Page 3 of Christmas Magic

“You know you are better decorator,” he coaxed, as his other arm went around her.

When he embraced her, she could hardly think straight…which, of course, he well knew.

“You’re taller,” she said.

“And?”

“It will be easier for you to hang the garland by the wardrobe.”

His focus shifted behind her to the piece of nineteenth-century furniture then back to her. “True.”

“I suppose I could use my magic,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for me to practice—”

“No. Using magic now—either yours or mine—would be too much of a risk.”

She’d thought maybe Lucian could cast a glamor over the storefront, as he’d had done before in the past, to make it hard for passersby to see what was happening inside the shop. Then she’d have glided her fingers through the air and moved the garland into place, as he’d taught her at home, when she’d used her powers to take placemats and napkins out of the china cabinet drawer and then put them back.

She was still learning how to use her magic, though. With one wrong turn of her hand or flick of her fingers, all of the antiques displayed in the window could suddenly explode into thousands of pieces. No logical way to explain to the insurance company how that had happened.

Lucian no doubt remembered when she’d tried to hang blinds in their new house using her magical abilities. What a disaster.

His arms tightened around her and drew her flush against him. “So. Truce?”

She wasn’t quite ready to give up yet. “That depends.”

“On…?”

“Whether you’ll be gallant and go up the ladder.”

He chuckled. “I’m willing to negotiate.”

“I’ve already done ladder duty.”

“You did it so memorably, too.”

She curled her fingers into the front of his shirt. Light sparkled off her engagement ring: a square-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds on a white gold band. If ever she needed a reminder of just how much Lucian loved her, she only had to look at the beautiful vintage jewel.

Her thoughts slipped back to what had happened after Lucian had proposed. Like an alpha male hero from one of the historical romances she loved to read, he’d slung her over his shoulder and carried her to his bed. What an incredible afternoon that had been.

Her pulse quickened. “If you finish hanging the garland, we’ll get done with the decorating faster.”

His gaze sharpened. “Ah. It has been a few days since I went all medieval on you.”

A blush warmed her face.

“’Tis an enticing proposition you have put forth.” He nuzzled her cheek. “A quest of sorts, milady.”

He didn’t call her ‘milady’ very often, but she loved it when he did. The rough stubble of his jaw grazed her skin, and goose bumps raced down her arms. “Do you agree to the quest?” she breathed.

“I am…considering it.”

He pressed little kisses to her cheek as he worked his way down to her lips. Molly’s eyelids fluttered closed. If they didn’t need to get the decorating done, she might vote to postpone it for another day and close the shop early.

As though attuned to her thoughts, Lucian drew back and captured her chin in one hand. “Fine. You convinced me.”

“I did? I hardly—”

“The scent of your skin….” He groaned. “It enchants me.”