“Not up for negotiation.”He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in to claim a kiss that went all the way to her soul.“He tried to suffocate you, remember?”
She flinched.Truthfully, she had tried to push it out of her memories.“I remember.”
“He’s disappeared, which means he’s out there.Capable of hurting you again.”
“I’ll make sure I’m not alone,” she assured him.
He blew out a frustrated sigh.“I’ll send a car to pick you up and bring you to me.”
“Hades—”
“Like I already said, not up for negotiation.”
At his firm tone, she conceded.“Okay, but I’ll have to run home and get a change of clothes.”
“I can have clothes sent over.”
“Stop.You don’t need to buy me anything.”
“But Iwantto buy you things,” he stressed.“No offense, babe, but your clothes are cheap and scratchy.”
“They’re all I can afford.”
“And that’s why I want to buy you things.”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Nope.Stop fighting me.”
She huffed.“Okay, but not too much.Just a few essentials.”
“Thank you,” he said.“There’s one more thing I have to ask, before you head into work.”
“And what would that be?”
“I want you to stay with me at Christmas.”
Pulling back in surprise, she stared at him, incredulous.“You want me to celebrate the holidays with you?”
“Yes.”
“You celebrate Christmas?”
“More or less.”
“More more or more less?”
He didn’t reply.
“Do you even know what day Christmas is?”
A scowl creased his brow, and she fought a smile.Maybe he was starting to catch feelings for her, too.A girl could hope.
“Okay,” she replied.Wasn’t like she had any plans to begin with.
He placed a hard, quick kiss on her lips.“Then I’ll see you tonight.”
She nodded and exited the car when the driver held open the door.With a wave she headed into the building and made her way to the time clock.Betsy was there, so she stepped to her friend’s side.
