Page 96 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
Dread immediately fills me because there could only be one reason why they’d be pointing above us, looking like giddy little schoolgirls.
Together, we both direct our attention toward the sky, and sure enough, there it is, one of many mistletoe bundles I’ve avoided this entire evening. Unfortunately, this one went undetected.
“Well?” Martha says. “Aren’t you going to kiss? It’s tradition, after all.”
“Oh, I don’t think—”
My words are cut short as Cole closes the distance between us. His brawny, overbearing stature moves in as his hand lifts between us and gently grips my chin with his forefinger and thumb.
Uh, excuse me, sir.
Is he serious right now?
Is he really going to do this?
My eyes meet his, and I can see nothing in them, not the slightest hint of humor, irritation…even nerves. He almost looks like he’s been planning this…this kiss…all night long.
Looking for a moment just like this as he lowers his head.
Oh my God, this is really happening.
He’s doing this.
My body buzzes.
My nerves ramp up.
And as his mouth moves in close to mine, a whisper away, I can feel my legs shake beneath me.
“Tell me no,” he whispers only for me to hear.
Tell him no?
I mean…I should.
I should push him away.
I should throw in the towel on this entire farce.
But I don’t say anything.
I don’t know why.
Maybe because I’m caught off guard that he’s actually going for it.
Maybe I’m thrown off by how…intimate this feels, despite the lack of intimacy between us.
Maybe, deep down, I want to see what it’s like to kiss him. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it when we were younger. That there weren’t some romantic thoughts about the boy next door.
But when I don’t stop him, he sees the green light and closes the last few inches between us, his soft lips playing against mine.
At first, it’s friendly, a light graze of our mouths. And when I think he’s going to leave it at that and pull away, he parts his lips and kisses me again.
It’s a subtle move, but one that causes my hand to fall to his chest for balance.
For my stomach to tie itself in knots.
And for my mind to beg for another.
