“Three kids? Two dogs?Andfour cats? Are we running a petting zoo?”
I laugh, leaning my head into his shoulder. “I was improvising, and so the pets and the kids just kept adding up.”
“And where did I pick up water polo?”
“Oh, you know.” I wave my hand in front of me. “You learned it when you lived in Europe.”
“I see. And if I’m coaching ten-year-olds, that means you were eighteen when you became a mom.”
“Hey, it’s been done before.”
“Yeah, on Teen Mom on MTV.”
“You got me there.” I laugh. “Next time, I’ll try to make my lies sound a little more believable.” When we reach the top of the steps, I turn to face him. “So besides my crazy info dump to your mom, did you have a good day?”
“It was one of the best days I can remember.”
“Did today turn you into a Christmasy kind of guy?”
“It was definitely a good start.”
“It was more than a good start,” I challenge. “I planned the perfect day. My mission’s been accomplished.”
“Well, not entirely.” Park’s lips tilt, a dead giveaway that he’s flipping into his charming mode. He steps toward me, placing his hands on my hips. “There is one thing that we never did.”
“Oh, really?” I wrap my arms around him. “What’s that?”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small mistletoe, dangling it in front of me.
My brows climb. “Where did you get that?”
“In theKris Kringlstore.”
“And what do you plan to do with it?”
“Oh, I’ve got big plans.” That cocky smile on his face just landed Park the number one spot in the hottest-man expressions I’ve ever seen. He pulls me closer. My hips and chest press against him, causing my heart to tick faster.
“But we already kissed today at the reindeer farm.” My lips move into a flirty pout full of fake pity. “You probably blocked it out because your performance was only rated a six, and your ego was bruised.”
“Kissing is a two-person job. So if you give me a six, you give yourself a six.”
I laugh. “No, I’m always at a ten.”
“Oh, so I’m the problem?” He pulls me closer, adding a smirk. “Well, I’ve heard it’s not Christmas unless you kiss under a mistletoe. Is that right?”
“That does sound like some sort of scientific fact, and I’m all about science.”
“So what do you say?” Park smirks as he holds the mistletoe above us. “Should we kiss again for the sake of the season and to see if I can get closer to that ten?”
“If we must.”
He chucks the mistletoe aside, and we both crack a smile as we close the distance. Our mouths meet in the middle, but it’s Park that begins the gentle skim of the kiss. Instantly, sparks ignite in my chest, shooting through my body as if his touch is some sort of flint used to make fire. I raise up on my toes so I can feel the full warmth of his body against mine. I glide my hands up his back, curling my fingers into his hair.
And that’s when the kiss turnschemical.
I’ve reached my activation energy.
Every atom, molecule, and cell is working together inside my body, creating an intensity in my chest that’s thrilling and electrifying. I’m a reactant in Park’s arms, being converted by the heat of his kiss. There was the Lacee before this kiss and the new version of myself that’s an entirely different compound.
