“Shall we go? We don’t want to miss all the fun.”
I push everyone towards the front door, which leaves me right in front of Connor we exit. He's wearing jeans and a thick sweater under a black jacket paired with black boots. Damn, he looks delicious enough to eat. I’m never going to survive tonight or the next week.
As we’re about to walk out, he leans down to whisper in my ear. His scent surrounds me, and I breathe him in, clean, crisp air and the hint of something smoky.
“You look beautiful, baby girl,” he says, the rasp in his voice sending shivers down my back. “Did you do this for me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Connor,” I say, “I did it for me. And for the cute guy I’m going to find for a vacation fling.”
Connor’s laugh follows me out of the Inn and to the car.
TWELVE
SCARLETT
The Christmas market is exactly as I expect. It’s charming and feels like something out of a fairytale. In the middle of town square, there’s a twenty feet tall tree, with a crystal star sparkling at the top.
The market spreads out over several blocks, fairy lights strung over the top. The air is scented with nutmeg and cinnamon. And the crowd. There are so many people here and I feel overwhelmed. I’m not good with crowds.
“Ooh, hot chocolate,” Sadie says, pointing towards a stall. “Let’s go.”
My family heads in that direction and I fall behind. Connor stays by my side, his hand resting on the small of my back. He’s so tall, and he can be intimidating when he needs to be, so no one comes within five feet of us.
“What would you like, baby girl?” He asks. “Any preferences or do you want to be surprised?”
“I think I’ve had enough surprises on this trip,” I say, looking up at him. “But I guess a hot chocolate surprise can’t be that bad. Unless you poison it.”
Connor smiles at me. “Baby girl, you’re the only one in this relationship who wants to commit murder.”
Before I can tell him not to call me baby girl and remind him that we’re not in a relationship, he’s stepping up to the stall and ordering me a hot chocolate. Mom comes up to me, wrapping her arm around my waist as we watch Connor order hot chocolates and chocolate pistachio croissants.
“He’s so nice,” Mom whispers. “Not that I support him. I think that needs to be made very clear. I am on your side.”
“I know, mama.”
I never said Connor isn’t nice. His kindness and generosity are two of the things which attracted me to him. He always went out of his way to help people, and I saw that first hand.
Connor comes back to us with my sisters in tow, all of them carrying hot chocolates and baked goods. I take my drink out of Connor’s hand, our fingers brushing against each other.
I take a tentative sip of my hot chocolate and realize it tastes like hazelnut and cinnamon. It’s perfectly hot and it warms me from the inside. Connor watches me drink with satisfaction coloring his eyes. Ugh, I hate that he knows me so well.
“So, Connor,” mom says. “Do you miss hockey? I mean, you were such a big star.”
We continue walking, Dad and Mom holding hands, Sadie with her arm hooked through Sienna’s. With everyone coupled off, it leaves me next to Connor. I shove my free hand into the pocket of my coat so that it doesn’t brush against his. If no one else is going to maintain the distance between us, then I’m going to do it myself.
“I do,” Connor says. “But there are people in New York I miss more.”
I feel everyone glance at me, but I keep my eyes forward. I don’t want to think about Connor missing me.
“Is it just you and Marion in the family?” Mom asks. I shoot her a look. She doesn’t need to go through this third degree with Connor.
“You don’t have to answer that,” I say, looking up at him. Connor’s eyes meet mine and, in their depths, I see his gratitude.
“I didn’t mean to pry,” Mom says. “Scarlett is right, you don’t have to answer.”
Pulling my hand out of my pocket, I brush my fingers against Connor’s hand.
“I don’t mind,” he says. “My parents died when I was young, my grandfather died two years ago. He raised me and my brothers. Now it’s just me, Marion, and my brothers left.”
