Page 17 of Christmas Rings

“What? Like how?”

She hesitated. How did she describe the quality? “Clean-shaven and that floppy hair, for one. The heroes always have hair that a girl wants to run their fingers through.”

“Do you want to run your fingers through my hair?” He leaned his head over the table. “Feel free.”

She tapped the top of his forehead, laughing. “Not in a restaurant.”

“Oh, sorry. I was excited for a moment.”

“It’s your eyes, too,” she said, after he’d settled back in his chair. “They have this earnestness to them. Most men these days seem either disinterested or cocky or so nerdy you’re sure they’re counting the moments until the next comic-con, instead of listening to what you’re saying.”

“I do love comic-con.”

“As long as you don’t make me dress up in a costume and go with you, we can agree to disagree.”

“I’m in despair.” He clutched his chest. “What if we have nothing in common?”

“Let’s try music,” she said.

“Country?”

“Me too.” She grinned back at him.

“I have tickets to Zac Brown Band next week. Will you go with me?” he asked.

She squealed. “I would die to go.” Her heart sank. “But I can’t if it’s Friday or Saturday night.”

“As luck would have it, the tickets are a week from tonight.”

“I can’t wait.”

The talk turned to dreams and bucket lists. She shared her desire to travel through Europe. He admitted to a year where he’d studied in Paris. “I visited every country by high-speed train. It was the best year of my life.”

“You’re so lucky.”

“I have been. But none of it’s as good as sharing this meal with you.”

She stared at him. “Are you for real?”

“I’d never lie to you. I can promise you that. I’ve not felt this way about a woman, ever. I know we’ve just met but there’s something about you that feels so right. I could spend the rest of my life talking to you and never get bored.” He pushed his plate away and folded his fingers together like she had her students do when they were done with their lunch and ready to go to recess. The tender gesture moved her, almost to tears. She couldn’t explain why exactly, other than it reminded her of the innocence and vulnerability of her small students. The world hadn’t gotten to them yet. They were not yet guarded and suspicious. This man appeared to be the same way.

She reached across the table and placed her hand over his. “What makes you so willing to show me all your cards?”

“You. Just you,” he said.

They were barely inside the door when they started kissing. Only managing to unbutton shirts, they stumbled to the bedroom. She remembered the pile of clothes but suddenly itdidn’t matter if he saw them. She pushed them all on the floor, then turned back to him.

He grabbed her close, and they piled onto the bed together. They kissed, breathless and wanton. Still close, he lifted himself above her and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“I’m sure,” she said. “But you should know—I’m not that experienced.” She’d had a boyfriend in college and then one other, but no one else.

“I don’t care.” He brushed her bangs away from her eyes. “It’s just you and me here. We can make our way together.”

So, this is it,she thought. The start of a new chapter. One in which Jed was front and center.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him to her. “Just you and me,” she whispered.You and me forever.

Chapter 3

---