Page 63 of Yule Know It When You See It
Laughing, I reluctantly loosen my grip and our hands fall to our sides. “Heard of it? That’s the magazine that recently hired me. Today’s my first day.”
“Shut up.” She pretends like this is news to her and playfully swats my shoulder, pausing when she feels my bicep, and quickly looks away.
“I guess—” I start, turning to face her and slowly back her into the elevator wall. “—we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, hm?”
Theo’s head slowly nods, her hands pressing to the metal behind her. I lower my face toward hers, our lips a breath apart, and the doorsbing, opening to the lobby.
We smile at each other, and Theo jumps, planting a quick peck against my mouth. “As hot as that was and could have been, I still prefer not holding the door for you and you not knowing my name.” She adjusts my hat and flicks the white poofy ball thing dangling by my cheek.
“Fair enough.” I hook her arm with mine, and we exit. “It certainly seems to be more us. The other way almost seemed too easy. I firmly believe in working toward your happily ever after.”
Theo tugs me, coaxing me to stop walking, and she’s on her tippy toes, squishing my face between two gloved hands. “Man, do I lo—” She starts to say, her eyes widening in horror before she lets out a bout of nervous laughter and kisses me, never finishing her sentence.
Was she about to say what I think she was?
My heart throttles in my chest, and I choose to let it go for now. To not embarrass her further because I know the worth of saying those three words to someone. But the revelation makes me smile, because honestly? I’m prepared to say them back. When you know, youknow.
Theo grabs my hand and starts leading me. “It’s not a far walk, but when we get close, I’m going to need you to close your eyes.”
My curiosity is skyrocketing, and I can’t recall another time a woman went out of her way to not only surprise me with something like this but also make me close my eyes for it. I let her take the reins and drag me down the vacant sidewalk. Most of Chicago will surround their trees this morning, opening presents from Santa wrapped by loved ones and checking that the Big Guy ate the cookies and milk they left for him. But here Theo and I are, power-walking down State Street with light snow flurries kicking against our cheeks and eyelashes.
She stops us at a corner and turns to face me. “Okay, close your eyes, please.”
“You’re not going to lead me into traffic or something, are you?” I give her a sly grin.
She playfully rolls her eyes and makes a hurry-up gesture. “Of course not. You’re far too valuable to me alive.”
“Oh, good.” A hearty chuckle roars from my belly, and I close my eyes but quickly pop one back open.
Theo squeals in defiance. “Axel, come on. Donotpeek.”
“I’m not, I’m not,” I claim, still teasing her with half-closed eyes.
She groans, works her way behind me, and forces me to bend my knees to wrap her gloved hands over my eyes. “Okay, walk forward, you stubborn, handsome Viking, you.”
Still smiling, I do as she’s instructing and keep my arms outstretched in front of me like a zombie. “How far am I going?”
“Just a little further. Okay, here.” A shaky breath flutters the back of my neck. “Ready?”
“Show me, Romance.”
Her hands lift to reveal a quaint little corner of the city outfitted with red vendor stalls and elaborate holly, berries, and warm light garland hanging from the wooden scaffolding that borders the space. It looks familiar, yet slightly different.
“This is Christkindlmarket. A German holiday market festival. The city holds it every year, and I never thought to attend, but—” Theo slides in front of me, her fingers nervously playing against each other in front of her. “—I know this isn’t Scandinavian per se, but I thought it might remind you a little of home? There’s even mulled wine.”
Her excitement to show me this has me so taken aback that I can’t think of anything else but kissing her. I wrap my arms around her, pull her close, and kiss the ever-loving daylights out of her.
“Do you like?” She whispers once we pull away from the kiss, still wrapped in each other’s arms.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas day, Theo.” I kiss the tip of her nose and wince at how cold it is before I cover it with my warm hand. “I’m surprised they’re open.”
She doesn’t make a move to take my hand away. “I think the family that runs it celebratesJul, too.”
“What do you want to do first?” I ask, hugging her to my side and rubbing her arms through her jacket. It’s not as cold today as it has been on Christmas day in the past in Chicago, but it’s still chilly enough to numb my cheeks and make my nose tingly.
“This is your gift. What do you want to do, Axel?” Theo emphasizes her point by pressing a hand to my chest and patting twice.
Swiveling, I spy row after row of vendor stalls positioned directly beside each other, all with pointed tops like they’re tiny houses. One displays the wordkaffee,and despite it not being in English or Norsk, it’s universal.
