Page 48 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“Don’t tell me what I want,” I scold him playfully and reach out my hand. He’s right. I can’t imagine anything I’d like to see less. But his reaction has the exact opposite effect that he wanted to achieve.
But before Nic can show me, Kieran grabs the phone from her hands and puts it in his pocket.
“You clearly can’t be trusted with this,” he mumbles, evading Nic’s glare.
“Who are you, my teacher?”
“No, just the kind of guy who would like to retain an ounce of respect among his male friends.” He clasps my shoulder in an overly bro-hug way. I shrug his hand off.
“What I’m hearing is you’re fine with us not respecting you.” Lauren lifts her eyebrow and takes a sip of her latte macchiato.
“It’s clear I’ve already lost that battle.” Kieran sinks into himself, shoulders heavy with dejection.
Dick turns around and puts his chin on Kieran’s thigh. “At least you still love me,” he says dramatically and runs his hands through the golden retriever’s fur.
“We all love you,” Nic points out and pats his hand, though her voice is dripping with sweet sarcasm and a tinge of playful condescension. “I’m sure that somewhere beneath Caleb’s murderous exterior, he has respect and even a spark of love for you.” Her smile widens. “And what’s love without a bit of tasteful bullying?”
“I will remind you of that.” Kieran narrows his eyes at her and leans closer. “I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I’m going to get my revenge. And I’m going to remind youof this exact conversation. Remember. Payback and karma are bitches.”
Both Nic’s and Lauren’s eyes suddenly sparkle with mischief.
“Oh, it’s on.” Lauren rubs her hands together excitedly.
“You wish. I can’t wait,” Nic says.
Lauren’s eyes burn holes in the side of my head with how intently she’s staring my way. When I glance at her, our gazes lock. Her eyebrows furrow with worry, and I give her the slightest nod in response.
I’m okay. At least more okay than yesterday.
Even more okay when her hand subtly finds my thigh under the table and gives it a short squeeze before finding my hand and lacing her fingers with mine, her thumb tracing random patterns on the back of my hand.
Chapter 20
Caleb
“We could make the gingerbread into the town’s sign and have it sayGreetings from Wayward Hollow.”
Lauren brought some sketches for our gingerbread creations, and we are huddled over the counter of my cafe after closing, trying to decide which to pick. And that means she’s trying to decide. I’m pretending to be interested while letting her do her thing and subtly admiring her instead.
Fuck. Her vanilla scent is a sweet tickle in my nostrils, reminding me of cookies and warmth. Does everything about her have to be so irresistible?
“Don’t you think that might be too long? How big are you planning on making these things?” I pinch the bridge of my nose, eyes darting over all the printed-out pictures she has spread across the table. “‘Merry Christmas from Wayward Hollow?’ Those things would have to be bigger than my plates.”
“Hmm, you’re right.” She taps a finger against her lips, and I can’t help but stare at it.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. With her light blonde hair in a loose ponytail, cheeks still red from the cold outside, she looks like… like I want her to be mine.
“I’d love it if we could personalize them. Then again, I’m pretty sure the icing would freeze, or it wouldn’t dry on time. Or my fingers would turn into ice blocks and fall off by thetime I pipe the third ‘Merry Christmas.’” She rambles and I nod along, fighting a grin.
“Those are valid concerns,” I say amusingly, earning myself a nudge to the ribs.
“Let’s stick to two shapes,” I say and reach for her sketches, fishing out what I think will work best, “how about stars and hearts? Then we can do two different sentences on each. For example,Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,you know, keep it generic.”
“But are people going to buy generic? That’s the question.” She crosses her arms across her chest and purses her lips in a pout. “I need to beat Nic.”
“Listen, we could bake the best gingerbread in the world and decorate it in the most detailed, stunning pattern you’ve ever seen, and I still doubt we’d win against Jensen. This is about keeping face, Lauren.” Her lips purse in a pout.
“Fine. Since you’re against doing dicks-”
