I didn’t hate it, if I was being honest.
“All teams should have the same number of supplies. I’ve found three discrepancies, which puts us at an unfair disadvantage.” Hayden used his stern Daddy voice, one that shouldn’t affect me in any way.
It was bossy and direct. Yet… my thighs clenched together. In my deepest, darkest fantasies, I wanted Hayden to boss me around in bed. I wanted him to walk me through everything he dreamed of, and I’d do it, without a second thought. But this wasn’t that at all. This was a silly Christmas competition with Brendon the Elf in charge.
My sweater was a little too heavy. Maybe they could open a window? Or extinguish one of the million fireplaces they had going. It’d ease the growing heat in the lobby.
Brendon blinked. “You’re right. They should be the same. I’ll make sure we double-check.”
“See that you do.”
Brendon took off toward another person wearing a full Santa suit, and once he was out of view, I hit Hayden’s arm. “Don’t be mean to Brendon. He reports to Santa.”
“Okay,” he scoffed. “He was staring at your chest the whole time.”
“I mean, look at it?” I faced him, sticking it out. “It’s ridiculous! Of course he’s going to look. That is the point!”
“You want him looking at you like that, Charlotte?”
Oh no. He’d used his deep voice again. His eyes darkened, and he clenched his jaw.
The butterflies tripled in my gut, a whole swarm of them overtaking my senses. “Him specifically? Perhaps not. But I’m single, Hayden. Sometimes a girl just wants to flirt and have fun, maybe kiss under a mistletoe. If Brendon is the guy, then who cares?”
Hayden’s nostrils flared again, and his gaze dropped to my mouth.
The holiday music disappeared, and the people around us stopped existing. It was just Hayden and me, and he was looking at my lips. My body tingled like it was surrounded in Christmas lights, and a small, tiny groan escaped my mouth.
His gaze snapped to mine, his eyes dangerously wide.
“What. The fuck. Was that sound?”
Oh no.
I stared, my mind blaring the alarm.Run.My throat dried up. I didn’t mean to let that throaty moan escape. My vision blurred as we stared at each other, his gray eyes penetrating my fickle shield. His pupils dilated as he stepped closer to me with one hand raised toward my face.
What is happening?I froze.
“Okay, folks, the competition is starting in two minutes! Make sure you’re at your table. If you’re not sure, download the app or ask one of us here!” Brendon yelled into the microphone, the sound penetrating whatever bubble had formed around us.
I jumped a foot in the air. Hayden sucked in a breath and moved so fast that I would’ve been embarrassed if my heartweren’t on the verge of shutting down. He had put several feet of distance between us as he ran a hand over his face. His body language screamedregret, which wasn’t great for my ego.
I had been doing so well, being friends with him and not letting my crush sneak through. But he broke the rule and stared at my mouth. I used all my strength to compartmentalize and get into competition mode.
Thank goodness for Brendon speaking a little too loudly into the microphone. It forced all other thoughts from my mind.
“Every table should have ten boxes, tape, scissors, and four options for wrapping paper. The first round is to wrap as many as you can in ten minutes. The more detailed the wrap, the more points. Bows and ribbons get you extra points, and neatness and creativity do as well. I’m starting ‘Jingle Bells,’ and when it stops, it’s go time!” Brendon cheered.
“Shit. Okay. Speed and details. We can do both.” I stretched my arms above my head, wiggling side to side. I wanted my arms’ full abilities.
“You look ridiculous.” Hayden set his jacket down on the chair like a normal person, amusement crossing his face. “Are we arm wrestling for wrapping paper?”
“Nope. We have to cut straight lines fast and use details. Are you good at cutting paper?”
“Most of Gwen’s gifts are in giftbags with tissue paper. That’s a no for me.” He crossed his arms and eyed the materials.
I imagined this was how he looked on the field. Guilt ate at me knowing I had never seen him coach at the collegelevel. He had just started his job there when everything went to hell, so I’d missed out on a lot of things, like how serious he looked while making a game plan.And hot, but that doesn’t matter.
“Penny might not actually want to win this thing if she put me on this activity.” He gripped the back of his neck. Then his gaze flicked to mine, his gray eyes sparkling. “I’d rather continue the conversation we were having before Bernie interrupted us.”
