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hyness, I decided I wanted to be wanted by him. I needed to forget that my heart would end up broken once we got back to Boston. He’d be with his friends and I’d be with mine. As long as I told myself not to fall in love with him, I’d be okay. I really would.
His hand taking mine brought me out of my woolgathering as I turned and smiled, it seemed to ease the worry I saw on his brow. “We need to hang the ornaments,” he whispered, leading me toward the tree.
He handed me the ballerina so, walking forward, I hung her on a branch. She twirled in the wind as I stood back and admired her.
Dylan stepped forward and my heart tingled with excitement watching him.
For now, he was mine.
It touched my heart in more ways than one to be here with him at the village tree. What a wonderful idea it was too. Making something fun and festive as a fundraiser for the hospital.
Dylan stood behind me and wrapped an arm around my neck, the other around my waist. He pressed in close against my body and sighed. “We fit Jenna,” he whispered. “Don’t think too hard because I can guarantee you won’t come up with the correct answer.”
“You’re always so confident,” I mumbled.
“I’m not as confident as you think, at least with you.” He pulled off a glove and hesitated before he took hold of a chunk of my hair and rubbed it between his fingers and thumb. “So soft,” he said, distracted. “I’ve wanted to slide my fingers through this hair for a while now. I’ve imagined a lot more too.” He cleared his throat and his meaning became clear in my mind.
My cheeks felt like they were on fire so there was no way I planned on lifting my face to his right now. Before he could ask me anything else, I turned and curled into him, needing him distracted. The feel of being in his arms, in this way, was a memory I’d take with me no matter what happened between us.
“What are you thinking?” Dylan asked and placed a kiss to my forehead.
“About the fact that you might actually be right.”
“Me, right?!” he laughed.
“Yes.” I moved and poked him in the belly with my finger.
Tugging me into his arms, he squeezed me close. “Stop poking me before I end up poking you with something that will embarrass you.”
“Why don’t we change the subject?” I quickly suggested before my embarrassment took over.
“For now,” he agreed.
He was so comfortable that if we weren’t standing, I’d be asleep. I decided to answer his original question. “I was thinking about how happy I am right now. None of this was expected but being here like this with you is nice.” I swallowed hard and buried my face in his neck, not willing to voice what worried me.
Dylan squeezed me hard before letting go and taking my hand. “Hot chocolate.” He smiled. “It’s the best, and homemade from real chocolate—or so Cormac informed me.”
“I think someone has a sweet tooth.”
“Chocolate isn’t the only thing I crave, Jenna.”
Goose bumps shot down my spine at the way he said my name, his meaning sinking into my brain.
Embarrassment crept onto my face and Dylan softly smiled. He turned toward the tree and the lights, and I was thankful for the moment to pull myself together. The man got under my skin and I wasn’t certain I knew what I wanted where he was concerned.
You know that’s a lie, Jenna!
My conscious was a pain in the butt.
I’d wanted Dylan McKenzie from the moment I’d laid eyes on him. I’d been annoyed and embarrassed that first time, but then my eyes would always find him in a crowd. Somehow, I’d know he was close. Didn’t make any sense.
Dylan turned his attention back onto me, so I looped my scarf around my neck and smiled. He blinked and a smile slipped onto his face as he wheeled me in, giving me a sweet kiss before whispering, “Are you having a good time, Jenna?”
Daringly, I slid my hands into the neck of his jacket feeling the heat there. “More fun than I’ve ever had.” Leaning in, I gave him a brief kiss before nibbling along his jaw to his earlobe and discovered he was sensitive there, so I took the opportunity and teased him with a slight bite.
Dylan shuddered and groaned. “You’re teasing me, Jenna. I won’t be responsible for how I react if you carry on.” Stepping back, he took my hand and dragged me away from the tree and the shelter into the biting cold.
As the snow started up again, I admitted, “The snow reminds me of Boston, although the view is different,” while admiring the view of the houses covered in snow and lights on in the windows. It offered a warm glow that felt nice.
