Page 61 of How He Got the Girl
At least, not yet.
I glance outside just as Griffin’s driver, Ted, drops him off. He offered to have Ted chauffeur us, but I told him that wasn’t necessary.
Looking around, I let out a relieved sigh. It doesn’t look like there are any paparazzi here today, thanks to the security team that has been coming by our property around the clock.
I walk outside to greet Griffin. He opens his arms like he’s about to go in for a hug. As I’m about to step into his embrace, he must think better of the idea and extends his hand my way.
This results in an awkward embrace where I have my arms around him, and his hand is poking my stomach.
He jumps back. “Ah, sorry. I don’t know what I just did.”
“Don’t mention it.” I shove my hands in my pockets, realizing I forgot my gloves. “Shoot, I need to run back inside. Will you get her warming up?” I pull my car key from my key fob and toss it to him.
“Aye aye, Captain.” He salutes me before slowly shutting his eyes and shaking his head.
I hear him muttering to himself as I head into the house and grab my gloves and earmuffs off the coffee table where I left them. Winston runs over to me, excited that I’ve already returned.
“Sorry, boy.” I grimace. “I’ll give you a big treat later when Kelsey isn’t looking.”
I walk outside, locking the door behind me. I notice Griffin is in the driver’s seat, so I head to the passenger side. I’ve barely opened the door when I hear Griffin talking to my car.
“You’ve got this, Linda, girl.” He rubs his hand across the dashboard. “It’s just a little drive across the city. Don’t let the snow bother you.”
“What are you doing?” I sputter, sliding into the passenger seat, shocked to find him sweet-talking my vehicle.
He blushes, leaning back in his seat. “You said Linda hates the snow, so I was giving her a pep talk.”
“You remember that?” I can’t believe that he remembers something I casually mentioned in passing years ago.
Griffin’s eyes never leave mine as he says, “I remember everything about you, Mallory.”
I decide to test my friends’ observations from the Winter Market. “No one is around, Griffin. You don’t have to act.”
“What if I said that I wasn’t acting?”
I take a deep breath, mustering all my courage. “Then I think there’s a bigger conversation we need to have soon.”
He smiles, reaching across the center console and squeezing my hand. “I’d love that.”
Not ready to have that conversation yet, I say, “You don’t mind driving Linda?”
“Nope, you get to be my passenger princess today.” He leans over, his mouth a breath away from mine.
My whole body buzzes with awareness.
He’s about to kiss me. My head leans forward of its own accord, like my lips can’t help but be drawn to him. Except Griffindoesn’tkiss me. He reaches around me and grabs my seatbelt, pulling it ever so slowly across my body. I never knew buckling up could be so sexy.
Once he’s clicked my seatbelt in place, Griffin smiles at me, looking pleased with himself. “Safety first.”
As Kelsey would say, for the love of biscuits. Now this man has my own body betraying me.
If he keeps doing things like this, I’ve got no chance of surviving this ‘fake’ relationship without falling for him.
“Wehavequitethepick of the litter.” Mirth dances in Mallory’s eyes.
I look from her to the three trees remaining on the lot. They’ve seen better days. Two are probably around six feet tall with patches of missing branches. The third is barely half my height, with only five branches total. I’m pretty sure I just watched multiple pine needles fall off it.
“I should’ve known this is all that would be left two days before Christmas Eve.” I rub my chin. I’ve failed my granny. None of these will do much to spruce up her room. They might even make it worse. A blue Christmas, indeed.
