"And you're beautiful."
"Flattery will not make this less embarrassing."
"Worth a shot." Grant kissed her forehead. "Come on. Let's get back before they send a search party."
They rejoined their friends, who took one look at them and immediately started grinning.
"Where'd you two disappear to?" Mark asked, far too innocently.
"Hot chocolate run," Grant said.
"Right. Hot chocolate." Hannah's eyes gleamed. "Is that what we're calling it?"
"Leave them alone," Emily said, but she was smiling too.
The evening continued—caroling, hot chocolate, laughter, and conversation. Grant kept Riley close, his hand never leaving her waist, and if anyone noticed how tactile they were being, how Grant couldn't seem to stop touching her, no one said anything.
Or maybe they did. Grant wasn't really paying attention to anyone but Riley.
When it was finally time to leave, they said their goodbyes and headed to Grant's truck. The drive back to Riley's house was quiet, tension humming between them.
Grant pulled into her driveway and killed the engine, neither of them moving to get out.
"Tonight was nice," Riley said finally.
"Yeah. It was."
"Grant—"
"Don't." He turned to face her. "Don't overthink it. Don't try to talk yourself out of it. Just—" He stopped, searching for the right words. "Just let it be what it is."
"What is it?"
Grant's eyes held hers in the darkness. "Whatever we want it to be."
Riley's breath caught. The words hung between them, heavy with possibility.
"I should go," she whispered, not moving.
Grant's mouth curved into a slow smile. "Maybe you should kiss me before you go."
Riley's heart stuttered. "Maybe?"
"Definitely."
"That's pretty presumptuous."
"Is it working?"
Riley leaned across the console, her hand finding his jaw. "What do you think?"
"I think?—"
She kissed him before he could finish, and Grant made a sound low in his throat that sent heat pooling through her. His hand slid into her hair, angling her head, deepening the kiss.
This was supposed to be a goodnight kiss. Quick. Simple.
It was neither of those things.
