Page 95 of Stay this Christmas
He laughed but shifted away, tucking me back up by his side again. “No. But it might be good to step back a little.”
“Hmm.” Being wrapped up in his arms was good, but I could imagine something even better. “When did you become the sensible one?”
“It’s a new thing I’m trying out.”
I snuggled against him, disappointment urging me to convince him to turn his impulsiveness back on high. “Your timing is terrible.”
His low chuckle rumbled through my chest. “I want things to go right for us this time around, Harper. We don’t have to rush anything.”
The warmth of his conviction drowned out any lingering regret. He believed we had time. I would, too.
“But,” he added, “I might need a minute in that outdoor shower.”
TWENTY-NINE
harper
Friday afternoon,I finished the last of my patient notes and cleared my desk in anticipation of the holiday ahead. I’d been antsy and distracted all day, but it didn’t have much to do with Christmas Eve tomorrow. Truly, I was surprised I could keep myself focused at all after my night with Sam.
This morning, he’d made us bacon and eggs for breakfast before we said goodbye to the tiny house and headed out. Seeing the place in the daytime, I’d wished we had a chance to enjoy it longer. Surrounded by oaks and ashes, with sweet little walking paths heading deeper into the property, it would have been a dream for a longer stay.
Except for the whole outdoor shower thing.
A knock sounded behind me, and I turned to find him in the PT room doorway. Not that long ago, I would have been mortified at the way my stomach did a loop-the-loop and my heart rate kicked up to high just from seeing him. Now, I relished it, ready for more.
“Hi,” he said when I reached him. He put one hand on my waist, the other held behind his back.
“Hi.”
We’d been about as eloquent on the two-hour drive back from the tiny house, holding hands and talking nonsense like lovesick fools.
“I wanted to bring you something before I head over to Lotus Flower.”
He’d told me he’d offered to cover another instructor’s afternoon classes so she could take off early for the holiday weekend. Tomorrow was booked for the same reason. Between his work and the lunch date with Callie I’d arranged, we wouldn’t see each other again until the Christmas market tomorrow night. Twenty-four hours already seemed way too long.
“What is it?”
He brought the hand out from behind his back and held it up to reveal a bundle of bright green mistletoe bound with a red ribbon. “One of the guys in the lounge thought I might need it.”
“One of the residents gave you that?” Mortifying enough they’d tried to set us up, but trying to finagle a kiss seemed too far. Not a surprise, but too far.
“Good old Frank, my new wingman.” He lifted the mistletoe over our heads, wiggling it a little bit. “You don’t want to leave anything from your list unchecked, do you?”
I laughed, trying hard not to roll my eyes. “You’re really being a martyr, here. This is aChristmastradition.”
“I’m willing to make a few sacrifices.”
He grinned, his dimples trying to convince me to throw my dignity aside.
“Kiss him already,” a voice called.
I hopped back to find Diana peering in at us on her way somewhere, a perfect reminder privacy was in short supply in Fiesta Village. She waggled her eyebrows and shimmied her hips in encouragement. Apparently satisfied she’d embarrassed us enough, she walked away, shooting us one last glance over her shoulder. She probably thought this had all been the result of her pushing us together a couple of weeks ago.
Actually, it kind of was. I owed her a thank you gift.
“My friend Diana gives great advice,” Sam said, that grin never leaving his face.
“Everyone in this place will know about us now.”
