Page 14 of One Night, Two Holidays

“I’m not going to make you do anything.” He’s smirking at me, eyes glinting with challenge as he leans against the counter and folds his arms. “But I hope you will—or we can always start defrosting these potatoes and…”

Oh, fuck it.

Before he can finish his sentence, I close the distance between us. I reach my hand up behind his neck and bring his head down as I tilt mine up toward his. Our lips brush—once, twice—and I feel it: the thrill, the vulnerability, the electricity.

I pull back an inch and lift my eyes to his, taking a shaky breath.

“Good job,” he whispers.

I nod, proud of myself but also a little disappointed it’s already over. But then Jack cups my face in his hand and pulls my mouth to his again.

He immediately parts my lips with an urgency that steals my breath. It’s not just a kiss; it’s a pull, a dive, dragging us deeper and deeper. When our tongues meet, it’s like a spark lighting a fuse—warmth blooms in my chest, making my pulse race, and all I can do is hold on.

When his hands slide to the nape of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair, I let out a low moan and clutch his flannel shirt, pulling him closer, needing more of him. His mouth shifts to my jaw, then my throat, and my head rolls back as I give in to the sensation. It’s all-consuming, a soul-bending kiss that makes me forget time, space, anything that isn’t him. It’s just us, floating in some in-between place where nothing matters but the sweetness of his mouth, the soft sounds of pleasure rumbling in his throat, the warmth of his breath fanning against my skin.

All too soon, his kisses become softer, gentler, feather-lightuntil he pulls back, leaving me with one last lingering kiss that keeps me tethered to him, even when it’s over.

When I lift my eyes to meet his, he’s smiling, his eyes sparkling like the first snowflakes of a storm, catching the light and making everything feel still and quiet. I want to hold onto this feeling, the two of us in this perfect little snow globe of a moment together.

I’m about to lean in to see if the second kiss can be even better than the first when a shrill noise sounds, like an alarm. I flinch, hoping I’m not about to wake up and discover this is all some fever dream.

The sound chimes again, and Jack lets out a disappointed sigh that captures exactly how I feel. He fishes in his pocket and pulls out his phone—I see the word MOMMA on the screen with an incoming FaceTime call.

“Go ahead,” I tell him. “It’s okay.”

“Thank you.” Jack gives me a quick kiss before answering his phone. “Hey, Mom. I miss you guys, too.”

CHAPTER 11

December 25, 12:43 pm

JACK

“You’re with agirl?”

On my phone screen, my mom’s face is lit up like she’s won the lottery. She’s decked out in the sequined red hat she wears every Christmas, looking like a younger, fashionable Mrs. Claus.

“What girl?” My dad’s face looms into the picture, his mustache quivering with excitement.

I’ve retreated to the far end of the hallway outside Nessa’s apartment, hoping she hasn’t overheard any of that. It’s not that I meant to tell my parents about her but…well, let’s just say that after what just happened in Nessa’s kitchen, I’m not exactlycalm, cool, and collected.My mom picked up on it in about two seconds flat.

Even now, my head is still fuzzy.

“Who’s with a girl?” My older sister’s voice comes from somewhere off-screen, and I refocus.

Mom squeals. “Jacky!”

“They’re snowed in together,” Dad tells my sister, waggling his eyebrows.

“And they kissed!” Mom adds, somehow gathering this even though I didn’t share the details. How does she do that?

“Ew, poor girl,” my sister says.

I roll my eyes. “She’s not a girl, she’s a woman. And thanks, Nic. Appreciate the support.”

“Oh, hush,” Mom says over her shoulder. Then she’s back to me, her blue eyes softening. “I’m so glad you’re not alone. I was worried when we couldn’t reach you.”

“Only because my phone died,” I tell her for the third time. “Sorry for worrying you.”

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