by Angie Wilder
At the sound of a loud rumble, he turned to the window. The plow drove by as it salted and sanded the road. Outside, the clinic’s maintenance worker applied a similar ice-taming mixture to their front walk.
“Oh,” Emma gasped, “I didn’t stop to think, how will we get home?”
With the sun out and the roads treated, the ice would soon melt to a slushy sandy mess. Evan turned back to her. “I’ll make a call and fix us up with a ride.” His attention drifted back to the photograph, and he got an idea. They might be out a romantic evening skate, but Evan wondered what Em would do if he arranged for her to catch him under the mistletoe. He could set it up…and just maybe he wouldn’t have to find a way to kiss her, because she’d be on the hook to kiss him. He would give her the one thing she had pined for so long ago—their mistletoe moment.
Emma rose and edged toward her temporary office, and said, “What kind of transportation are you arranging? That grin on your face is making me nervous.”
Evan chuckled and shook his head. “SUV with your brother behind the wheel. I’m in a good mood, is all.”
“All right, then.” She hugged her clipboard and walked away.
“Hey, Em,” he called after her, “are you going to my folks’ house tonight for Kaley’s thing?” Kaley was drumming up test subjects for a new tasting menu. She’d ordered him to show up and to dress nice. Pregnancy was making her bossy and weird like that. In this case, the party played right into his hands.
Emma glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“Good.” He bounced on his toes.
“Good?”
“Uh-huh, very good.”
“Okay.” She giggled and disappeared into her office.
Oh, it was going to be very good. Only one question—should he confess to knowing Emma’s secret before or after they kiss?
11
Emma grasped her lapels, clutched her coat closed, and hurried between houses on her way to dinner. Earlier, Evan had texted her a strange request. He’d asked her to arrive ten minutes behind her parents. Emma’s tardy appearance ran closer to fifteen minutes late because of her mad-dash wardrobe change. Once again, she’d grappled with what to wear. Her momma had on a red-and-white snowflake sweater fancied up with rhinestone earrings, and her daddy had put on charcoal chinos and a gray long-sleeved polo for an evening at the Heartley’s. So it was Saturday night dressy in the neighborhood for the release of Kaley’s new tasting menu. Emma figured that her silky emerald blouse and the high heels with the delicate ankle straps were winners, but she struggled between the more casual skinny jeans and the sexy short black skirt. It was frigid outside, but her legs were her best asset… They were half-frozen when she stepped onto the Heartley’s porch where Evan waited. Waited?
She was weak. She’d dressed for Evan and the way he looked at her—he knew it!
His gaze lingered below the hem of her thigh-length coat ever so briefly. Now, as they stood face to face, his slow grin spoke volumes.
Her whole life she’d done her best to get on Evan’s radar while keeping her desire hidden. If anything was ever going to happen between them, he’d have to make the first move. She’d blown it this morning when she’d gone drunk on him in his arms. She’d lost her mind. Because for a moment she’d thought…maybe she should go for it.
Evan’s hand moved around her back, and he whispered, “Hey, Em.” The words danced over her neck as he led them toward the door.
“Sorry I’m late. What—”
He placed a finger to his lips, a signal to lower her voice.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
“I’d like a minute with you alone.” He drawled the last word.
Emma had goose bumps everywhere. They had nothing to do with the chilly weather and everything to do with Evan.
Without a sound, he opened the door, and they stepped into the candlelit entryway. The area had a cozy ambiance. Soft light danced from hurricane lanterns and twinkled from the garland that looped down the staircase railing. She could identify voices and laughter coming from the direction of the kitchen at the back of the house.
Evan moved behind her, slipped her coat from her shoulders, and hung it in the closet.
Her belly fluttered with anticipation for whatever he planned to say. She could feel his energy. It was both scary and desirable, which made little sense.
He moved from the closet to face her. Then he glanced at the ceiling. Evan took a step back and another until he stood in the center of the room.
She mouthed his name in question. It was as if he were getting into position for something, but what? Her mind scrambled for clues.
