Page 30 of Wicked Love

In a white gazebo in the middle of the square, a group of carolers dressed in red jackets and hats sang Christmas songs in front of a small crowd who sang along. Golden Christmas lights had been wrapped around the edges of the structure, giving the gazebo a fairy-tale appearance.

Peppermint and fresh pine aromas lingered in the crisp night air.

The cold stung my ears, and I lowered the knitted hat I bought earlier from a small shop across the street to keep snug.

I had never meant for Grace and me to be bundled up together, but when she began shivering fifteen minutes ago, and neither of us was wearing clothes warm enough to fight the cold, I pulled her against me, hoping it would do the trick to warm us up.

Each time she swayed her hips to the rhythm of the music, I grew tighter in my pants. I couldn’t tell if she could sense that the simple movement affected me through the multiple layers of clothes separating our bodies, but if she did, she said nothing about it.

She turned in my arms and lifted the to-go cup of caffeine we’d been sharing to my mouth, and I took a sip, careful to not burn my tongue.

Our gazes collided, and it felt as if I’d been punched in the chest. My breath caught in my lungs. She was gorgeous and had no idea about it. With her white faux fur earmuffs and big eyes, she watched me like I knew secrets she couldn’t wait for me to share. She smiled, and an earthquake exploded in my chest. Every moment in her company made it harder for me to hide my attraction toward her. When I looked at Grace, I didn’t just wanna rip her clothes off and fuck her. I wanted to cherish her, to care for her, to love her. It was fifty shades of bad ideas, and still, I couldn’t care less. The only thing preventing me from kissing her the way she deserved was her age. No way would I want to be arrested because I couldn’t keep it in my pants. That was where I drew the line.

When I checked last night, in a moment of weakness, because I couldn’t abandon myself to sleep, I had learned that according to Pennsylvania laws, our relationship wouldn’t be frowned upon. In Tennessee, though, Grace had to be eighteen to consent to a relationship with someone older. I would never put us at risk. No matter how strong the temptation was.

All the people on the quad started counting, freeing me from my thoughts.

“Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven… Six… Five…”

Grace and I joined in, the excitement of the moment permeating the air.

She clasped her hands under her chin and turned around, ready for the tree to illuminate the night.

“Four… Three… Two… One…”

Hundreds of lights twinkled before our eyes.

The huge fir turned into a giant constellation right before us.

Some people applauded, while others admired the sparkling pieces of art with stars in their eyes.

“It’s beautiful,” Grace said, tilting her head back until she could look at me. “I feel like a little girl right now. I’m glad we decided to stay.”

“Me too.”

“Thanks for helping to bring back magic into my life, Joe. You have no idea how precious it is to me. I never truly enjoyed the Holidays growing up.”

I leaned forward, my lips a hair’s breadth away from her ear. “Grace, magic is back in my life too. All because of you. I didn’t realize how robotic and predictable my existence had become before I met you. You bring a wave of freshness into my days. I’m thankful.”

Grace was about to say something when Lea neared us, putting to rest our heartfelt moment. “Hey, guys. I’m so happy you stayed tonight. How do you like the town so far?”

Grace smiled, and the sight weakened my knees. The apples of her cheeks were reddened, thanks to the cold night air, and her irises reflected the lights of the giant tree. She really seemed happy. And carefree.

“We love it. Like a lot. It’s so festive, and everyone has been super nice and welcoming so far. This is magical. I understand why people come here at this time of the year.” She glanced at me. “We love the town so much that we’ve decided to stay for a little while longer.”

“You have? Amazing. What a great news.” A woman joined us. “Oh, and this is Rose. She’s the marketing person for the Southern Brothers Brewing.” She gestured to Grace and me. “This is the couple who stayed at the inn last night. Joe and Grace.”

“Are you enjoying yourselves?” Rose asked.

“We are,” I replied.

“Mistletoe Creek will grow on you. Take my word for it. You’ll see it when you leave. A slice of your heart will forever remain here.”

Lea nodded in agreement. “We’ll let you two lovebirds be.”

“We’re not… It’s not…” Nice job, man. I couldn’t even define Grace’s and my relationship.

“There’s someone I must talk to. I’ll see you two later,” Lea said before traipsing away.