There is the reminder of the night we spent together. Our eyes recognize our mutual thoughts, and the brief silence is needed.
“That he was,” I mention in barely a whisper.
The corner of her mouth twitches from my statement before she visibly shakes her thoughts away. “Anyhow, here we are. It was bound to happen, and better now than the upcoming holiday parties, with dancing elves and sitting on Santa’s lap. Something tells me that I’m going on the naughty list.” Her flirty tone is bold considering where we are.
Taking a tiny step closer, I feel the current between us, but I don’t particularly want to speak a smidgen louder. “If you’re on the naughty list, then I’m on the going-to-the-gates-of-Hell list.”
She snorts a laugh. “On that day, you can be on the side of the family who don’t believe in hell,” she teases me.
“Oh yeah, I can play that card.”
She takes a deep breath. “I’m not sure what we are supposed to say since we kind of left things pretty clear.”
“We’re just making small talk, aren’t we?”
Her brows lift then fall before she sighs. “Yeah. In front of the dessert table that smells like a sugar overload.”
“Damn, you really hate every attempt at very edible food in this place.” I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from her. I’m pulled in, intrigued, and simply enjoy the social interaction. That’s what people do at these things, and maybe we are lucky and nobody notices the way we interact with one another.
Gracie pinches the bridge of her nose. “Sorry. I’m just tired and not feeling like this is the place to be right now. Bed is a lot more appealing.” That grabs my interest, and maybe the half smirk I have shows it. “Probably not the thing to say to you.” Her nervous smile is honest, and I notice her blush.
“Sensible,” I comment blandly.
Her head lolls to the side, and her smile remains but is now a little more relaxed. “Uhm, I would invite you over but sleep really is in my calling, and so be it that I sleep in next to nothing.” Her low voice that only I can hear is a crime because we are in public.
“You’re trouble again, aren’t you?”
She shrugs. “Depends what your mind is thinking.”
My lips quirk out as I gather my composure, as she is a little temptress, and I didn’t realize how much she’s been in my head. Until now when she is standing in front of me with a peculiar sparkle in her eyes and her entire existence from body to words has me wanting a little more of her.
Reminding myself where I am, I step back and scan theroom. It’s a party, and everyone is in their own conversations, but the world seems small around us.
My guess is that Gracie notices how I’ve undressed her with my eyes a few times now, and she knows because she’s done the same. However, we are smart people.
“I have to get up early, so I’m going to head out,” I explain seriously. No inuendo at all.
Her lips pop. “And I need to just take it easy tonight. Tomorrow is our Black Friday sale, so the boutique and online store will go insane.”
We both just stand there, neither one of us making an effort to part.
Except, she does it again. Her chest rises and her face stills as she struggles to open her mouth and instead visibly swallows. She’s a little gray, and it’s clear that a room full of people is the last place she should be.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Totally,” she lies. “It’s just the smell of apple pie or something. I’m just not in the mood to eat lately. It’s been crunch time for work, so my body is everywhere.”
Holidays are a stressful period. I hate it, and then add on the hockey schedule and I’m surprised I have any moments to stop and have a normal night of sleep.
“Okay.”
She offers me a soft smile and swipes her hair to one shoulder. Her beauty is classic, without all the effort many women her age tend to do with makeup. I want to touch her, but the moment I step close, I stop myself and clear my throat, straightening my posture. I’m wiser than that.
“Take care. Maybe the universe won’t make us wait another month before we see one another again,” she quips.
“Maybe,” I answer faintly as our shoulders brush in the process of her walkingpast me.
I turn my head slightly to watch her go in my peripheral view. I’m entranced. She gives me this peculiar feeling which forms a pit in my stomach.
