Page 75 of Never Sleigh Never
I chuckle. “I would’ve paid money to see that judging.”
“Nonstop giggles,” she confirms, shaking her head.
“Let me walk you to your car.”
“You don’t have to. It’s just around the corner.”
“It’s dark.”
“And it’s Mount Holly.”
“Will you just let me walk you to your vehicle?”
She rolls her eyes but smiles. “Fine. If you insist.”
“Let me just go check on Josie real quick.” I rise to my feet and jog up the stairs. When I reach her door, I twist the knob and peek my head in. Josie’s blanket is puffed up like a tent. “I know you’re not sleeping.” She peeks her head from under the blanket, a sheepish grin on her face. If I had to guess, she’s playing on her tablet. “I’m going to walk Brie to her car. When I get back, we’ll talk.”
“Okay.”
I shake my head, but I can’t fight the smile on my lips. She’s too smart for her own good. And I’m going to be in trouble. Back downstairs, Brie’s waiting at the door, coat zipped and cheeks rosy. I tug on my boots, shove a knit cap over my head, and lead her outside. Our breaths curl in white clouds as we walk shoulder to shoulder down the quiet street.
“I had a really good time tonight,” she says. “You’ll have to thank Josie for inviting me.”
“I’m glad you came.” Our fingers brush once, twice, and sparks skitter through me.
At her SUV, she hits the remote start. The engine rumbles to life. I open the driver’s door, but instead of stepping back, I brace one hand against the frame and cage her in with the other.
Her breath catches.
“I want nothing more than to kiss you goodnight,” I murmur.
Her lashes flutter. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Someone could see.”
“If the neighbors are watching from behind their curtains, we should at least give them something worth gossiping about.” I rest my forehead against hers, her lips so close I can feel the whisper of her breath.
She leans in first, closing the distance. Her mouth meets mine, soft at first, then deeper, warmer. She melts into me, and every muscle in my body screams to pull her closer, to forget the streetlights, the neighbors, the risk. But I force myself to keep it PG-13.
Reluctantly, I pull away. “Night, Brie.”
“Goodnight, Logan,” she whispers before climbing into her SUV.
I close the door, watch her taillights fade into the night, and laugh when I spot the rustling of a curtain across the street. Mount Holly never misses a thing.
Back inside, I head upstairs to Josie’s room. She’s propped against her headboard, blanket pulled up to her chin, eyes wide with fake innocence.
“So,” I say, sitting on the edge of her bed, “what was that all about?”
She shrugs. “I wanted you two to spend time together.”
“Is that why you invited her over to make snowmen and dinner?”
“No. I actually needed help. Your snowman skills are… bad.” She holds up her hands in a circle. “This is what a snowman should look like. Yours looks like this.” She squishes her fingers into an oval.
“Snowmen come in all shapes and sizes.”
“Only yours.”
I laugh. “Fair enough.”
