Page 13 of Christmas Kisses
“Nope.”
“Good.”
My lips brushed over hers, my thoughts still marveling over this development between us. Before she’d arrived in Majestic Falls, my whole life had been music and work. I was the proverbial music geek. Women, more specifically a relationship with one, just hadn’t been on my radar. Now, it was as if I’d saved all my kisses for Jessica, and it made every touch all the more special. Sure, I’d had an encounter here or there in the past, but she seemed to erase everything.
That sentiment was probably sappy of me, but I didn’t care. Hell, I wrote sappy love themes for movies, so it totally fit me.
Our lips parted, and I slipped my tongue along hers, tasting the chocolate she’d apparently nipped on the way over here. Her hands slid up my shoulders and around my neck. I pulled her closer as our kisses grew hungry.
As if on cue, her stomach growl.
My forehead tipped to hers. “Dinner?”
She made a dreamy little sound that could have been pleasure or assent or a bit of both. I cupped the side of her face and drew my thumb along her soft cheek. After a moment, her brown eyes fluttered open.
“I brought dessert,” she said.
“Did you sample it on the way over?” I teased.
“Nope. Your grandma made me test the new chocolate-covered blueberries she’s trying out. Twist my arm, right?”
I chuckled. “Been there. You have no idea how many new candies I’ve sampled.”
“Oh, the inhumanity…” she quipped. We laughed together then we stepped apart. “After all the sweets I’ve had the past few days, I’m actually hoping for some vegetables.”
“You’re in luck. I thought we could have a picnic by the lake. Chicken salad and veggies…and chips if you want them.”
She glanced outside where fat snowflakes swirled past the windows. “A…picnic?”
I chuckled, having a surprise for her. “Yes. Trust me?”
“Sure…? Do I need to stop at Doris’ and put on more layers?”
“Nope.”
“Okay then,” she agreed. “Sounds good. What can I do to help?”
“Bring your dessert. Everything’s ready. I just need to grab it.”
Less than ten minutes later, we were bundled into my truck while I followed Lake Main Street toward the Hollister turnoff. Christmas music from the local station played quietly across the speakers while Jessica watched the scenery.
“You know…I saw a moose the day I arrived. Just standing there, staring at me.”
“That was probably Clarence. There’s a decent population of a couple hundred moose in Adirondack Park, but Clarence is the one that seems to hang around Majestic Falls.”
“You’ve named him?”
I laughed. “Actually, my friend Caleb’s wife named Clarence. The name stuck, and everyone seems to have picked up on it.”
“Huh…okay.”
“Speaking of Caleb, that’s him,” I said. I pointed out the man in jeans, work boots and a red flannel shirt walking toward one of several glassed-in gazebos near the lake’s shore. “Have you ever seen dining igloos or domes in the city? These are the same concept.”
As we pulled up to our destination, a woman stepped outside of one of the dining pods and walked over to Caleb. He put his armaround her waist, and they both waved. “And that’s his wife, Melody. The pods were her idea.”
“She’s the one who named Clarence?”
“The same.”