Page 55 of A Newport Christmess

A new desire to get the fireplace working sent me to my feet. “You really haven’t seen a key anywhere laying around? Nikki said she saw it on the mantel the other night when she was here.”

Quinn followed me into the kitchen. “Not that I remember. How big is it?”

I started opening drawers, searching through the utensils. “Seven or eight inches long.”

“That’s a big key to lose.”

“You’re telling me.” I moved back to the front closet, finding nothing. “I wonder if I put it in the box of Christmas decorations.”

Quinn was searching the island and looking around her gingerbread houses. “What does the top of the key look like? Just like a normal key?”

“No. It actually doesn’t look like a key at all. It’s a metal handle about an inch and a half long.”

She spun toward me. “With a long bar coming out of it?”

“You’ve seen it?”

She walked over to the fireplace and stuck her hand in one of the stockings, pulling out the key. “I thought you were talking about a real key.” Her hand clasped over her apologetic grimace. “I’m sorry. I put it in here when I was repositioning the Christmas decorations because I didn’t know what it was.”

“It’s not your fault.” I grabbed the lighter and hurried toward her. “I should have been a little more specific instead of assuming you knew what a fireplace key looked like.” I grabbed the outstretched key and inserted it into the hole by the fireplace. Turning it, I heard a slight hiss. Then I pressed the lighter. A fire blazed to life.

Quinn kneeled by my side, stretching out her hands to warm them by the flames. “Oh, sweet warmth,” she whispered, her eyes closed in pleasure. The golden light illuminated the angles of her face, and my gaze settled on her parted, full lips. What would it feel like to kiss those lips? Would she taste as sweet as she smelled—like vanilla with a touch of cinnamon? I forced my attention back to the fire before she opened her eyes and noticed me staring. I needed to get a hold of myself. I was already finding it impossible not to flirt with Quinn. I couldn’t risk breaking the one boundary that seemed to be most vital in keeping us both safe from regrets—no touching. Except, currently, I was pretty certain I’d have no regrets if that boundary was broken.

I shook my head. That was not a helpful thought.

FOURTEEN

QUINN

“Look up here,” Landon said.

My gaze flicked up to find him standing with his phone in hand, hovering just above me. “What are you doing?” I asked, re-situating the piping bag to build the pressure again.

“I’m just getting a few shots of you in action.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see. Just smile at me ... now keep working.”

I sent him a playful glower but dipped my head and continued my icing pattern on the section I’d been working on. I didn’t have time to waste. There were only a few more hours of sunlight, and if the power didn’t come back on, that meant only a few more hours of decorating.

“It really is amazing what you do.” Landon’s camera was still out, but I wasn’t sure if he was still filming or not. “Is the pattern in your head, or are you just making it up as you go?”

I smiled up at him. “A little of both.”

He lowered his phone. “I’ll let you get back to it.”

I continued working until my fingers were too stiff to continue. I placed the piping bag on a plate and began opening and closing my hands to increase blood flow. The fire had warmed up the room some, but not enough to make a significant difference where I was sitting. “I think I need a quick break,” I said, standing and stretching my back. “Want to join me?”

“Sure.” He stood and tucked his phone into his pocket. “What are you thinking?”

I’d seen passing views of the winter wonderland all morning and found the idea of venturing out into it strangely tempting for a girl that typically preferred a consistent seventy degrees. “Could we go outside real quick? Maybe a walk down to the bay?”

“Do you have time for that?”

No. But that didn’t lessen my desire to go explore since Landon would be with me. “I think I’ll be fine.”

Landon stood. “I’ll go get my coat and boots. Whenever you’re ready, you can meet me downstairs.”