Page 72 of Rookie Season
“When you invited me up to the cabin for Christmas, I was a little too excited.” Sierra’s lips part. Fuck, I want to kiss her so badly, but I need to hear what she has to say. “I hate Christmas.”
“I love that about you.”
She sighs. “What I mean is, I told myself it was a bad idea to entertain the idea of letting myself be into you. My entire world revolves around you and the team, and that’s a harsh reality. But you make me question things I thought I knew. And all I could think was, why should some rookie with magic hands change me?”
I hold up a hand. “One, I was rookie of the year. Two… I’d like to get the magic hands part in writing.”
Sierra shakes her head at either my words or my shit-eating grin. Eventually, she smiles too.
“Well, we have more in common than you think. My world kind of revolves around you too.”
Her mouth falls open as though she can’t believe I said that.
“Did you rehearse that part?” she whispers.
“Nope.” My throat works. “Guess I’m feeling inspired.”
She steps closer. “By the holiday season?”
“By how good you look in that sweater.”
“You think?” She spins, and I get a chance to see my number on her. All the blood goes straight to my dick.
I’m picturing bending her over this bar and flipping up her skirt, fucking her like this so I know she’s mine.
Don’t get distracted.
I turn her back to face me.
“This part I did rehearse.” I take a deep breath. “I get that you have this story about who you are. And you have one about me too.” Her eyes widen as I take her face in my palms. “I can’t say I don’t care who you are or what you do. That I don’t care you run your dad’s bar. That you’re suspicious of guys, especially exceptionally attractive ones.”
Her eyes narrow, and she starts to tug back. I don’t let her.
“But I love all those things about you. And I would fucking love it if you gave us a chance.”
The moment stretches out between us. Now that I’ve declared my feelings, I can imagine everything she might say.
That I’m being impulsive. That I don’t know what I want.
It’s all bullshit. I won’t let her go if there’s a chance she could stay.
She folds her arms, never breaking my gaze.
“What do you say, Sierra? Will you date me this Christmas?”
“Only for Christmas?” Her head tilts playfully.
“And New Year’s. And Valentine’s Day. And if it’s going well… Easter. Easter is my favorite.”
“I thought Christmas was your favorite.”
“I’m a man of layers.”
“Kiss him!” the guy she called Pete exclaims through the window.
Sierra tips her face up. “I guess that’s what the mistletoe is for.”
“Damn right it is.”
