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“Well … when you offer hot chocolate how can I say no?”
“You can’t, it’s that simple.” I shrug.
The drive is short and I park on the side of the street near the entrance to the walking mall.
Hollis hops out, change already in hand to put into the meter.
I meet him on the sidewalk and he takes my hand, the two of us walking across the street together. His hand nearly swallows mine, the cold can’t even reach it.
“My nuts are going to freeze off,” he complains.
“Stop being such a baby. You have a coat on.” I tug on his coat to demonstrate my point. “But don’t worry, one hot chocolate coming right up for the big baby.”
“With extra marshmallows?” he asks with a wicked grin.
“Of course—you don’t think I’m going to sharemymarshmallows do you?”
“You already share your marshmallows with me.” He looks significantly at my chest.
“Do you want hot chocolate or not?” I raise a brow.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll shut up.” I give him a look. “Okay, I’llattemptto shut up.”
I lead him over to the hot chocolate stand set up for the winter months. There’s a fairly long line, which I guess shouldn’t surprise me, even at this late hour. Downtown stays pretty busy in the evenings.
I shiver and Hollis wraps his arms around me, pulling my back to his front. I instantly feel his warmth fall around me like a blanket.
He bends his head and presses his lips to my neck. I tilt my head smiling up at him. I gasp then, as fluffy white snowflakes begin to fall from the sky. As one lands on his nose, he looks up too.
“It looks like the stars are falling,” I breathe. “The first snow of the season is always the most magical.”
“And the coldest,” he retorts.
I look at him, at the flakes collecting in his hair and sticking to his lashes.
I turn in his arms and touch my fingers to his jaw.
I wish I could take a snapshot of this moment, to cherish it forever, but my memories will have to do.
“Magic,” I repeat, capturing one of the snowflakes that lands in his hair and watching as it turns to water on my finger.
He bends his head and kisses me as the snow falls around us.
I forget all about hot chocolate, how cold the night is, and only focus on him and the feel of his lips on mine.
My hands fist in his jacket, holding him to me.
Cold stings my cheeks and still my lips do not leave his.
He breaks the kiss and brushes my hair away from my forehead.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers, his breath fogging the air.
I hug myself to him, holding on. How quickly I’ve come to crave him, to need him.
I wonder if he can feel the beat of my heart against his, because it feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest.
“Excuse me?” I turn to see the girl working the hot chocolate stand ushering us forward and I blush at the line forming behind us.
