My breaths came a little faster. “It’s true.”
I did like him a lot. I nearly lost my mind when I saw him fall outside.
“Okay. Then let’s work from that agreement. I certainly don’t want to pressure you, but can we see where it leads?”
It had already led somewhere. I simply hadn’t had the guts to admit it to him.
“I wasn’t sure what you felt,” I said.
Dale’s palm had never left my shoulder. “What I feel? I like you, Aspen. A lot.”
My entire body heated. “I thought I’d lost you for good when you left. Then when you fell, I—I?—”
“It’s okay.” Dale paused. “Does that mean you like me, too?”
“Yes.” The word came spilling out. “A lot.”
Dale smiled. “Good. We’re on the same page.”
“Very much.” My reindeer was ready to jump out of my skin. That was how he communicated approval. And happiness.
“Then I’ll stick around until you tell me not to.”
It seemed wrong. But it wasn’t. Not if I was being honest with myself. “I want that.”
“And then if you need privacy, I will be the one who leaves.” Dale was adamant.
I bowed my head.
“Agreed?” He was pushing now.
I looked up. “Maybe.”
His smile was indulgent. It lit up his eyes. I liked that look.
“You’re too cute.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Definitely.”
I took a deep breath. “Does this mean we’re dating now?” I meant my words to be half sarcastic. But they came out soft, almost pleading.
Dale let out a laugh that sounded like relief. “If you want to.”
“The tree lighting ceremony can be our first date,” I said.
“Perfect.”
12
Dale
We stood on the wide, center walkway with dozens of other guests in front of the main attraction. A forty-foot pine tree that doubled as the Winter Wonderland greeter.
Someone had a microphone and was making a pretty, Christmas-y speech, but I couldn’t focus. All my awareness was on Aspen. All because of our afternoon conversation.
Aspen leaned toward me. “If we’re dating, does that mean I get to hold your hand?”
