Page 58 of Say It Isn't Snow
She smooths her palms up my chest and grabs my shirt collar to pull me down to her level. “You did excellent.”
Pressing on tiptoe, she kisses me. My embrace tightens.
When we part, I get my suit jacket and rest my hand on the small of her back on our way out. Everything I want to say to her is ready to spill out of me.
The picturesque inn is decorated like a postcard for the holidays with garlands of pine on the grand porch railings and twinkling lights. Holly releases a tiny excited squeal as I escort her up the steps.
“Look at that.” She points above us. “We’re under the mistletoe.”
I don’t need the excuse of mistletoe to kiss her, but I take it anyway because of the way she’s smiling up at the decorative floral bundle hanging above us. Time stops existing as we kiss, slowly and full of burning passion.
She keeps her eyes closed, smiling when I pull back. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been kissed under the mistletoe before.”
“Are you a whole new woman?”
“I might be. How’s my hair look?” She poses.
“You’re beautiful,” I murmur.
Her gaze softens. I treasure her reaction, wanting to make her happy like this all the time.
Inside, we’re promptly guided through the intimate rooms set up for diners to our table in a glass conservatory with only two other couples seated.
Holly gasps in amazement. “This is gorgeous!”
I pull her chair out for her, kissing the top of her head once she’s scooted in. “Are you warm enough?”
She nods, reading over the menu. “Oh my god, this all sounds delicious. What entree do you think you want out of the three choices we get?”
“Whichever one you want to try. I’ll get anything that sounds good to you so you can taste as much as you’d like.”
She bites her lip around a pleased smile. “Picking your meal just so I can taste it? You’re a real romantic, you know that?”
“Anything for you,” I remind her softly.
She makes our wine selection based on the dishes she wants to try. While she’s using the restroom, I hand our waiter my credit card and let him know we’d like everything on the menu and cost doesn’t matter.
Holly has no idea until all of the options are brought to us. “We didn’t order yet.”
“I ordered one of everything so we don’t have to pick,” I explain once the waiter leaves.
Her mouth pops open, then she ducks with a glowing smile. “A girl could get used to this princess treatment.”
“Good. You should, because you deserve to be cherished.” I pick a plate of seared scallops and offer her a bite first.
Her sparkling eyes lock with mine as her lips wrap around my fork. The corners of her eyes crinkle and she hums with a happy little dance that sends a rush of tenderness through me.
“Good?”
“Yes. Here, you have to try it,” she gushes, feeding me a taste.
I hold her eager gaze and accept it. The scallop melts on my tongue.
“Damn, that is nice.”
We sample everything, going back for seconds of our favorites. I thoroughly enjoy seeing her having a good time indulging in the decadent flavors of our meal. As we eat, I tell her about my meeting with the Mavericks.
“Wait, the team will be based in Mayfield?” She gapes at me.
