He leaned closer and rested his forehead on hers. “You look beautiful,” he said roughly.
“Thank you. So do you. Look handsome, I mean,” she added with the start of a flush because the way he was looking at her—like he wanted to devour her—made heat slide low and slow in her veins.
Up close, she could see the shadows under his eyes, the faint strain of tiredness, but he was still Rush. All hard lines and quiet strength, coiled tight with the kind of pent-up energy that made her pulse trip. Just being near him lit her up in places she’d been trying to ignore all week.
“I’m glad you came,” she murmured.
“Only to see you.” His voice dropped, low enough that it teased over her skin and left goose bumps in its wake. “I hate these things.”
The faint curve of his mouth wasn’t much, but it was solely for her. It was enough to make her feel like liquid honey was in her veins. Her lips curved too.
Then his eyes flicked to her mouth.
Everything inside her went still. His eyes darkened, turning darker, like he was remembering how good they were together.
“Aunt Lily, who’s that man?”
Lily blinked, snapping back to reality.
Savvie stood at her side, staring up at them curiously. Herblond curls, once tamed neatly into a braid, had come loose and were tangled wildly around her face. She wore her purple princess dress with a straggly piece of lace trailing after her, and her tiara was crooked.
“I’m Savvie,” she announced, popping two fingers out of her mouth.
Rush took a subtle step back and held out a hand to shake. “Nice to meet you, Savvie. I’m Rush Callahan.”
They eyed each other for a long minute, seeming to size each other up.
Then Savvie grabbed Rush’s hand and held on.
“I’m gonna need that back,” Rush said solemnly.
She tilted her head the same way Bash had weeks earlier. “Are you Aunt Lily’s boyfriend?”
Heat flared across Lily’s cheeks. “Savvie…”What’s with kids asking that question?
Rush’s eyes locked with Lily’s. “Yes, ma’am,” he said firmly. “I am.”
Oh my.
“You like her.”
“Yes, I do. A lot.”
Before Lily could form a reply, Savvie pointed upward, smiling slyly. “You’re under the mistletoe.”
Rush followed her finger, and sure enough, a ball of fresh mistletoe hung above them. “Looks like it.”
The flash of amusement in his expression didn’t soften the intent in his eyes. He bent down, put a hand on her waist, and brushed his mouth slowly against hers. He squeezed her waist gently before letting her go.
When he drew back, Lily was still reeling from the feel of him. Her chest cinched tight.
“What’s in your hair, Savvie?” Lily asked to break the tension.
Savvie pulled a sticky curl over her hair and looked at it distastefully. “Peanut butter,” she said, sticking her bottom lip out. “Mama washed it out, but I was saving it.”
Lily stifled a laugh.Oh, Savvie.
“Peanut butter’s better on a sandwich than in your hair,” Lily murmured, catching sight of Rush’s smile.
