“She yelled at you?” I interrupted. That was something I hadn’t known about.
“She told me I was being childish and unladylike,” Noelle said dramatically, folding her arms across her chest like she was being offended all over again.
Nikkie really had no idea. Noelle was a child. Of course she was going to act like one.
“Would a hot chocolate make it better?” Chris offered.
“With marshmallows?”
“Noelle! Remember your manners,” I scolded as Chris shot me a look.
“There’s no other way to have hot chocolate. Should wemake Mom one, too?” Chris asked Noelle as he knelt down to meet her eye.
“Yes please.”
Chris took Noelle’s hand, leading her into the kitchen before lifting her onto a stool at the counter and grabbing the bag of marshmallows. I stood at the door watching them. I hadn’t even removed my coat. I just stood silently watching them. It wasn’t until I saw it for myself that I realized how much she glowed under Chris’s attention, and he wasn’t immune either.
“Mom, are you coming?” Noelle called.
Chris looked at me with a strange look. I’m sure he had a million questions about why I was here, but he was keeping them to himself for now.
When he walked over to where I was standing, frozen like a statue, he reached up and unzipped my coat.
“What are you…?” My words were cut off as he unwound my scarf from around my neck and hung it on the hook right beside his.
“Mom, look!” Noelle squawked and both Chris and I turned to face her.
“What?” I asked.
Noelle was pointing at me. At least I thought she was. “You have to kiss!” She giggled.
I looked up and hanging above our heads in the doorway was a bunch of mistletoe tied with a red ribbon. I don’t remember it being there before we left. I had a sour taste in my mouth as I wondered who Chris had hung it there for.
“Oh.”
I looked at Chris who was grinning like the cat that got the cream.
“You don’t have to,” I told him, not wanting to make it more awkward for him than it already was.
“Oh yes I do,” he replied devilishly.
“Chris …”
“It’s the rule,” he replied before cupping my face in his hands and bringing his lips to mine.
Chris’s touch brought me to life, and when he sealed his lips down on mine, I moaned like a wanton hussy and what’s worse was, I didn’t even care. I could hear clapping and cheering but nothing mattered. Nothing except the man in front of me. I grabbed a fistful of his sweater and held him to me. Chris tilted my head and deepened the kiss. When I groaned, Chris took the opportunity and plundered. With our tongues dueling, I held on tight.
The chanting of ‘Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!’ snapped me out of the lust haze and sent me spinning straight back to reality.
Chris stepped away, an infectious smile on his face.
I reached up and touched my kiss-swollen lips, sure I looked a mess. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could hear the blood roaring through my veins.
“Wow,” I exclaimed as the kettle’s whistle echoed through the room.
Leaving me standing there, Chris went and finished making hot chocolate, handing Noelle the bag of marshmallows and her mug.
“Two only, Noelle,” I told her, not needing her riding a sugar high and stuck in the car.
