Page 163 of Santa Daddies

“I want to open a daycare.”

He laughs. Of course, he laughs. He stops after a few chuckles, but it's too late.

I clamor to defend myself. “Everybody thinks I'm foolish, that I should have bigger dreams, that somehow, because I'm smart I should strive for more. But what could be more important than raising young children?”

His smile is warm and sincere as he clasps both of his hands around mine.

He angles his body toward me. “I'm sorry. I wasn't laughing at you. I love that you want to be a business owner and that you value the impact you can have on children, Bellie.”

Bellie? A nickname? It’s kind of… hot coming from him. Too hot. Especially after he complimented my love of kids. Did Jolene and Starla put him up to this to boost my confidence?

“Thank you for understanding.” I pull my hand away.

He stares at the distance I create, and I swear I see longing in his eyes.

I never should have let my besties talk me into this. “I should go.”

“Am I that crappy at being enjoyable company?”

“No, you’re great.” I just don’t want to have to tell him I’m selling my virginity in less than a week.

He cocks his head and raises an eyebrow. “Now I think you're lying, which makes you a naughty girl. Don't make me channel Krampus and bend you over my knees for another spanking.”

The tension breaks as I bust out laughing. My hands fly to my mouth to stifle it, but people have already turned toward us. They must not have heard his comment because it only takes a second for them to turn back to their own business.

“That’s the smile I love.”

Why does he make me feel like we’re so perfect together?

“But really, Bellamie, I wasn’t laughing at your plan to run a daycare. I think that's amazing.”

Is Krampus’ only flaw the timing of our meet-cute? He leans closer. His hand cups my shoulders. Couldn’t we have met in the summer when I would have been wearing a sundress instead of a sweatshirt and coat?

His tongue darts over his lower lip making it hard to think about anything other than kissing him.

How am I going to play this out? Technically, he doesn't know I'm a virgin and I doubt he is. So what if I have sex in the Christmas Cherry Auction?

Except I don’t want anyone other than him. What if he won me in the… No! This is only making my sex tingle worse.

Some people come into your life for a moment, some for a season, some for a lifetime. Maybe he's amomentto make metrust that men can be attracted to me and not balk at wanting kids–that I won’t break the auction.

He pulls away. “What do you say we skate? You look like you're in your head.” He stands and offers a hand to help me step over our bench seat that's affixed to the table.

Is he perfect? I appreciate the chance to get out of my head, but I also swoon a little thinking about what a good kisser he probably is. And then, my foot catches on the bench and I stumble into him.

His strong arms wrap around me. I look up into his eyes. Thankfully, a moment of clarity strikes and I shove off of his hard chest. Ugh, possibly the biggest mistake of my life. “Sorry. I promise I'm not that klutzy. You don't have to worry about me on the ice.”

“What if I want to worry about you?”

“It would sound a little too much like a date.” I head to the skate rental booth, but can’t escape him as he places a hand on my lower back. “That feels an awful lot like date territory.”

I glance to the side and up at him, and he grins, leaving his hand in place.

The evening remains dreamy as we lace our skates, put gloves on, then make loops around the skating rink, impressing each other with spins and stops that neither of us are very good at. He’s so easy to be with.

Watching other couples skate hand in hand tempts me to give in, but this whole thing will be easier after Friday.

But after a few more moonlit laps, when Kace takes my gloved hand, I don’t resist. All I have to do is bide my time, let him leave town, and if the auction isn’t magical for me, I’ll get in touch with him. And if I really mean that, I’ll have to ask for his number.