Page 44 of Only for the Season

“No.” She points to the sky. “Look.”

I glance up and something cold and wet hits my eye. “Yuck.”

“Don’t be a fuddy duddy. It’s snow.” She throws out her arms and whirls around in circles. “Don’t you love snow?”

“It’s cold.”

She stops to stare at me. “It’s cold?”

I shiver and stuff my hands in my pockets. “I’m cold.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re such a California boy.”

I frown. “There’s nothing wrong with a California boy.”

“Unless you don’t enjoy snow.”

“You wouldn’t enjoy snow either if you got stuck in New York City for New Year’s Eve.”

She sighs. “New York City on New Year’s Eve sounds magical.”

“Not when you’re stuck on the jetway at LaGuardia.”

“I get your point. But we are not stuck on a jetway. We’re in Smuggler’s Hideaway and it’s nearly Christmas. Look.” She points to the Christmas decorations. “Don’t they look romantic with flakes of snow on them?”

I shrug. “I guess.”

“I will change your mind. Tilt your head back.”

“Why?”

“Why?” She grumbles before elbowing me. “To catch a snowflake on your tongue.”

“It’s cold and wet. Why would I want to catch a snowflake on my tongue?”

“Stop being Mr. Scrooge. I’ll show you.” She tilts her head back and sticks out her tongue. A snowflake falls on it and she jumps for joy. “Now, it’s your turn.”

“Fine,” I mutter before tilting my head back and opening my mouth. A snowflake immediately falls on my tongue. “Cold. Wet.”

“I give up. You are officially Mr. Scrooge.”

“At least I don’t have a crooked nose and wear pince-nezglasses.”

She rakes her gaze over me. “You are one of the better looking Scrooges.”

“You know a lot of Scrooges, do you?”

“Yes, I make a habit of befriending one every Christmas season and working with them until they realize the errors of their ways.”

“In other words, I’m your little project.”

Her nose wrinkles. “I wouldn’t say little.”

I bark out a laugh. The sound surprises me. Less than an hour ago, I was stressed and questioning all of my life’s decisions. Parker has the ability to cheer me up without trying.

Instead of fighting her influence, maybe I should lean into it. After all, I deserve a nice Christmas for a change. And aChristmas season spent with Parker as my lover would be very nice indeed.

Chapter 16