Page 58 of Noel Secrets
She stepped around him and merged into the dinner crowd. She was tempted to glance back, to turn around and sit down with Price again and get to know him better, but she kept walking.
Price wasn’t her typical date. She’d never been more intrigued by a man, and she wanted to keep it that way. It was better to keep the dream alive for a few more days rather than get to know him and find out her instincts had misled her again and this seemingly confident and thoughtful and alluring man was actually pushy, controlling, or downright terrifying.
She pushed through the exterior door and was hit by a cold blast of icy wind. She had to set her banana pudding on the ground and pause to zip her coat up and slide her thick gloves on. Grabbing her precious treat, she rushed past vendors braving the weather to sell tourists their trinkets, clothing, or Christmas gifts.
Price Sanderson. An intriguing and ‘hot’ man, as the girl had said. Four days suddenly seemed too far away.
Chapter Two
Retired Captain Price Sanderson shifted his weight, searching the crowds of Quincy Market. Would Adeline show up? He’d been tempted to use his resources with his famed boss Aiden Porter and find her address or place of business, miraculously show up close by and claim it was serendipity or some excuse that a beautiful lady might find intriguing, or laugh at. Adeline was brave and had impressive self-control. She’d ended their first pudding date far too quick. There was a defensive do-not-cross line in her eyes. It wasn’t in his best interest to be pushy.
He was intrigued by the teasing Adeline, and he could sense she needed him to take things slow. Had she been hurt in the past? His wife ditching him while he was deployed had stunted his emotional growth, according to his friend and teammate former lieutenant River Einheart. Price was no kind of expert with relationships or women. It was the one area in his life that gave him cold sweats. He had no problem following Adeline’s cues and taking things slow. As long as she showed up.
He spotted her smooth blonde curls and beautiful face. Her blue eyes darted around as she also searched the crowds. As soon as her gaze zeroed in on him, she stopped walking. Peoplestreamed around her, but Price could only see Adeline. He felt like River had sucker punched him during a sparring match and he was struggling to catch a breath.
Her blue eyes sparkled and her lips turned up in a welcoming smile. She crossed the distance. He waited. She was like the dolphins he used to chase in the ocean off of The Cape when he was a teenager. If he was patient and they believed he was part of their environment, they’d get close enough he could study them and sometimes even touch them. If he swam their direction, their curiosity would only hold out so long before they’d retreat and disappear.
Price reached out his hand, wanting to touch Adeline’s hand and see if it was as soft as it had felt four days ago. Four days was a long time to wait to see her again. He should’ve set up a date the next day, but he was going off her earning her banana pudding for four days of self-control. It had taken a lot of self-control not to see her again. Especially when he knew he could receive another assignment from Aiden or his second in command Nick Jacobs and be gone within hours.
“Adeline,” he said in a husky voice he hardly recognized.
“Addie, please.” She looked from his outstretched hand to his face and back again. He wondered if he needed to drop his hand. Too pushy? She swallowed, her blue eyes became determined, and she placed her hand in his.
His heartrate picked up and warmth filled him.
“Addie,” he repeated. Two positive steps forward—her asking him to use a nickname and her settling her hand in his palm. He threaded their fingers together, relishing her soft palm and fingers. Her hand fit perfectly, and he didn’t want to let go. “Four days was too long.”
“Poor military hero, longing to see the woman he hardly knows.” She gave him a smirky smile.
“You have no idea,” he said, and lowered his gaze. “I can’t get you out of my head.”
When he lifted his eyes to hers again, he could see a shield had come up to hide her reaction. He’d pushed too far.
She pulled her hand back, confirming his fears, and said, “It’s not that deep, Price.”
He chuckled and forced himself not to act like a sap. “Banana pudding?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She blinked long, wispy lashes at him. He was mesmerized by her blue eyes.
Addie turned and strode to the bakery, glancing over her shoulder at him. Price was enraptured. He kept pace behind her, ordered for them, paid, and carried the treat to a table near where they’d sat the first time. He prayed he could keep her here longer than a couple minutes this go-around.
He pulled his coat off and thankfully she followed suit, revealing an off-white sweater paired with brown slacks. Last time her coat had been unzipped but she’d never removed it.
Taking her first bite of the pudding, she let out a sweet moan that made his pulse quicken. “Heaven,” she murmured, immediately scooping up another bite. “Do you live in Boston?”
He did a mental fist pump. She was asking questions. Hopefully she wouldn’t take two bites and walk away again.
“I grew up in Cambridge,” he told her. “My family is still there, and I have a condo near my parents’ home. I came home to visit between assignments.” He took his own bite of the creamy pudding. Had he shared too much or not enough?
He didn’t tell her he’d bought the condo for his wife almost twenty years ago now, wanting her to be close to his family when he was away. His ex had been awarded the paid-off Maxima and two years of alimony payments from the judge. Jaydyne’s name hadn’t been on the steeply mortgaged condo, and her attorney had advised her it wasn’t an asset worth fighting for. The condowas paid off now, but he rarely used it for more than a few days a month.
“So as soon as you have an assignment, you’ll ditch me and I’ll be waiting for my banana pudding buddy and eating it all by lonesome?”
He chuckled. “If you give me your number, I won’t have to stand you up.”
“Too fast, Price, my impressive military man. Far too fast.” She took another bite and avoided eye contact. At least she didn’t bolt. Yet.
“All right. I can go slow.” He gave her what he hoped was a meaningful look when she raised her eyes again. Her cheeks darkened and she focused on her pudding. Had the look been wrong, or the words? Price was confident in all areas except women and relationships. There, he was a child.
