“Then why would she ask for your help? And why were you so eager to help her?”
“I don’t know.” The plane speeds up, and within a few seconds, we’re lifting off the ground. Once we’re in the air, Park keeps explaining. “I like Sienna.”
My expression changes despite my best efforts.
“There’s no reason to be jealous.” He smiles.
“I’m not jealous.”
“I’ve been trained to know when someone is lying, and you are definitely lying.”
“Oh, brother.” I roll my eyes. “Just continue your story. You like her.”
“Not how you think. I liked working with, and talking to, Sienna. She’s fun and easy. She makes difficult, impossible missions seem normal and doable. I trusted her. And so when I got her message that she was in trouble, I knew she trusted me too. She could’ve easily gone to anyone else in the agency, but she didn’t. She reached out to me. So, of course, I wanted to help her.”
“I see.” I drop my eyes to my hands in my lap.
“You’re jealous again.”
“No, I’m not.” I lift my head, adding a fake smile. “Besides, what would I be jealous of? You and I were never anything more than a temporary holiday romance. Remember the rules? We would’ve walked away from each other in a few days no matter what.”
“I remember.” The lighting in the back of the plane is dim, with nothing but runner lights on the floor, but I can still see Park’s blue eyes. “I’m sorry I dragged you into all of this.”
“It’s not all your fault.” My lips lift. “I’m the one that walked intoyourdressing room.”
“True.” He nods. “But I still put you in danger, and I’m sorry about that.”
“Hey, didn’t we say that all is fair in love and war?”
A small laugh puffs out of his mouth. “We did.”
“Then there’s no need for you to apologize.”
The plane bounces, and I immediately grab onto a nearby strap that’s keeping the boxes from falling over.
“You okay?” Park’s expression turns to something sweet.
“Yeah, I just hate turbulence when I’m not buckled in.”
“I remember that about you.” He scoots over, putting his arm around me. “I promise I’m not trying to make a pass at you. You said the holiday fling was over, and I respect that. I’ll just hold you to your spot so you can sleep.”
“Okay.” I peek up at him, easily smelling his familiar sandalwood fragrance. That smell triggers the memory of every kiss we’ve shared since we first met. And all I want to do is go back to the easy part of our relationship.
The plane drops again, and his hold around me tightens. “See? I’ve got you. You can close your eyes and go to sleep.”
“Okay.” I tear my gaze away from him and lean into the warmth of his body, reminded once again how easy it is to be with Park Bradshaw.
Now my head just has to figure out if I’m in love or in war.
THIRTY-ONE
PARK
December 23
There’sa loud noise under me as the plane's landing gear lowers. My eyes jolt open, and Lacee’s red hair is the first thing I see. We’re both lying on our backs. My arm wraps around her, and her body presses against mine, with her head using my chest as a pillow.
I close my eyes again, savoring the moment. I breathe in Lacee’s scent. I’ve been trying to figure out ever since I met her what she smells like—beyond coconut shampoo—and I think I’ve finally figured it out. She smells like Christmas. A few days ago, I didn’t even know Christmas had a smell, but now whenever I’m near Lacee, I smell peppermint from her parent’s candy store, goulash from the German restaurant she took me to, reindeer food from feeding Blitzen, hot chocolate from the bonfire, and gingerbread from making houses with her family. All of my happiest memories from the last few days are wrapped up in her and her scent, and I want to breathe it in forever.
