“It’s just—” She gives a breathless laugh. “Of course that would happen—”Anotherlaugh. “When I’m here with a date.” She grabs her side and bends at the waist, losing control as she spirals into a fit of giggles. The entire house is watching her now—including herdate.
“We can opt out, then.”
“No, you cannot!” Ellie yells from the couch. “My house, my rules.”
“Not your house, ma’am,” I retort, looking at Lola and Benny and give them my best pleading look.
Benny whispers something to Lola then faces me with a smug grin. He rubs his chin,pretendingto give it thought. His grin widens when he says, “Mistletoe is binding!”
The house cheers and claps at my misery. I groan and run my hand down my face. This is not how I want my first kiss with Kate to go.
“Kiss her already!” Lola yells from next to Edna. Nick, on the other side, is glowering at her then at us. He’s too chicken to oppose the family. Smart man.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and look back down at Kate. She’s biting her lip, with her arms behind her back, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Is shenervous?That’s interesting.
“Well…” I drop my hands to my sides. “What do you want to do?”
She glances at the room then back to me. “What do you—”
“No.” I stop her. “None of that. I asked first.”
“Dang it,” she mumbles under her breath. Still biting her lip, her eyes flicker as she contemplates. Then a slow, devilish smile moves across her face. “Mistletoe is binding, I guess.” She shrugs one shoulder, a coy look on her face as she steps closer.
She’s enjoying this.
“You think you can handle me?” She bats her eyelashes.
“Why are you tormenting me?” I grumble.
“I just think it’s good for you to embrace some spontaneity.” She giggles, stepping closer.
We’re toe to toe…under the mistletoe… Alright, I need Jerry to come punch me in the face for thinking that.
“I can be spontaneous,” I whisper, my breath blowing a stray hair away from her face.
“I’ve never seen you be spontaneous.” She gives me a smirk.
“Stanley, are youflirtingwith me?” I can’t fight the smile that escapes me when Kate gives me a sneaky wink, biting her glossy lip again.Distracting.
“Just trying to make it worth your while.” Her cheeks flush pink with her words.
I lean down, letting my breath hit the soft spot on her neck. Goosebumps form instantly as I whisper against her ear. “What about your date?”
She glances over at Nick, who’s chatting it up with Edna again, ignoring the scene in the doorway. “I don’t think he’s very concerned.” Her eyes meet mine again, serious this time. “This won’t ruin anything, right?”
“Only if we let it.”
“Will you…let it?” Her words come out in a quivering whisper.
I take her hand, holding it in mine against my chest. “Never.”
A deep sigh leaves Kate’s mouth. “How do you want to do this, then?”
“I thought you wanted me to be spontaneous?” I smirk.
Her cheeks are red now, eyes expectant as she looks up at me. Everything I want in this life is right here. Everything I’ve missed out on. The girl that has had my heart on a string for the last five years is within my grasp.
But it can’t start like this.
