Page 56 of How He Got the Girl
“You never seemed to have an issue with my confidence before.” I step closer, placing my mouth beside her ear. “If I’m remembering correctly, you also told me my face was pretty.”
She flushes a deep pink that matches her coat. “Really? I think I meant insufferable.”
I wrap my arm around her lower back and pull back enough to look at her. “Good thing I have time to change your mind.”
“Don’t you remember that I’m stubborn?”
I smile. “It’s one of the things I like most about you.”
Mallory shakes her head. “What am I going to do with you, Griff?”
Hearing her use my preferred nickname has me feeling a thrill of hope. “Oh, I don’t know. Keep me forever?”
She shoves me away with a light push to my stomach, and I’m not ashamed to admit I flex my ab muscles. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
Mallory pulls her hand back, her blush more prominent.
We move closer to her friends when I spot a group of carolers in front of the giant Christmas tree in the middle of the square. “We should join them.” I point toward the tree.
“Is that even allowed?”
“I don’t think there are any caroling laws.” I shrug. “It would be like Christmas Cheer Police.”
Shayna laughs. “Can you imagine if there were Christmas Cheer Police? Talk aboutunholiday spirit.”
“Right?” I point at Shayna. “See, she gets it.”
“You’re not helping,” Mallory grumbles at her friend.
“Sorry.” Shayna grimaces and mimes locking her lips and throwing away the key.
“Come on.” I nudge Mallory’s arm. “This is supposed to be a photo op for our next social media post. What better photo is there than one in front of the tree?”
“An invisible one,” she deadpans.
I tilt my head back and forth like I’m mulling over the idea. “I was thinking more like a kiss on the cheek with the glittering lights on the tree behind us.”
“If you insist. But do we have to sing?”
Mallory wraps her hand around my arm as we walk toward the tree. The feel of it, even though she’s wearing gloves and I’m in a thick coat, causes goosebumps to trail across my skin. I clear my throat. When I speak, my breath fogs in front of me. “I thought you’d love it, having seen your caroling abilities.”
“I was coerced into that performance by Daisy’s family, who take their caroling tradition way too seriously.”
“You looked really into it.”
“Yeah, because they told me I needed to sing and dance with more gusto after every house.” She sighs. “I’m thankful her family let me stay with them when I was snowed in, and I really love Daisy. But even you couldn’t pay me enough to carol with them again.”
I laugh. “I know no one is ever convincing you to do something you don’t want to.”
“You’ve got that right.”
If she doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to, does that mean shewantsto be my fake girlfriend? Beyond the money, that is. I glance over at her, mesmerized by the silhouette of her face. Her long eyelashes are gorgeous and draw more attention to the adorable freckles covering her cheeks and forehead. Then there’s her hair that my fingers crave combing through again.
I shake my head. It’s too soon to be having these thoughts when the jury’s still out on whether shewantsto spend time with me. But I can’t help but wish on every star tonight that Mallory is starting to enjoy being around me just as much as I like being around her.
After taking a sip of my cappuccino for a little liquid luck, I motion to the tree. “You ready for our next social media picture?”
“I have to be.” She slides her purse off, handing it to Alyssa, who reaches her hand out for it automatically.
