Page 61 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

He’d meddled. That was how. And she was supposed to be too excited to notice.

“Did you like your Santa gift?” he asked.

“I haven’t opened it yet.”

Louis gave her an expectant look, which she ignored.

“Louis, there are boundaries to establish. And respect. We need that if we’re going to make this work.”

“Ah. No meddling. Ever.” He scratched under his red hat, hoping he wasn’t messing up his wig too much. He froze, replaying her words. “Wait. Make this work?”

Did that mean she was thinking of a relationship?

“Santa! Come see my train!” Elias hollered through the glass window. That kid was the best. If he ever had a son he hoped he was like Elias. But the boy’s timing maybe wasn’t so hot at the moment.

“Santa!”

Hannah sighed and gestured toward the door.

“Are we…?” Louis wasn’t sure how to phrase his question. “You and I…are we something?”

“Santa! Santa!”

“Hang tight, Elias. I’m coming.”

Hannah began physically steering Louis from the room. He turned in the doorway, watching her for a moment. She was beautiful, even when frustrated with him. They’d had a good first date—the best he’d ever had—and today had been shaping up to be good, too. He hoped his slip-up hadn’t ruined it all.

“No meddling,” she said firmly.

He grinned.

“Louis! I haven’t even been accepted into the education program.” Hannah’s frustration finally exploded and her words came out in a storm. “She was practically interviewing me for a job, thinking I was already looking. It took me off guard, and I gave her the impression that I’m completely oblivious and unprepared, and that I don’t understand how any of this works!”

Before she could do anything other than suck in a fresh breath to continue her rant, Louis shut the door again, pulled down his fake Santa beard and kissed her like it was his last chance.

Which he hoped it wasn’t.

Moments later he released her limp body, now devoid of anger.

He really needed to have her happy with him because he’d seen an article online speculating that the mystery woman in the sky box was his girlfriend. He wanted Hannah to be pleased about that, but he wasn’t certain she was ready to claim the title, let alone to do so publicly.

“It’s fun being more than a friend,” he murmured. “And I’m sorry I overstepped.”

“You totally did!”

“I really am sorry if I made things difficult. But just so you know, you had it coming.”

“What? How?” Anger flashed in her eyes again.

“Being awesome and so easy to brag about. I want to help you in any way I can.”

Her shoulders relaxed and her gaze drifted through the window to where the kids were playing quietly with their new gifts.

Louis pulled her close again, giving her a long, sensual kiss. Then he released her, slid his beard back into place and left, hoping she was feeling at least a little bit charmed.

* * *

“Hey, y’all,” Hannah said, smiling at her phone as her boys and ex-husband crowded around the screen on the other end of the video chat. She could catch glimpses of a statue of a man on a horse in the background, as well as a fountain and some trees. It looked like a wet and cool morning in Paris.

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