What in the North Pole was he going on about now?
“And you have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”
“There are lines drawn over lights?”
“Yeah,” Joe said. “You should see the opinions about blue only. Whoa. Intense. I mean, it’s not for me, but as a solid member of Team Colored Lights, I see the appeal. I just like tons of color.”
Considering Uriel had been the one to help him string colored lights throughout the Snowda Shoppe the previous weekend, Joe’s love of them was not a surprise. “I’m well aware.”
“Yeah, you know me—”
“Joseph!”
Uriel had never seen such a horrified look on Joe’s face. It was immediately followed by a flood of negative energy coming from Joe. Uriel turned to look at the man standing in the entrance of the dining room beside Linus.
He seemed normal. Average, even.
So what had drawn such a strong reaction from Joe?
Uriel turned back to Joe in time to see even more emotions flying across Joe’s face. Although none of them were good, Joe didn’t seem afraid of the stranger. More frustrated and embarrassed. Still, Uriel readied himself to fight, the urge strong to protect Joe from whatever ill this man may cause.
Then, after one last panicked expression to Uriel, Joe flung himself into Uriel’s arms and planted a kiss on him that sent Uriel’s magic deep into the earth. It pulled at his gut, building to an intensity Uriel had never experienced.
He needed to ground himself, quickly, before he lost control. He grabbed Joe, planning to push him away, but instead, pulled him closer. He deepened the kiss and poured the excess energy inside him into Joe.
A connection snapped into place.
Joe pulled away, looking more beautiful than anyone Uriel had ever seen in his life. His lips had plumped and reddened, and Uriel’s beard had left red marks on Joe’s cheeks.
Uriel reached up and touched him, running his thumb over one of those red marks, only to hear an uncomfortable throat-clearing from the other side of the room.
He turned to glare, only to find Linus staring wide-eyed at him. The stranger, on the other hand, looked livid. Uriel narrowed his gaze, his mind coming up with a multitude of clever ways to handle this interloper.
“Whoa,” Joe said, his voice so soft Uriel doubted anyone else in the room heard him.
“I agree,” Uriel replied.
Joe looked up at him and Uriel smiled. The real smile he reserved for people like Joe, people he actually cared for. Any remaining worry melted from Joe’s face, and he smiled back.
“AHEM!”
Joe looked over his shoulder. “Javier? This is an un…uh…pleasant surprise.”
Uriel could smite the man where he stood. With one flick of his fingers, he could have him strung up onto the top of the tree in town square, naked as the day he was born and ready to freeze when the temperatures dropped.
“Who in the Ecclefechan is this man?” Uriel asked through his gritted teeth.
“Eccle-what? Was that Scottish? Can you speak Scottish? Oh, I’m doomed if you can, Uriel. I’ve never confessed this to you, but I have a thing for Scotsmen. Well, clearly, because look at you with your red beard and blue eyes and…wait…what was I saying?”
“Ecclefechan is a town in Scotland, but also the name of a delicious tart. I’ll make it for you this week.”
“You will? I’d like that. You’re the second-best cook in town. Sorry, but I have to say Carol’s the best, and you know very well why.”
Uriel nodded. “In this instance, I’m happy to settle for second best.”
“AHEM!”
Uriel turned back toward the entrance of the dining room. “Linus, your guest appears to be choking. Perhaps you should take him into the kitchen for some tea.”
