She prided herself on being strong and she could handle it.There was no reason to give up a good space just because the owner wanted her to have dinner.Josie scoffed at herself and went back to work, thinking of Ares’s bright green eyes, feeling the memory of the kiss on her lips.She couldn’t wait for tonight.
6 ARES
“Stophere.Iwantto take a selfie of us,” Ares steered them to a snowflake light display.
“You’ve taken so many,” Josie pouted, but her eyes were bright with merriment.
Ares leaned down and kissed her cheek, took out his phone, and snapped another picture.
“I need to capture it all!It couldn’t be a better setting for our first date.”
Josie closed her fingers over his, smiled at the camera, and then he put his phone away, leading them back towards the vendors, holding her hand.
Ares couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.Holding her hand made him feel all warm and jolly, like he had just sipped hot cocoa.
“Even without the snow, it’s still Christmas standing here,” Josie said.Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, the multicoloured lights reflecting on her glasses.
“It’s a Christmas explosion.”He offered his arm.Josie slipped her arm through his and his head buzzed with pleasure.
Growing up on an island in the Mediterranean, his Christmas was palm trees, poinsettias, and over the top decorations made of ribbons and foliage.
Now striding with Josie beside him through the transformed Jack Poole Plaza, catching the smell of stout beer and gingerbread, brought to mind that winter he and Xander spent in Germany before Harper came into their life.
That trip was memorable because it’s where he and Xander started to plan for a new future.He never doubted that his brother would make his vision a reality.
Their time in Germany was also memorable because of the woman who broke his heart, but he’d rather not think about Trixie.
Josie stopped, turning to one of the little vendor huts that sold jewellery.
“Do you like those?”Ares pointed to a pair of red earrings that looked like two halves of flower.
“Yes, but I can get them.”She shook her head, but her smile made her dimples appear in her cheeks.
“No, it’s my pleasure.Being here with you is all my Christmas wishes come true.”
Josie flushed and ducked her head, the bags she was holding with her free hand rippling in the breeze.“Ares, you’re not serious.”
“Yes, I am.You know this date has been years in the making.Or maybe I should sayhoping?Me hoping that you’d say yes.”
“It took me a while,” Josie grinned, pushing a stray curl behind her ear.
“Yep, but I forgive you,” Ares returned her grin, feeling like a lovesick puppy.
If anyone on the team of mercenaries—his sweeper team—he managed saw him right now, they’d hide their snickers, and he knew, as soon as he left the room they’d tease him but he didn’t care what anyone said.
“I’ll take these,” Ares pointed to the pair of earrings Josie had admired.The man at the booth smiled and took them off the display for him and wrapped them in a box.
“Thank you, Ares.”
“You’re welcome.See?It’s not hard to let me spoil you.”
“You’re a little pushy,” Josie said.
Ares laughed.Accepting the package from the vendor, he slipped it into one of Josie’s bags.
“I’ve been told that once or twice and I make no apology for it.What else do you want?”He wrapped his arm around her.
“You can’t keep giving me things!”