Evan had dressed extra handsome tonight. His indigo button-up shirt matched the color of his eyes, and the lovely material wrapped over the contours of his athletic build in all the desirable ways. In the dim light, his dark brown hair looked nearly as black as his slacks. Evan lifted a hand and curled his finger in a come here gesture.
Why? Her feet weighed heavy as if glued to the wood floor.
He extended his arm to her. He didn’t smile, but his dimple winked out, so whatever he required with her couldn’t be too bad.
She tiptoed closer, accepted his hand, and let him draw her in until they were only inches away. When he released her fingers, she smoothed her skirt, uncertain about what to expect. What would he say?
Evan’s gaze made her melt like marshmallow cream left in the sunshine. She gave him a grin that questioned his behavior and hoped it masked her emotions—those pesky ticklish ones that pooled hot in her tummy. She’d gone gooey. Evan murmured her name, then tilted his head toward the ceiling, directing her attention upward.
Her gaze sought and found—mistletoe! Her heart jumped. Evan had done this on purpose. Gotten her alone. Led her to this spot. So that means…?
“Looks like you finally caught me, Em.”
Her knees turned to jelly. “Wha…?” She gripped the front of his shirt to keep herself upright. Evan wanted to kiss her? Wait—finally?
His palm cupped her cheek—the same way he had earlier that day—before she dashed off. Would he have kissed her this morning?
She studied his expression.
“Em, I’m waiting.”
He’s waiting! She shifted closer until her clothing brushed against his. “I’m supposed to kiss you?”
“I believe that’s how this works.” His lips curved, and the hand on her waist advanced to the small of her back. The heat of his fingers soaked through her thin top.
“But we’re friends?” she panted.
“Yes, we are.”
“But...” Her senses flooded with him.
“Em…?”
She met his gaze. “A friendly kiss?” She flattened her palms up his chest and over his shoulders. His body was warm, and firm and…pulling her in!
“I dare you,” he murmured, his voice thick, being playful and intense. It was an intoxicating combination, and one hundred percent Evan.
Emma tipped her chin to his and paused a teasing breath away. “You expect that line to work?” It was obvious by the way she pressed herself to him it would work.
He skimmed his lips over the corner of her mouth. Not precisely a kiss, but full scale hot. “I double-dog dare you.”
The gentle contact caused her head to spin. “I guess I have no choice.” She leaned her torso into his and—
“Evan!” Kaley yelled. “Is Emma here yet? Where are you?”
They sprung apart like a couple of naked teenagers spotted in the act and staggered out of each other’s arms before Kaley found them.
Emma wobbled another step back, certain the floor would swallow her whole.
Evan took her elbow, offering a steady hand, and said, “We’re not done here.” There was a gleam in his eye, and his dimple was full dent.
She nodded, unable to form words and listened for footsteps. She knew the house well. Emma calculated the risk. Her frazzled brain wanted to grab Evan
and beg for more. That was the hottest kiss of her life, and their lips hadn’t truly connected. Who would have considered a bare corner-of-the-mouth caress had such a powerful allure? She craved more.
“You guys in the house?” Kaley called.
Emma flattened the collar of her blouse, and as the patter of footsteps approached, she avoided further eye contact with Evan. She needed to compose herself. She lasted two seconds before she peeked at him.
He winked.
We’re not done here…? Was he serious or teasing her in his lighthearted way? If he only knew how she had longed for that mistletoe opportunity.
“Emma, you are here!” Kaley entered the room with a joyful bounce in her step. Dressed for her menu reveal, she wore an ankle-length black dress that clung and stretched over her baby bump. A gorgeous curvy brunette in similar attire followed in her wake. “This is my friend and new assistant chef, Joyce. Joyce, this is my BFF Emma and my brother, Evan.” Kaley took Joyce by the elbow and ushered her over to stop next to Evan. “I’m so glad you two can finally meet.”
