Page 18 of Christmas in Watch Hill
THIRTEEN
SCOTT
Iwas halfway intoa beer and the Goodyear Bowl Game when the knock sounded at my door. Not expecting anyone, but curious about who it might be, I shuffled to it and found Nora standing on the other side. She had her hands shoved in the pockets of her camel coat and her lips were pursed. Still, she looked beautiful. There was that descriptor again. I was drawn to her, and I didn’t know why. I might have been disappointed with the way she reacted to my ideas, but I couldn’t deny I had feelings for her.
And I still wanted to get to know her better.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I pushed open the glass storm door. “And how did you know where I live?”
“It was on the paperwork that you left in the store.” She gave a small laugh. “I looked through it after you were gone.”
“Listen, I totally overstepped my boundaries. You have a lot of emotions tied up in The Pink Box. I would have a hard time if I had something like that in my life, too—something that had been such a constant.”
“No, that’s exactly why I came here.” She motioned for me to step outside onto the front stoop, and I did. “I wanted you to know that I appreciate what you did—the fact that you talked to Chadwick Properties and got them to reconsider the rent increase. It’s huge. And I didn’t make it clear how much that means to me.”
“I just wanted you have more time.” I moved toward her, the smell of her musky perfume dancing across the cold air. I wasn’t sure what had come over me in the last few days, but I liked it. Desire, maybe, and happiness, too. I wanted more of both. Maybe it was the holidays, maybe it was the magic of the season—maybe it was the raw chemistry that seemed to naturally flow between us. It had all stewed together in a heady mix I wanted to drink in. My gaze locked with hers. “I’m glad you’re okay with my doing that.”
“It’s not just that.” Nora looked away and a brief sheepish smile crossed her face. When she returned her gaze to me, her eyes were clearer. “Your design was great. Trendy. Fresh. I didn’t expect that, and I didn’t expect you.” She shook her head. “Scott, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you these last few days. And I know you’ve been through a lot and the last thing you probably want is a relationship with someone else, but—”
I leaned in and kissed her, her lips pressing against mine, her mouth responding viscerally to me. Her lips were sweet and sensual, and the kiss deepened within seconds. When we broke away, I stepped backward, looking into her eyes. I hadn’t kissed anyone like this since Monica, and I liked it. It was full of hope, promise, and optimism—three things I needed more of in my life.
“I don’t know what just came over me,” I admitted. “But that was great.”
She smiled. “I liked it, too.”
“I want this to be the start of something. I think we both deserve that.”
“So do I.”
“Let me ask you a question then.” I rested my forehead on hers, allowing the energy of the moment to wrap around us, adding an extra layer of warmth against the chilly December air. “What are you doing for Christmas, Nora?”
She laughed. “I have nothing planned, so whatever it is, I hope it’s with you.”
