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I rolled my eyes. “You know I can zip my own coat, right?”
“Maybe I like doing things for you.”
I was good with that response, so I pulled open the front door, and he followed me outside to my car, which was a few feet from his. I popped the trunk and pulled out the large box covered in cute snowman wrapping paper with a white and red tulle bow. He undid the bow and tore off the paper, which I tossed in my trunk before slamming it so we could lean against the car. He looked down at the box with a picture of a telescope on the outside.
“I love this. Thank you. My mom always had one on our deck.”
“Now when you sit under the stars, you’ll have a better view,” I said, biting down on my bottom lip.
“What if I like this view best?” he said, his hand cupping one side of my face, and I couldn’t move.
“Maybe you should stop being afraid of taking what you want.”
“What do you want, Tink?”
“I want you to kiss me. No strings attached. Just a kiss so I can have that to hold me over for another week.”
He chuckled and moved closer. My butt rested against my car, and his mouth covered mine. His hands tangled in my hair, and he kissed me with a desperation that I felt. Before I realized what was happening, he lifted me off the ground, and my legs came around his waist. My hands wrapped around his neck before running my nails through his hair, and he groaned. His tongue tangled with mine. I could kiss this man forever, and it still wouldn’t be long enough.
His phone startled us both when the alarm went off, and he pulled back. His eyes searched mine as he turned the alarm off on his phone.
“I’ve got to go.” His forehead fell against mine. “I’ve postponed Benjamin twice already, and he needs to get to the city so he can celebrate with his family, as well.”
His head pulled away from mine, but he continued holding me there. My hands found each side of his face as I smiled at him. “Thanks for today. I can’t believe you did all this. And you even went to The Tipsy Tea.”
“Never again. That place is dangerous. I got attacked there.” He raised a brow, but I could hear the humor in his voice, even if he was trying to hide it.
“What happened?”
“Some fucking little devil with red hair and freckles chucked a doll at my back. That was after she and her doppelgänger destroyed the store, and one of them bit their mother in the leg. And then the little hellion squared her shoulders in challenge. Like I was just some pussy that she could intimidate.”
My head fell back in hysterical laughter, but I groaned when I felt his erection poke me in the bottom. This man had me so turned on, yet so entertained, my body didn’t know what to do with that.
“Those are the Warren twins. Kressa and Katelyn. They’re pretty famous in town for being hellions. The mom has long, blonde hair and is always on her phone?”
“Yep. She didn’t do anything to intervene, so I pulled out the Santa card and told the kid I was going to report back to him about her behavior. The little shit didn’t like that, but I’m sure she’s still over there torturing Matilda, who was far too nice to put up with that.”
“I love Matilda. I worked at that store one summer when I was in high school. She’s the best.” I sighed when he slid me down onto my feet. “Look at you, Maddox Lancaster. You’re practically a local now.”
“Yeah? Well, I got sexually harassed by the old lady at Cottonwood Café. And then I was assaulted at the fucking drunk tea party store. So, the locals have not been all that welcoming.”
I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle my laughter. “I promise, it’s a very friendly town.”
“There’s only one resident I really give a shit about.” His hand found the side of my neck. “But you know I’m no good at this, Tink. I don’t date. And obviously, you work for me, so we’ve got that issue, too.”
“How about we don’t get ahead of ourselves right now? You wanted to kiss me, and I wanted to kiss you. I think we’d both like for it to happen again, and it’s no one’s business but ours.” I rested my hands on his chest.
“I like the sound of that,” he said as he nipped at my bottom lip and growled. “I’ll call you later. Merry Christmas.”
He picked up the telescope and walked backward toward his car.
“Merry Christmas, Bossman.”
He placed the package in his trunk before climbing into his car, turning it on, and rolling the window down. “I’m not leaving until you’re inside. Go.”
I laughed. “So bossy. This is Cottonwood Cove. You don’t need to worry.”
“Well, I got attacked by a five-year-old today. I’m fairly certain it’s not safe anywhere.”
