Page 76 of A Newport Christmess

Nikki studied my expression. “You’re being honest?”

I nodded.

A smile filled her face. “Then, where the two of you are concerned, I’m officially resigning as matchmaker extraordinaire. You will have no future interference from me. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

Nikki turned to her car with an added spring in her step, and for the briefest moment, I wondered if she’d accomplished exactly what she’d set out to do.

When I stepped into the shared stairwell, Quinn was at the top of the stairs. “Can I help carry stuff in?”

“Don’t you have to be decorating?”

“Are you underestimating my strength again?” She started down the steps toward me and grabbed the top case of soda, the weight of it sending her forward slightly when she slid it from my stack. “Upstairs or down?”

“Either. I’ll follow you.”

She started back up the stairs. “I spiffed up the kitchen and got the fridge cleaned out so you’ll have room to fit whatever you need.”

“You didn’t need to do that. I was planning on it.”

“Well, I finished my third gingerbread house, so I took a little break.”

I propped the door open as I entered to make our task of going up and down easier. “And that’s what you did with those precious few minutes—cleaning? I’m offended.”

She glanced over her shoulder, a playful smile on her lips. “You were shopping.”

“Are you still on a break?” I asked, admiring the three finished gingerbread houses as we passed.

Quinn put the pack of soda inside the fridge and grabbed the other one off the top of my diminishing pile, shoving them in as well. “I think I can spare a few more minutes.”

“And do you have any thoughts for how you want to spend those minutes?”

She grabbed the water bottles from my hold and set them on the ground with a loud thunk before stepping onto them like a step stool. She was now only a few inches shorter than me. Her hands wrapped around my neck. “I might have an idea.”

My heart hammered in my chest, and I stood there, unmoving. “Are you sure it’s one you won’t regret?” I willed her to say yes.

Her fingertips stroked the back of my neck in a way that made my hands clench into fists at my sides to keep from taking hold of her. She pressed against me, and her lips brushed against my neck before her lips settled by my ear. “I know what I want,” she whispered.

NINETEEN

QUINN

Landon’s hands settled on my waist, securing me against him. And when his lips found mine, they were soft and warm, his kiss gentle. He pulled back, his eyes searching mine. “What changed?”

“I overheard what you said to Nikki downstairs. And it was like my mind clarified. I instantly knew what it was I wanted.” It was Landon. He was good, and kind, and thoughtful. In the few weeks I’d known him, he’d supported me in ways that Cody had never done.

“So you want to give this a shot ... with me?”

I nodded, feeling shy under his focused attention. “If that’s still what you want.”

Landon threw his arms around my waist and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around him and laughed. “Where are we going?” I asked when he started walking.

He set me down on the counter but didn’t answer. His lips settled over mine with eagerness, and his hands moved to the outside of my thighs. I returned his kiss with equal intensity, running my fingers through the hair at the base of his neck.

“Whoa! Sorry.” A man’s voice sent both our gazes flying to the doorway, where a guy stood, watching us from the propped-open door, a look of utter amusement on his face. He pointed at the propped-open door. “It was open.”

Landon cleared his throat. “Tyler.” My gaze shot to his, and Landon gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment. This was the Tyler Nikki had wanted to set me up with. “I didn’t expect you for another few hours.”