“Then maybe you should give me another kiss on the cheek.”
“I would, but for sure I’d knock over this lovely centerpiece. I think if we spend our time gazing into each other’s eyes she’ll get the picture.”
“That’ll be easy. I just do that naturally.”
“You’re feeling better, aren’t you?”
“Better?”
“When we were in the store I thought you were going to throw up.”
He shoved down a wave of panic. “That’s what I get for eating a hard-boiled egg that’s been sitting there too long.” Another white lie.
“Seriously?”
“There might have been some mold on the bagel, too.”
“Cole! You’re not a human compost bin.”
“You’re the one who said food shouldn’t go to waste.” His conscience pricked him, but the truth would take them down a road he refused to travel.
“But you still shouldn’t eat it if it’s spoiled. FYI, my mom has a compost pile. Next time take that stuff to her. You might want to go through your fridge and weed out what’s gone bad.”
“You could come in with me when we get back and we could go through it together.”
Her gaze softened. “Wish I could. I promised Greta I’d do her hair and that’ll take a while. Just don’t snack on anything iffy. I’m planning for us to have a really good time tonight.”
“I’m planning for us to have a really good time the next morning. Early the next morning.” He was ready to ditch the subject of spoiled food.
She flushed. “Watch yourself. We’re still very much in the public eye.”
“Are we? I can’t see anybody but you.”
“You’re certainly good for my ego.”
This was more like it. “You’re good for every part of me, some more than others.”
Her flush deepened. “Honestly, I can’t take you anywhere.”
“Not without violating some public decency laws.” He paused, waiting for that to register. When her breath caught, he smiled. “But that still leaves us with a lot of possibilities.”
She rolled her eyes, but her pink cheeks and unsteady breath gave her away. “Clearly the effects of that rotten egg and moldy bagel have worn off and your mind has returned to its favorite topic.”
“Which is you.”
“Not just me. It’s me and a certain activity.”
“No, it’s just you.” He dropped the teasing. This was important. “I would be happy if all we did was sit and play checkers.”
“Fully clothed?”
“Fully clothed. Just being in the same space, breathing the same air.”
She regarded him steadily. “I think you mean that.”
“You have no idea how much I mean that.” Someday she would know. He just had to make it through Christmas without falling apart.
Chapter Fourteen
