Page 52 of Yule Know It When You See It
“Hey.” I peel back and cup her chin. “Tell me, Romance.”
Her eyes search mine, glistening with pending tears I hope won’t escape and streak her cheeks. “I overheard you talking to Simone.” Shame turns her cheeks rosy, and she looks away, but I coax her back.
“What exactly did you hear?”
She takes a long, deep breath through her nose, fighting back those same tears, and wraps her arms around my neck, still swaying with me. “That it would be more efficient if you did it alone, and Simone said the article wasyours.”
I couldn’t have hoped for a better answer. Spencer was right. Again. This was all a misunderstanding.
A laugh pours from my stomach, puffing into her hair, and I hug her. “Oh, Theo.”
“Why are youlaughing?” Theo pushes against my chest, and I let her, but I’m still chuckling. “Seriously, Ax. This isn’t funny.”
“It kind of is.” I shrug and take one of her hands in mine, keeping the other arm snaked around her. “Because you only heard the tail end of the conversation.”
Her eyes widen as large as tree ball ornaments. “Why did she say the article was yours then? I don’t understand.”
“Let me clarify for you then.” I move us around the dancefloor in the only two-person dance I know how to do—a waltz. She allows me to take the lead, and we sashay in a square together, pretending as if we were alone in the office after hours again.
“Please do,” she whispers, that brightness I love about her slowly returning, starting at her eyes.
“I proposed to Simone that you get sole credit for the holiday romance. You on the byline and only you.” I dip her.
Theo’s head shoots up. “But we’re supposed to be workingtogether,and why didn’t you tell me about this first?”
Point two for Spencer. Damn him.
“A piss poor move on my part, and I’m sorry. Truly. I thought it’d be a nice surprise when the story was published. I—” We’re side-stepping back and forth for an eternity, and her palm presses to my cheek. “—I didn’t want anything to ruin your mojo.”
“I appreciate the thought, Ax, but what makes you think I yearn to see only my name on that byline?” She smiles so brightly I want to capture it in a mason jar like a firefly.
“I mean—why wouldn’t you? That story is all you. I’m just the grunt who’s giving you hockey advice.” Chuckling, I hug her again, making silly, exaggerated turns and arm gestures now.
“You’ve given me so many ideas. I’m going to ask her to keep your name on it. Okay? Please?” Tears return to her eyes, but something tells me these are for an entirely different reason.
I press my forehead to hers, dying to kiss her, but I know it’s not the time or place. “If you insist.”
“But why did she say the article’s yours?”
Kneading her palm between two of my fingers, I brush the hair from her face. “I offered to write a partner piece centered factually around hockey and family during the holidays using our interviews.”
“I’ve—never been a part of a duo piece like that before.” Theo’s large green eyes blink up at me, fingers plucking together behind my neck. “Thanks for suggesting it to her.”
“Theo, sweetheart,” I whisper huskily. Pressing my lips to her ear, I say in only a decibel she can hear, “Spend the first night ofJulwith me.”
“When is it?” She leans back to look me in the eye.
“Tonight.”
Theo’s lips part as it slowly dawns on her what I’m asking—the implications of it. Yes, I want nothing more than to kiss, hug, screw her until the sunrise but I also truly crave to share traditions with someone again.
“I did promise you that I’d show you more traditions.” I bump her cheek with a knuckle, grinning.
Theo’s pupils dilate as if she’s imagining what tonight may be like, and her finger traces her lip, followed by her teeth biting that same nail. “And where do you propose we spend this night?”
“Well, I have a fireplace and an incredible view of the skyline facing dueeast.”
“East?” She cocks her head to one side. “Why does direction matter?”
