Page 104 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

Delilah gasped and let him go, covering her mouth with both hands. He released a nervous laugh at her reaction.

“Are you horrified or just surprised?” he asked.

“Are you sure?” Delilah whispered.

“Yes.” Anthony tucked a hair behind her ear, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’ve been all over the place the last few weeks because I have never felt this way about anyone, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. My emotions were everywhere. Up, down, angry, delighted, aroused. Always aroused.” Delilah smacked his arm and he yelped, “Gentle! I am injured.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, leaning over to drop a kiss on his arm.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, watching her straighten up. “See, that is what loving someone is all about. Forgiving them and moving on. Plus, you know, make-up sex.”

“Which neither one of us can have at the moment,” she laughed.

Anthony pouted. “Even if I am gentle?”

“What if I don’t want you to be gentle?” she said, scooting closer, their bodies several inches apart, and it was still too far. The need to pull her in close, to consummate their feelings was overwhelming, but when he reached out for her, a sharp pain exploded in his side and he gasped.

“Anthony?” Her hands reached for him, hovering, as if she was afraid to touch him and cause him more pain. “Maybe we should go to the doctor?”

“No, Doc Hutchinson stopped by and checked us out. My ribs are bruised, not broken.” He leaned over, kissing her forehead. “We better wait a few days just the same. I want our first time to be so incredible that neither one of us can move for at least an hour. Not because we further injured ourselves.”

“I hate to break it to you, but even if my knees are like jelly, I will be getting up right after we’re done.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Women have to pee after sex or they get bladder infections? Don’t you know this?”

Anthony groaned, straightening his posture to face the table again before sliding an arm around her shoulders. “I tell you I love you and all the mystery goes out of our relationship?”

“Did that really bother you?” she huffed.

“No. I spent half my life over at Nick’s and Pike’s houses. Their sisters had no qualms sharing all the gross details about what happens to their bodies every month, and on top of that, I learned that girls actually fart.”

Delilah laughed. “Poor Anthony. Holly and Merry destroyed the mystery of women for you.”

“Not fully,” he said, squeezing her to him gently. “I figure I’m still going to mess up and do the wrong thing when it comes to us.”

“To err is to be human,” Delilah said, resting her cheek against his chest.

“Hey, don’t act holier than thou,” he scolded, tilting her chin up with his hand so he could see her face. “You’re going to mess up, too. But I’m going to be the best boyfriend and forgive you.”

“Magnanimous of you.” Her eyes were suddenly shuttered and he wondered what shifted her mood.

“Anthony?” she said, licking her lips.

“Yeah?”

Whatever she’d been about to say, she shook it off with a smile. “Nothing.” She wrapped her arms around him again and kissed his chest. “I love you, too.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

Delilah sat at her computer Wednesday afternoon and stared at the certified letter in her hands. She’d opened it hours ago, but the contents of the very formal correspondence hadn’t sunk in yet.

Dear Ms. Gill,

Due to the rising costs of maintaining rental properties in Idaho while the owner is living out of state, they have decided to put the property you currently rent on the market for sale. Therefore, you have thirty days from the postmark of this letter to find another residence and vacate the premises. We appreciate your attention to this matter and apologize for any inconvenience.

Regards,