Page 36 of Santa Maybe
Only after they were outside did Rosie speak up again. “What was that about?”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “I’ve been doing my best to avoid Evelyn. Ever since you and I started dating, she’s ramped up the passive-aggressive comments.”
“She’s probably resentful that you’ve gotten over her. That’s a good thing, right?”
“It is, though I could do without the snark. I’ll be glad when she and Jared are gone.”
Rosie couldn’t imagine working with her ex, especially after the nasty way he’d treated her during their breakup. Thankfully, Erik was a real estate broker, so there was no chance of their worlds overlapping. “Sorry you have to deal with that. Anything I can do to help?”
“Just seeing you at the gym always boosts my mood.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting back into it. Not gonna lie, watching you flex all those muscles is a definite perk.”
The minute she said it, she wanted to clamp her hand over her mouth. Why had she admitted she’d been ogling him? Friends didn’t do that to each other.
But he responded with a grin. “Right back at you. And when you wear those bike shorts? The ones with the racing stripe down the side? Yes, please.”
A few times, she’d suspected he might be staring at her ass. Knowing it was true made a burst of desire flare up inside of her.
Fuck.How was she supposed to keep their boundaries in place?
She looked away, taking a moment to compose herself. “So…arewe going to Centennial Square to see the lights?”
“If you want. Sorry I dragged you out of the gym before you could grab your coat.”
“It’s okay.” Though she wished she had her gloves and hat, her fleece pullover was plenty warm. And she didn’t protest when he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.
But as they started walking, she was careful to keep her lustful thoughts to herself. Even if it killed her, she was not about to cross the line again. Which meant no bringing up Saturday’s kisses or hinting at the spicy dreams they’d inspired.
Unlike the past two nights, the sky was cloudless, giving them a clear view of the quarter moon. A slight breeze blew off the ocean, but otherwise, the temperature was warm for December. As they strolled along Government Street, past the tourist shops selling gifts and souvenirs, Rosie delighted in all the holiday displays. Like the store with the giant stuffed moose in front, now wearing a Santa hat. Or the bakery whose front window was adorned with a row of intricately decorated gingerbread houses.
Given the mild weather, Rosie wasn’t surprised at the abundance of couples and families gathered around Centennial Square, a large, open-air plaza located near Victoria’s Chinatown. At the front of the square, a giant archway was lit up with multicolored bulbs. Dozens of trees adorned with twinkling white lights were scattered around the area, and Christmas songs played through the speakers. The central fountain was lit up, the spray of water glowing purple and red.
“This is so beautiful,” she said. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“You’ve seen it before, right? They do this every December.”
She gave a sad shake of her head. “I’ve always been too busy. I need to take time for more stuff like this.”
“You really do. Not out of obligation, but to relax and enjoy yourself.”
“Do you think I work too hard?” Even as she said it, she braced herself for the usual criticism, the kind she got from her family. That she was too driven, too single-minded, too obsessed with her career.
“That’s not for me to judge. Sure, you work a lot, but you love your job. Every time you solve a problem or deal with a crisis, you get all fired up. Like you can handle anything. It’s amazing.”
Blinking back tears, she turned to face him. “No one’s ever said that to me. Like my intensity is a good thing.”
“It’s awesome. You don’t have to change. But if you want a break, that’s okay, too. Just say the word, and I’ll gladly join you.”
He was so considerate. Such a good friend.
A friend. Something she should keep in mind rather than wishing they could continue where they’d left off on Saturday. That road would only lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
But once she was back in her apartment, alone in bed, she couldn’t stop herself from indulging in a few wicked fantasies involving Drew. And, once again, she desperately wished he was there to share them with her.
Sixteen
16 Days UntilChristmas
