Page 47 of Love Sick

I shoot him a sour face. After hugging Alesha and Kai goodbye, Julian and I head out.

In the darkness of his truck, I study the way the streetlights pass over his face, casting shadows in interesting places. “Congrats on the game.”

He shrugs. “It’s easy to beat a bunch of intoxicated people at poker.”

I chuckle. “Is that why you didn’t drink tonight?”

“Yep. Bragging rights.” The no-smile flashes at me. “Next time, you can be the DD.”

Something in the rear of my mind purrs at the wordsnext time.

Back at our building, we walk side by side up the stairs. When I reach my landing, I turn to say good-night.

“What time is your flight tomorrow?” he asks.

“Early.”

He scratches his neck, then examines our empty surroundings. “I have something for you. Do you have a minute?”

I’m stunned to silence for only three seconds before I say, “Sure.”

“Let me go get it. I’ll be down in a sec.”

My apartment is clean, but I scan the living room for anything embarrassing just in case. My heels fly toward my bedroom with two swift kicks. I throw my coat over the entry rack.

His knock on my half-closed door startles me, flooding me with butterflies. I swing it open to find him holding a cardboard box with a red Christmas bow.

“I got your name for Secret Santa.”

Sparkles bloom hot and fast in my chest, spreading to my mouth. A smile breaks loose. “You did?”

He nods, forlorn.

“Julian Santini, hater of all things Grace Rose was forced to find her a Christmas present?”

His lips press into a flat line.

“Whatever could be in there?” I slip closer to him. Cold December air mingles with his scent, icing it to something dark and exotic.

“You have to open it to find out,” he says.

Close enough to take it, I hold out my arms. He shifts the box to my hands.

I stagger under its weight. “Holy—what is in here?”

He lifts one of the cardboard lids, and I peek in the package.

Sugar.

Granulated sugar. Powdered sugar. Brown sugar. Cane sugar. Sanding sugar. Splenda. Sugar cubes.

My gaze shoots to his. “What the hell, Julian? What am I supposed to do with all this sugar?”

Merriment gleams on his face. His cheeks grow rosy. “I suggest using it to bake the children. Helps with the bitterness.”

My disobedient mouth twitches into a smile. “Do you think this is funny?”

He nods as the laughter takes hold, then pinches the bridge of his nose. A fuzzy little ball of warmth expands in my stomach. That’s such a cute laugh…

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