Evan’s gaze moved from Kaley to Joyce to Emma and back to Joyce. “Nice to meet you.” He offered his hand in greeting.
Joyce had other ideas and looped her arm through his and said, “I’ve heard so much about you, the pleasure is all mine.”
Emma pinched her lips together, determined not to choke on her tongue or grunt unladylike sounds. Is this why Kaley kept asking Emma if she were over Evan. She had someone else in mind for her brother? Her new assistant? Didn’t Kaley see right through Emma’s lie? Of course, she was attracted to Evan. She held onto her composure and tried not to go unhinged in the entryway.
A new person came to rest at her side. “Emma Gains!” A blond muscular hunk of a man grinned at her and said, “It’s been too long.” He enclosed her in a bear hug. His gray sweater was soft, and his aftershave smelled like pine trees. Nice, but not Evan nice.
Once her heels were back on the ground, Emma croaked, “Dexter Thompson, is that you?”
Good grief, was Kaley going full out matchmaker tonight? It all made sense now. Why she had dug out that picture from the mistletoe mistake, the snapshot from the day they christened Dexter with his secret Dex the Pecks nickname thanks to his boyish kissing style. By the looks of him, that undoubtedly had improved as well. The nerdy boy had matured into a handsome man.
“It’s been forever, Emma, and to think we face each other again under the mistletoe.” He lifted a hand and gestured to the troublesome sprigs.
Emma glanced up. This was not a safe place to stand!
Joyce tugged on Evan’s arm and said, “I love holiday games. What do you say, Ev?”
Emma’s jaw dropped. How could anyone be that forward? Then she remembered Dexter was still grinning at her and she occupied the prime square-foot of floor space. He was a decent-looking guy, and it wouldn’t be a hardship to give him a platonic kiss, but she did not wish to be the focus of attention, and she didn’t want to have her mistletoe moment with anybody other than Evan. She peeked back at Evan who had tugged his arm free of his date and advanced a step Dexter’s direction. But it wasn’t Evan’s fist that clamped over Dexter’s shoulder, it was Ben’s.
“Hey, man. Nice to see you again, Dex, but nobody is playing tonsil-hockey with my sister. Not on my watch.” Ben released Dexter and shrugged off his winter jacket.
Dexter barked out a laugh. “I haven’t heard that expression in ages. No worries, Ben. I’m here with Kaley to help her and Joyce with the meal and explain Kaley’s new catering concept that I helped bring together. I’m hoping we can impress you all.” Dexter’s gaze swept the room and landed on Evan.
Evan’s focus was on Emma. Their special time together had halted, spoiled, served with a heaping side dish of unexpected party guest complications. Emma wasn’t about to kiss Dexter. Ben was overprotective. He was also Evan’s best friend. If Ben had caught them, spied Evan playing tonsil-hockey with her, Emma had no idea how that situation would have unfolded.
Evan stepped back, though he didn’t take his gaze off Emma. A muscle ticked in this jaw.
Was Evan jealous?
“Looks like everyone’s here.” Lisa Heartley crowded into the space. The bells on her Christmas sweater jingled as she progressed. “Enough of this entryway fiddle-faddle. Let’s get started, Kaley, dear. Your dad is starving, and he’s already ditched your wine menu for a can of Miller.”
Kaley followed her mom and motioned for everyone to move on to the kitchen. Joyce, Dexter, and Ben followed Lisa out of the room, trailed by Kaley who turned back and said, “You can thank me later.”
Thank her for what? For matchmaking? For dinner? Evan and Emma were walking side by side, following the group to the table.
“Evan, did you realize you were being set up?”
“No. Did you?”
Emma shook her head. They were two steps away from the dining room and the end of their private time together.
“Good, because we aren’t finished.” Evan touched a fingertip to the sensitive skin on her wrist.
She shivered from the tickle. “Promise?” she said and clapped her palm over her mouth.
His eyes lit up over her slip. He lowered his voice and said, “It is my loss that you didn’t catch me under the mistletoe all those years ago. Had I known—”
“What are you talking about?” She stopped in her tracks.
