As soon as I see him, all thoughts of our differences fly out the window. He makes my heart pound so hard that I can’t hear anything but that rhythmic beating.
“Um, are we going out to grab a drink?” he asks.
“We can,” I answer nervously.
“You don’t trust letting me inside?” I see the hurt in his eyes, and I feel guilty.
It’s not him that I don’t trust. “I think it’s best that you didn’t come in.”
“I’m not going to try anything, Caroline.”
“That’s not exactly why, but we shouldn’t make promises that we can’t keep.”
“You don’t trust yourself with me?”
“No.” I shake my head with eyes gleaming with unshed tears. I don’t know this man, and yet I feel connected to him. It isn’t that he’s handsome. Sure, that is a bonus, but I’ve been asked out by several handsome men. There is something in his hazel eyes that makes me want to linger in his personal space.
“And that’s a bad thing.”
I swallow hard and nod. “Yes. Look, you’re insanely hot, and I’m attracted to you, but we’re not a good fit. Not at all. Your sister told me. I’m Suzy freaking Snowflake, and you’re Scrooge. So, I’m sorry. I just can’t be with someone like you.”
I rush back inside and then close the door before he can try to change my mind. I peek through the sidelights and see him standing there with an open mouth, completely stunned. He stands there for a few minutes and then walks away. He gets in his car and drives away, and I just drop my outerwear on the floor and fall asleep on my sofa.
Why am I so sad? Because for the first time I’m crazy attracted to a guy and we don’t even have a shot in the dark.
Chapter Five
Parker
I walk away from her door completely dumbfounded. She just kicked me out and pushed me away without a single chance to get to know her. Still, as I stood shell-shocked, I understood that she was right.
How can we even be a couple when we have a very big discrepancy in our outlook on Christmas? It would matter in the future, especially if we have a family. I’m sure I could get past it, but could she believe me? We both need time and I need to prove it to her.
As soon as I’m in my car, I’m thinking of ways to prove that we can work. Even if I could get her to see that her love for Christmas outweighed my dislike, I have another problem or two. One is my schedule. She has no idea that I work seventy hours a week. Caroline thinks the Christmas thing was bad; I only have one day off, and that was mostly a choice. That has to change this week. I’m sure several people around me would be happy about it. My assistant would love for me not to drive her insane with massively long hours.
I get to my condo and have no idea what I’m going to do next. Snow starts falling down, turning the view from my penthouse window of the Chicago skyline into a giant snow globe. It’s beautiful, and I believe that she would like it.
I press my hand against the glass, thinking of ways to win her over. I know very little at this moment. My mind goes straight toA Christmas Caroland Scrooge’s redemption. Of course, I am nowhere near as bad as him, but I still don’t like Christmas.
Laying on my sofa while staring up at the ceiling, my phone beeps with a text from my sister.
Chloe: I saw your car was gone. Is everything okay?
I shoot her a quick, angry text.
Me:No, everything is terrible.
She calls me right away, and I pick up. Before she can speak, I explain my frustrations. “Apparently you told her how miserable I am when it comes to Christmas.”
“Oh, yeah.”
I stand up in frustration and start pacing. “Well, she essentially slammed the door in my face and told me there was no way it would work between us.”
“I’m so sorry, Bro. I never meant to do that.”
I sigh. I can’t be mad at Chloe. She’s not the asshole who hates the holiday. “No, it’s not your fault. I have a major malfunction when it comes to Christmas, and you were right to warn her because I’d ruin her favorite holiday.”
“Well, if she’s not worth changing for, then maybe it’s for the best.” I’m not planning on telling her anything else until I’m sure of my success.
