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She broke the kiss with her hands on his chest. “What was that?”
“In lieu of words, I tried to show you how amazing you look.”
She laughed breathlessly, patting him. “You can keep trying to come up with the right word while you explain where the food is. I’m starving.”
“We’re going out to dinner after all.”
Merry’s brow furrowed. “What about Jace?”
“He’s going to be fine with my brother for the night,” Clark said, pushing an escaping hair behind her ear. “I have my phone on me if there’s an emergency and your parents are just up the hill. I want to enjoy this evening with you. Our first official date.”
“That sounds wonderful. Why don’t you come in while I get my shoes and jacket?”
“I’m worried if I go in there with you, we won’t be going anywhere.”
Merry rolled her eyes. “I am too hungry to let you distract me, so stop being silly and enter.”
Clark followed behind Merry and took a seat on her couch as she continued toward the back of her house to retrieve her shoes. Clark’s gaze scanned her house, noting all the little touches she’d added since he’d last been there. The snowmen he made for her were perched in the window at the end of the house, twinkling white lights hanging above. Christmas throw pillows and blankets adorned the gray cushions and back of her couch. Every surface or shelf had a touch of Christmas décor, from the Santa Claus hand towels to the reindeer cookie jar on the counter.
“I like what you’ve done with the place.”
Merry smiled from the alcove under her bedroom loft, slipping on her heels. “You ain’t seen nothing. I ordered dishes, sheets, and bathroom stuff. I am so ready for the day after Thanksgiving.”
“Maybe you can come decorate my place. We do a tree and I’ve got my lights on the outside of the house, but that’s it.”
“I can do that, but I’ll require a credit card and creative control.”
“Whatever you need. Can you wear that dress while you do it, though?”
Merry pulled her jacket off the hook and he stood to help her put it on. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you tonight, but I love it.”
“You’ve gotten into me, Merry,” he whispered, pressing tiny kisses along the side of her neck. “There’s something about you and I just can’t resist doing everything in my power to make you smile.”
She twirled slowly to face him, stretching up along his body, and he dropped his mouth to hers, holding the back of her neck with one hand. Merry’s hands rested on his sides above his hips, her touch burning through his shirt and racing straight to his groin.
He groaned, giving her one last soft kiss. “I knew I should have stayed outside.”
Merry giggled. “You act like you’re some barbarian about to lose control any moment and ravage me.”
“Don’t think it hasn’t crossed my mind, although it would be a consensual ravaging.”
“It most definitely would,” she murmured, tugging on the end of his jacket before letting him go. “Are you going to be warm enough in just this?”
“I’ll be fine.” Being around her had him so revved up, he could almost do without the jacket. “We should get going before we miss our reservation.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She told her Alexa goodbye and Clark kept hold of her hand as he helped her down the porch steps. As they passed through the gate, he cursed himself for not driving the Jeep over to pick her up, but he hadn’t been thinking after his run-in with her dad.
“Sorry, you okay?” he asked when she wobbled a bit and gripped his hand tighter.
“Sure. Just that heels and gravel don’t mix well.”
Without further explanation, Clark bent over and lifted her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest. “I’m an idiot. I meant to bring the Jeep over to your place and I got distracted.”
“Hey, I’m not hating this at all,” she said, looping her arms around his neck.
