With each step I take, her smile grows, and then I’m standing in front of her. “Hey,” I say, sliding an arm around her waist.
She lifts an eyebrow when our bodies press together. “Is that a candy cane in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
“I’m definitely happy to see you,” I say, laughing.
“Good.” Her hands slide up my chest, around my neck, and tangle into the hair at the nape of my neck. “Because I’m just as happy to see you. I was worried you weren’t going to show up.”
“I knew I was coming the second you left my house the other night.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because there’s this girl.”
“Oooh, a girl,” she croons. “Is she pretty?”
“She’s beautiful.”
“I hope she’s sweet, because you deserve sweet.”
“She is, but she’s also a little naughty.”
“Naughty is good too.”
“Sam?”
“Yes?”
“We’re standing under mistletoe.”
She glances up. “So we are. My sister puts it everywhere during the holidays.”
“Remind me to thank her. I’m going to kiss you now.”
“Make it good.”
With a big smile on both of our faces, I cradle her cheeks in my hands. She lifts onto her toes, meeting me halfway, and when our lips meet, my gray world lights up.
Sam deepens the kiss, sucking my tongue into her mouth and kissing me as though we’re the only two people in the room.
No way in hell am I going to sto
p her, because this is the best damn first kiss I’ve ever had.
It’s so good it’ll go down in the history of best first kisses, and if I play my cards right, it just might be my last first kiss.
When we pull apart, Sam’s eyes are glossy, her lips swollen, and cheeks flushed. “You’re so beautiful,” I say, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Keep saying things like that I’ll have to drag you home and show you just how naughty I can be.” She presses her lips to my ear and adds quietly, “If you’re extra good, maybe I’ll roast your chestnuts.”
“I’d rather eat your sugar plum.”
Her eyes light up. “That dirty mouth might land you on the Naughty List right behind me.”
“I don’t care what list I’m on, as long as you’re there too.”
This time when her lips meet mine, it’s soft and slow. The kind of kiss you tell your grandkids about.
Sweet.