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“Mike.”
They shared a hearty laugh. Cass slid off the barstool and reached for her hand.
“Dance with me.”
“I’ve never danced to Christmas music.”
“They do it all the time in the Hallmark movies.”
“Of course you watch Hallmark Christmas movies.” She let him take her hands and ease her closer, into his arms, against his body.
“When I’m not watching documentaries,” he reminded her.
“Right.”
“Did you change the playlist?” he asked her as they settled into a slow rhythm. He hadn’t noticed it before now, but it was all Christmas music playing rather than a mix.
“I did.”
“I like it.”
They danced for a while without talking, their bodies very close, but not quite touching. Cass wasn’t the wham-bam-thank you type, not like Zayne tended to be. He wasn’t particularly shy, either. Just choosier, he guessed.
And yet, he was attracted to Marlowe.
“I don’t suppose you have any mistletoe?”
Cass felt her laughter in her belly and her chest before he heard it tumble from her lips. She tipped her head back to look up at him.
“It’s just not a mistletoe vibe kinda place, is it?”
“The Iron Stag?” He looked around, squeezing her hips just a bit tighter. Marlowe nodded. “I guess not. But I want to kiss you, and I’m not really the crazy, hookup kind of guy.”
“A kiss doesn’t necessarily mean a hookup.”
“No,” he agreed, “but I’m also pretty sure one kiss isn’t going to do it.”
She laughed and frowned at the same time. “We could always see.”
“We could.”
They had stopped moving, eyes locked. Cass wondered for a moment if everyone driving by could see them inside the tavern, with the lights on in here and the darkness outside. Then again, the Iron Stag was on a gravel road in the middle of nothing and nowhere, and it was after one in the morning. Besides, did he care if someone saw him kiss her?
She watched him, her eyes wide and hungry. Never one to rush anything, Cass lifted his hand and cupped her chin.
“I have a question first.”
“What?”
“Are you married?”
“Not married. Not involved with anyone. Haven’t been in about three years.”
“Then I definitely think you should kiss me.”
Cass raised his eyebrows, but even with her watching, waiting, he wouldn’t rush the kiss. Never a first kiss. Rarely any kiss. Some women had liked that about him; it drove others crazy. And not in a good way.
This close, he could see the sparkle on her lips. He liked it, the bit of sparkle over what appeared to be her natural color. The shadow on her eyes was dark and sexy, the naked need in the look she gave him made his heart beat a little harder. Her eyes fluttered as he dipped his head, but she moaned softly in protest when he only nuzzled her nose, her cheek, with his.
