“Why do I feel like you’re fattening me up for slaughter?”
He scoffed. “You turning me on with more killer talk?” He nodded to the paused movie of Santa Slayzz on television. They’d taken to bad horror movies for fun. Her selection of the evening involved a homicidal Santa. His had been killer elves the night before.
“What did you bring me?” She left the kittens playing on the couch and joined him at the kitchen counter.
Damon set down his bag and took her face in his hands.
“Damon?”
He stared into her eyes, lingering on her freckles, and smiled, joy making his icy eyes melt in warmth. “Being with you is the best part of my day. Christmas has come early for me.”
“Aw. So cute. Baby, you don’t need to flatter me. I’m a sure bet.”
He didn’t laugh at her joke. Instead, he drew her close for a kiss. Deep and slow, the kiss made her heart race. But it was the look in his eyes when he pulled back that shocked her to silence. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Damon was looking at her like he loved her.
He sighed and hugged her.
She hugged him back.
Then he swore and pulled away.
“Damon?”
“Larry’s got sharp claws for such a little guy,” he growled and plucked a kitten from his pant leg.
She laughed. “Yeah? Bird keeps stealing my hair ties. I’ve lost three just this morning.”
Larry Bird, her all-time favorite basketball player. What better names to give to two darling white kittens with eyes she prayed would turn green? White and green—the Boston Celtics colors.
“I still say you should have named them Sinclair and McDavid.”
“While I do know you, I don’t know McDavid.”
“Even though he plays for the Oilers, I like him. Hell of a center. And then you have me, goalie to the stars.”
“You think pretty highly of yourself, don’t you?”
He shrugged. “If I don’t believe in me, no one else will. Besides, I’m amazing. Proof.” He pointed at her. “The hottest chick in town lets me ball her.”
“Oh you with all the love words.”
He smirked. “You want to hear more?”
“Maybe later. I want to watch Santa punish the people on his naughty list while I drink hot cocoa and snack on…?”
“Cupcakes from Sparkles, that bakery you like. They sell them at the corner store.”
“How do you know I like Sparkles?” She didn’t recall telling him about her favorite sweet shop.
“I hear things.” He winked.
Once again, her heart melted. The big guy kept doing nice things for her, and she was already sleeping with him. He had no reason to act so over-the-top nice. She frowned.
He looked guarded. “What?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Um, because I can? What the hell? A guy should always be nice to the woman he likes.” He said that with an odd emphasis. “Even bad boys treat their women like queens.”
