Page 167 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
“Not going to tell you,” she playfully answers. “I might be obsessed with your penis, but I’m not about to give you the secrets of my plans to win the Town Kringle.”
“I don’t need insight to win,” I respond. “I’m going to win either way, with intel or without. My merit alone will take the crown.”
“Oh my God,” she mutters as she moves away from me and heads to the back of the kitchen. “Could you sound any more ridiculous?”
“I could,” I say. “Want me to try?”
“No.” She slips her boots on and then her jacket and turns toward me.
I pull her in close. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”
“Thankyoufor showing me a different way to enjoy a candy cane.”
I let out a low laugh. “Any time.”
I lift her chin and press a kiss to her lips, keeping it light or else I’ll want more from her.
“I would walk you to your house, but I’m pretty sure Taran wouldn’t appreciate seeing me in my briefs and boots.”
“I mean, I wouldn’t mind it,” she replies. “But yeah, Taran might find issue with the getup.” She kisses me one more time. “I’ll text you, okay?”
“Okay,” I say and then reluctantly let her leave. I close the door behind her and then lean against the counter for a few seconds contemplating what the hell is going on with my life.
I push off the counter and find my phone, only to see a few texts from Max.
Max:Dude, what the hell did you do in that barn? I had to grab something from the shed and heard extreme moaning. And yes, I mean extreme!
Max:Can you please let me know you’re at least alive?
Chuckling, I call him. He answers on the first ring.
“Cole, is that you?”
“Don’t be a fucking idiot,” I say as I move into the living room where my Christmas tree is lit up.
“Excuse me for caring about your well-being. From the noises I heard, I was genuinely concerned someone was dying. Oh shit, wait. Did you kill her?”
“No,” I groan. “No one died.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I just said bye to her, actually. She’s headed back to her house from mine.”
“You went from the barn to your house? What kind of stamina do you have?”
I laugh. “With her…a lot.”
“Clearly.”
I drag my hand over my face and say what’s been on my mind. “I feel like this is what we should have been doing this entire time.”
“Scaring people into thinking you’re one thrust away from croaking?”
“No,” I say in exasperation. “Being with her. It feels so right, Max. Like she was supposed to be mine all along. All those times we sat on the porch together and talked about mindless things, it’s all led to this point, and I just wish back then I’d had the balls to tell her I liked her.”
“Have you told her now?”
“Yes,” I say. “I tell her all the time because I want her to know that if she’s willing, I want to keep this going, to let it be more than a Christmas fling.”
