“The longest six hours of my life.”
“It’s true!” Mallory shouts behind him. “He’s been moping around like a sad sack.”
“Finley hasn’t been much better,” Barb calls from behind me.
“Barb!” Mirna snaps. “No helping the enemy.”
“I just call ’em as I see ’em. And he’s not her enemy—he wants to be her lover. Although enemies-to-lovers is always a satisfying trope.”
My cheeks burn.
“How about we take it one step at a time?” Alex’s eyes twinkle. “We could start with a kiss.”
My breath hitches. “That seems like a reasonable place to start.”
He grins. “How do you feel about public displays of affection?”
I grin back. “Depends. Are we in public right now?”
Still smiling, he lowers his mouth, his lips brushing gently against mine. I press into him, kissing him back, soft but certain. It’s a tender kiss, but under the surface is the promise of so much more.
It’s perfect.
When he pulls away, his gaze is full of wonder. “So… about that sleigh ride?”
I arch a brow. “Will it take us somewhere less public?”
His answering grin is pure mischief. “That can be arranged.”
“Then why are we still standing here?”
Laughing, he sweeps me up into his arms and carries me to the sleigh.
“She doesn’t have a coat!” Mirna calls after us.
“Her coat’s in the sleigh!” Mallory calls out.
Sure enough, Alex sets me down in the sleigh, and under a blanket is Mallory’s red coat and the scarf she got me for Christmas.
“You left it behind,” Alex says.
He helps me into my coat, adjusts the scarf around my neck, and slips a hat and mittens on me, then he settles beside me and draws fake-fur blankets over us until I’m warm and cocooned.
“Okay, Jerry,” he says to the driver. “We’re ready.”
Jerry snaps the reins, and the horse plods down the snow-covered street. Mirna and Barb wave, and Barb calls out, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“Why do I get the impression there isn’t much Barb wouldn’t do?” Alex asks with a laugh.
“Because it’s an accurate assessment.”
His family waves as we pass. Mallory is literally jumping up and down.
“Why do I think Mallory was instrumental in setting all this up?”
He grimaces. “Would it ruin it if she was?”
“No. It’s like getting her blessing.”
