“It’s not,” he proclaimed, then his face morphed back into the masculine softness it had been while they enjoyed dinner together. “I just want you to know that I understand no and I don’t blame you for how you feel, but there are a lot of special things about Christmas. Like, being with family and those you love. kissing under the mistletoe with someone special when no one is looking, watching kids tuck themselves into bed hours early as they wait for Santa’s arrival, I could go on and on.”
She wished that he would. January was hypnotized watching his lips move up and down as he spoke, and she craved to feel them brush against her bare skin.
Even though he tried to stifle back his frustration by overshadowing the bad with the good, January could see he was losing the battle.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked, trying to give him an out. “I probably ruined your night with my rant.”
Deckard cocked his head as he listened to her speak. “I don’t think you could ruin anything, January. Especially not with me.”
“I wish that there was something I could do to change your mind,” he said, slipping out of the booth and holding out his hand
for hers. January willingly placed her hand back into his and she marveled at how right it felt. “Don’t forget the box,” he prompted as she almost left it sitting on the table.
“Thanks,” she acknowledged, grabbing the package and tucking it under her arm once again, still wondering how and where the glass snowflake had come from.
Together they walked hand in hand back to the public parking lot where January had parked her car on her way to Nick’s Knacks. There was a biting chill in the air, but it wasn’t unbearable.
She offered to walk alone as they passed Deckard’s family’s shop, but he vehemently declined allowing her to walk by herself. He explained that he wasn't only a gentleman, but he wanted to spend the extra few minutes with her.
January knew at that moment that she was going to fall for Deckard, and it was going to be hard and fast – a complete whirlwind.
She wished that she could press a pause button as her car came into view, but she knew that their time was up.
“This is me,” she said as she sidled up next to the car and placed her bag and the gift box on the roof. “Thank you for dinner. And sorry for the accusations earlier.”
“Don’t mention it. And I want to thank you for telling me everything.” His free hand crept toward her face until the pads of his fingers brushed across her cheek. January expected his touch to be rough against the sensitive skin of her face, but she was surprised to be met with a tender softness. “Maybe you’ll let me help you celebrate your actual birthday this year.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, I’m sure you’ll be preparing for the big day.”
“I’d rather be with you,” Deckard whispered as his fingers slid back and forth delicately across her cheek. She could feel herself falling within the depths of Deckard’s spell. What he possessed was potent and powerful, and January was hypnotized. “Can I take you out for dinner again before then?”
January wanted to say yes. She wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but then her parent’s ridiculous Christmas schedule galloped through her mind leaving a trail of heavy footprints on her heart.
“I’m not going to be free for a while. My parents have this crazy schedule that starts tomorrow leading up to Christmas. My brother and sisters are all coming into town,” she tried to explain, her words speeding up as she spoke. “Maybe we can do something after the holidays?”
The pit in her stomach intensified as she watched his face morph into dejection.
“I can’t, January. I’m leaving on Christmas after breakfast with my grandparents. The shop is closed.”
The feel of his touch on her cheek and neck ceased to exist. January could only feel the pinch of coldness as it swirled around them, nipping away at every ounce of happiness she had been feeling.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I could maybe –” January was interrupted by Deckard as he pressed his lips against hers, silencing her words. The softness of his kiss had every thought escaping January’s mind.
The parking lot drifted away, and all January could see was Deckard as he pulled back. His eyes were heavy with desire and fire swirled in his irises as he took in her swollen lips.
January couldn’t hold herself back. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she reached for the lapels on Deckard’s coat and tugged him closer yearning to explore his mouth fully.
Deckard didn’t fight her need for him. Instead, he reached down and lifted her up, pressing her back against the car door. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, not giving a single care if anyone saw them. Their chemistry was so explosive January feared if anyone dared to come close to them at that moment, they would get burned.
She loved the way he tasted. A bit like the beer they had enjoyed during dinner and a trace of the after-dinner mints the server handed them after their meal. It was an odd combination but she liked it just the same – because it was Deckard’s kiss that she couldn’t get enough of.
“Tomorrow.” Kiss. “Lunch.” Kiss. “Noon.” Kiss. “Pick me up.”
“Where?” He trailed his kisses away from her lips down to her neck, sucking on the sensitive skin causing her limbs to shiver.
“The Newspaper offices on Third Street.”
“Okay,” Deckard said as he pulled his mouth away from her neck and gazed adoringly at her. He brushed his lips against hers once more as if he couldn’t restrain himself, but pulled back before she could bring them back to the heated passion they had found themselves in moments ago.