled up beside him was beautiful Maya, her cheek splayed across the pillow, and early-morning light cascading across her dark hair. Brad’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t believe it had really happened. He couldn’t believe he’d actually opened himself up to new love.

As though Maya could hear his swirling thoughts, her eyes opened, and she smiled through the darkness. “Good morning,” she whispered sleepily.

“Morning.” Brad kissed her again, inhaling the sweet scent of her— vanilla and lavender.

“Are you getting up?” Maya asked.

“Not if I can help it.” Brad laughed. “Normally, I get up at six and go running. But I have a hunch that won’t be happening today.”

Maya turned and peered toward the window, where snow continued to come down in a single white sheet.

“They already called off school last night,” Brad explained. “I got the alert before we went to bed.”

Maya cuddled closer to him, nuzzling against his chest. Brad wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gingerly on the ear. For the first time in many, many years, he had a wide-open day before him, meant only for himself and the woman he was falling in love with. It felt too good to be true.

Maya and Brad fell back asleep until nine. Brad woke up to the shuffling of Maya’s feet across the hardwood, and he whipped up, blinking through the sharp light that crept in from either side of the curtains.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you!” Maya laughed and tied up her robe.

Brad rubbed his eyes. “I haven’t slept this late in decades. I feel like a teenager.”

Maya hurried over and kissed him on the cheek. “I have to run to the bathroom,” she said sheepishly. “I’ll go downstairs and make coffee. You stay here, okay? The rest of the house is freezing.”

Brad stayed in bed as he was told, watching as the final flutters of snow came down. Memories of last night flowed through him. Very late, they’d managed to cook an enormous meal together— steak, potatoes, green beans, and they’d drank wine, ate, and laughed deep into the night. Was it possible they could have many more nights like that? Was it possible this was the beginning of something?

Maya returned with a tray of hot coffee and croissants stuffed with vanilla cream.

“Is this for your food blog?” Brad asked as Maya settled in beside him carefully, positioning the tray between them.

“Everything is for the blog,” Maya said. “It means I get to eat to my heart’s content all the time.”

---