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WILLIAM

THE CALL ENDED AND we looked at each other, wide-eyed. Lauren put a hand over her mouth, then we both started laughing.

“Is this really happening?” she said, beaming.

“I think it is.”

She flung herself into my arms, and the sudden contact knocked the wind out of me in the best way.

“You think he can really pull this off?” I asked with my chin over her shoulder.

“If anyone can, it’s him.” She let me go. “I can’t believe this might actually work.”

“Me neither.”

“You know this is the spirit of Christmas, right? Like I don’t want to ruin the moment but…”

“Okay, okay. I get it. Christmas is magical.”

She grinned at me. “You were really willing to drop a couple thousand dollars to make this happen. I think your heart has grown three sizes—”

I gave her a mock serious look.

She put a hand on my arm. “Maybe the spirit of Christmas is the mechanics we meet along the way?”

“Stop.”

She beamed at me. “You’re a good person, William. Even if you do hate Christmas.”

Then she leaned forward and pressed a slow kiss to my forehead.

It was all I could do not to tip my head up and kiss her for real. But I didn’t know if she wanted that. If kissing her here in this room where neither of us were wearing pants and we had only one bed would make her feel uncomfortable or trapped. So I didn’t. I just let her take the lead, and I closed my eyes and leaned into her lips on my skin.

She pulled away and I looked at her.

“You know, we make a good team,” she whispered.

“We do make a good team.”

We studied each other.

“Can I ask you a question?” I said. “If we don’t go to jail for this, would you like to go on a date with me?”

I watched the sparkle fade from her eyes.

“I would love to go on a date with you. But I don’t think I can.”

I shook my head. “Why?”

“Because I’m moving to Little Christmas, William.”

My smile fell. “You decided.”

“I did. And it’s not a good idea for me to start something that can’t go anywhere.”

I let out a breath through my nose.

“Not that I don’t find you devastatingly attractive,” she said. “With really good taste in ugly sweaters. Also, I just don’t think I can be with a guy who doesn’t believe in Santa—”