But he was a stranger.
We were two people who attended the same event and met in line. Nothing more. Even if we did share a little kiss.
Then why did it feel so different?
“Are you free after this?” Nolan asked as he turned to face me.
I nodded, hope soaring in my heart to new levels.
“Would you like to get a drink with me?”
I met his eyes, and nothing but kindness reflected in them. I trusted this man wholeheartedly, even if I had no clue why.
“I’d love to.”
CHAPTER TWO
Nolan
When I first told myselfI should go to the tree-lighting ceremony and try to enjoy the season, my reaction was to tell myself to fuck off. But then the idea grew on me.
Maybe forcing myself into the Christmas cheer would help me actually get into it. I wasn’t too hopeful.
But then I mether.
Lyra. The younger, curvy cutie I couldn’t stop staring at. Couldn’t stop wishing I could throw her over my shoulder and take her home, have my way with her.
I might be a bit rough.
But I had a feeling she could handle it.
I could tell she loved Christmas. And her joy became infectious. I needed more, wanted more, and I wasn’t about to let her go so easily.
We strolled through the town center, looking at all the Christmas displays and sharing our favorite memories of Christmases growing up.
“I didn’t realize my mom struggled until I was in high school. She never showed it. Always made the impossible happen. But I wish I had noticed and thanked her more before I no longer had the chance to.” My voice trailed off as the painful memories hit me sideways. Her awful cancer battle and her young death a few years ago impacted me deeply. I still dealt with the grief daily.
Her small but warm, gloved hand landed on my arm, and when I met her eyes, her face showed nothing but sympathy. “I’m sorry for your loss, Nolan. That must be hard.”
“It is. She was the best single mom a kid could ask for. She showed up every day for me despite my father never coming around.”
“I bet she was an amazing woman. I mean, look at who she raised.” Lyra smiled and wrapped her arm around mine as we made our way over to the bar in town, Mixer.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“My parents divorced when I was sixteen. Honestly, I think it would’ve been a hell of a lot easier to deal with if it had happened when I was younger. I wouldn’t remember so much. I was dealing with my teenage hormones, and it made it worse. My parents couldn’t help it. They tried for a long time. My younger brother, Lee, is still in high school. He’s a good kid. I secretly think my parents had him as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. It didn’t work. He was eight when they split.”
“I’m sorry you went through all of that. Life can be such a bitch, huh?”
She laughed, a sound I wanted to hear more and more. It soothed me and brought out a happiness I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. “That’s why we have fun holidays like Christmas. So things like lights and cookies and hot cocoa are exciting, and we have something to look forward to.” Lyra pulled out another cookie and handed it to me. This woman. Her carrying cookies in her pocket killed me.
“I like how you think. I’m really glad I came out tonight.”
“Me too.” She squeezed my arm, and everything inside me wanted to pull her against me and kiss her. It was as if she infiltrated my whole body, and my blood thumped, my heart pounded, and my limbs buzzed.
I cleared my throat, but it did nothing to relieve my desires. “Have you been to Mixer before?” I asked, hoping to distract myself.
“A few times. I like the live music.” Lyra sipped from her cup before throwing it out in a trash can we passed.