“Em, I know about your plan. The crush. Kaley told me.”
“What!” she whisper-hissed, trying to maintain some discretion in a room full of people while her heart galloped with panic. He can’t know!
He lowered his voice to her ear. “It’s fine.”
“No. It’s not.”
“I’m flattered.”
Her tummy flip-flopped.
Evan had had every intention of teasing Emma’s lips onto his, but instead, he’d brushed his mouth to hers, craving that little sample. The light caress had blown his mind. By the way that Emma had plastered herself to his front, she’d felt the same. He’d be satisfied with that for now, though he’d give all to go back and steal another minute more with her before his sister interrupted what promised to be the most exquisite kiss of his existence.
In an effort to regain an intimate connection, his idiotic words had slipped from his mouth. “It is my loss that you didn’t catch me under the mistletoe all those years ago. I know about your plan. The crush. Kaley told me… I’m flattered.” What the hell did he think she’d say to that… “You’re welcome?”
Emma swayed on her feet, and her complexion flared Christmas red as she glanced at the others who were gathered near the dining table. Her gaze veered between the tasting menu party and the front door, and she looked like she was preparing to bolt as fast as her sexy high heels would carry her. In either case, she’d escape his company. He had embarrassed her.
It wasn’t fair that he had the upper hand, that Kaley had informed him about Emma’s feelings. So he would explain and pray he didn’t dig himself a deeper hole.
“Em, Kaley told me your secret because she saw the way I looked at you. She thought I required a nudge.”
“How you looked at me?”
“Yes. It’s the same way I’m admiring you now.” He hoped she could see the truth of his desire.
“Oh.” Emma gnawed at her lip then said, “So Kaley knows about this? The plan to…” Emma flicked her wrist in the direction of the entryway mistletoe scene.
“No. That is between us. I told Kaley to back off on the matchmaking, but now…spending time with you…” Evan raked his fingers through his hair. “Em, I hoped you’d like it. It seemed like you liked it.”
Her mouth opened and closed.
“Emma…?” He was desperate for any indication they were okay. The confession had been meant to draw them closer together, not push them apart.
“Emma,” Kaley called. “Quit the shop talk, you guys. Come and join us.”
“Okay,” Emma agreed, but she lingered
a moment before she hurried to the dinner table and sat in the chair Kaley indicated, the spot between her father and the programmer guy, Dexter. This left Evan the opening next to Joyce and his mother.
Not his top pick. Emma was across and one chair over from him, and if he hoped to chat with Ben, he’d have to go through Joyce. Kaley had arranged the seating alternating men and women, with the parents at one end, his dad and Kaley seated at opposite heads. As Evan joined the group, Dexter whispered in Emma’s ear, and she smiled. Evan shoved his butt in the chair and waited for Emma to turn his direction.
She sipped her wine, unfolded a napkin, and lowered it to her lap.
White candles flickered down the center of the table. They reminded Evan of the meal he’d planned for Emma. The dinner that had been canceled due to the weather. Since then, he’d come to terms with his attraction for Emma, and he was ready to move forward. It was amazing the clarity twenty-four hours could offer—their text message game, the morning on skates, the brush of lips… Emma, please look at me because I’m finally looking at you.
It was Joyce’s attention that landed on him. “Ben was telling me the funniest stories about you boys as kids. So far my favorite is the time you drove through a car wash with a Christmas tree tied to the roof.”
Evan leaned forward to shoot his buddy a what-the-hell gaze as the table chuckled over the stupid holiday mess-up that Evan would never live down. The embarrassing tale didn’t bother him as much as Joyce’s flirtations. He retold his side of the story, adding, “It froze to the roof.” Evan also recalled how Emma had joined him outside with her hair dryer.
Kaley rolled her eyes over the account and started her presentation.
Evan caught Emma peeking at him through her lashes, and he winked.
Her lips curved. Then she turned her attention to her plate and Kaley’s explanation of the menu items.
