“I mean, I wouldn’t say no.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t,” I mutter under my breath. “Shirt off. Sit down.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says before settling between my knees.
I gently run my fingers over his bare shoulders before digging my thumbs into his traps. The groan he elicits as his chin drops to his chest draws a giggle from me.
“Of course, you’re laughing at my pain.”
I continue working the knots along his neck and shoulders. “You can’t keep sleeping on the couch.”
“Well, sweetheart. Unless you are sleeping on the couch instead or crashing with my sister, it doesn’t look like I have much choice.” He winces as I hit a particularly sensitive spot, and I take pity on him, switching to my palms to massage the areas I just abused.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“Older brother to a particularly spicy sister, divorced parents, and an ex-girlfriend who cheated on me with your ex-husband.”
I groan. “Can youpleasenot bring up that fiasco? I thought we swore never to speak of them again.” I was young and naïve and thought I was supposed to marry the bad boy because everyone wanted him. As it turns out, he and I both still had a lot of growing up to do. It took some not-so-pretty arguments to learn what love and respect should look like in a relationship.
Reece laughs at the clear disdain in my voice. “In my defense, I didn’t know there was a relation at the time. But it sure made things interesting when Jett started dating Noah.”
“Talk about full circle chaos.” Rocking his head backward between my hands so I can see his eyes, I add, “For the record, I’m really glad we both got out mostly unscathed.”
His green eyes meet mine, and not for the first time, I get a glimpse of the gentle, romantic Reece I met in college. Before I knew he was my friend’s brother. Before I realized he couldn’t be mine. But Jett’s words from earlier ring through my head, that she’d be fine with us together, and I can’t help but wonder if I made a big deal out of this forher, or if I did it to protect my heart.
Because loving this man is easy. Letting myself be loved is the challenge.
“Do you believe in Christmas wishes, Kenna?”
“Depends, I guess. Why? What’s yours?”
“I wish this beautiful, athletic, sassy, blue-eyed badass would kiss me under the mistletoe for once.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask softly as I lean closer.
“Mmm. Would be pretty amazing.”
His last word is almost cut off by my lips crashing into his.
As we pull away, I ask, “Will that do for now?”
“Year. Made,” he whispers before pointing at the ceiling. When my eyes land on where he is pointing, I can’t help but laugh and shove his shoulder.
There, above the couch, tied to the fan is a sprig of mistletoe with a little red ribbon around it.
I look back down at the man between my arms and silently thank the universe for letting me have these few days with a man who knows how to treat a woman. “You are something, Reece Taylor.”
“Yes. Hungry. Want a grilled cheese?”
The shift in topic leaves me dizzy as Reece pushes to his feet and gets to work pulling out ingredients for grilled cheese and tomato soup. I follow him into his small kitchen area and notfor the first time wonder if he realizes how quickly he switches gears.
“One or two?” he asks as he slathers slices of honey wheat bread with butter before sprinkling garlic powder over them and layering multiple slices of cheese. “You haven’t eaten since this morning. Two it is.”
“Grilled cheese is not on my eat-right meal plan.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. Screw the meal plan.”
“Why do I feel like you’re trying to distract me from what just happened?”
