No such luck.
Damn it! I bang my head on the steering wheel in frustration, startling when the horn sounds. Well then, better make the most of the situation. One of the perks of having just finished an event is that I may have one or two or several decorations in the trunk of my car to give the cottage a festive makeover. I won’t let Mother Nature steal my Christmas spirit just yet!
“Need a hand?” I startle at the sound of Adam’s voice, blushing when I realize he must have heard me swearing like a sailor.
“Please.” Batting my lashes at him, I give him my broadest smile which earns me a shake of his head. He’s snickering at me though, so I continue. “Can you help me get some of these boxes out of the trunk?”
Climbing out of the car, I trudge around the back with him following behind. Adam helps me clear the snow covering the trunk, and I open it to reveal my supplies. As I turn to face him, he lifts his hand and fingers some snow from my hair, brushing it behind my ear. The surprising movement has fire coursing through my veins as my heart pounds harder in my chest at the way his hand hovers between us for a moment. With a shake of his head, he turns back to the trunk, letting out a whistle before he asks, “What’s all this?”
I don’t miss the way his voice sounds gruffer or the way my insides twist at the low rasp of it. It takes me a beat to catch my breath before I can reply, “Christmas decorations. Everything we need to turn the cottage into a grotto!” I sound a little too enthusiastic, even to myself, but the alternative would be a silly giggle because I’m still lost somewhere in the last minute or so, wondering what the hell just happened.
Turning to take in his mystified expression, the giggle I’ve been trying to push down blusters out of me, and to stop myself from looking like any more of a fool, I start passing him boxes to take inside.
Once I’m back in the warmth of the cottage, I pull up Spotify on my phone. Bringing up one of my favorite Christmas playlists, I hum along to Wham! while untangling the Christmas lights. With my Santa hat on and the festive tunes playing, I bob along to the music with a smile.
I’m in my own little Christmas world when Adam sets a mug of hot cocoa in front of me.
“Thought you could use something to warm up,” he says with a kind smile, and I feel my insides heating, although I can’t imagine that’s what he meant.
“Thanks,” I say, reaching for the mug and taking a sip, savoring the sweet taste as it hits my tongue, before getting back to the job at hand.
“Why the heck do you have all of this?” he asks, taking in my decorating efforts.
“Work. I just organized the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties. I had to bring epic supplies.”
“I’m impressed. It’s one hell of a haul.” He chuckles, eying the boxes piled on the floor and couch that we dredged into the cottage, risking frostbite.
“You’d be surprised what I can fit in Fiona,” I state proudly. She’s yet to let me down. Apart from, you know, getting me stranded in the snow. But everyone is entitled to an off day.
“Fiona?” He looks at me perplexed as all hell.
“My car—she has everything you need for a Christmas event. My best friend, Kate, calls her a ‘one-stop shop.’ The only thing I can’t fit in her is a Christmas tree. I think those bad boys are too much for her,” I say with a shrug.
Adam chuckles, taking in the boxes scattered over the couch as he has a seat in the armchair across from me with his cup of coffee.
Taking a sip, I groan as the sweet taste of chocolate heaven touches my tongue. He chuckles at my reaction, and I flush.
“Woah. Where’d you learn to make such good cocoa?” Greedily taking another sip, I look over to him.
“It’s my sister’s favorite.” He smiles that killer smile that has me clenching my thighs and biting my lip at thoughts of his mouth on me. My insides heat, and I know it isn’t due to the cocoa.
“How many lights do you need?” he asks, getting back to the task at hand and breaking me out of my fantasy.
“A few. Christmas lights are what add the magic and sparkle! If we’re going to be stuck here, we might as well make the most out of it, right?”
With a soft scoff, he takes a gulp of his coffee, and I can’t help but notice the way his throat bobs as he swallows it down. I’m in a trance when he says, “I’d offer you a seat on my jet, but with the weather, even the private airports have grounded all flights. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon either.”
Offering me an apologetic shrug, he takes another drink while I wonder if he’s trying to impress me or whether he’s merely making a joke. I’d bet on the latter given all his phone calls and the amount of time he spends reading emails. Although Adam isn’t showy, he has that look about him, and it’s not all the visibly expensive clothes. It’s more to do with the way he holds himself, as though he’s used to being on top and in control.
He must see my reaction as he explains, flashing me a rueful smile, “Company perk.”
“That’s sweet, thanks. But my case is still in my apartment in London, so I’ll need to get back there first.” Taking another mouthful of cocoa, I set the mug down and get back to work.
Mariah Carey comes on next, and I start to sing along. I hear him chuckle, and I look over to where he’s sitting, taking him in. “What?”
“You’re really into all this Christmas…stuff, huh?” He tilts his head to the side and studies me, like it’s a mystery to him how I can enjoy the holiday this much, and then his gaze meanders down my body. Slowly enough that my heart forgets what it’s meant to be doing and skips a couple of beats when he pauses on my thighs, at the hem of my sweater dress.
I can barely breathe as I rummage through the box with all the lights, finding the ones labeled “warm ambience.” Adam would probably struggle with the colorful ones. When I look up, his eyes are still intent on me, and I have to clear my throat to finally answer his question.
“Well, yeah. Of course. It’s the best time of year! Christmas music, trees, lights, family, cookies, mulled wine. What’s not to like?” I ask, taking the set of lights and hanging them across the fireplace.
His scoff has me turning to study him. “Are you a Grinch, Adam?”
A hearty laugh tumbles from him, making me smile nervously as I have another sip of chocolatey goodness, before grabbing another set of lights and heading for the staircase.
“No, not quite that bad. I guess I’m just not a Christmas person, but when in Rome… Do you need a hand?” he asks, seeing me trying and failing to wrap the lights around the banister.
“If you don’t mind?”
Moving to the bottom of the staircase, he takes one end while I weave the other up to the top. Securing the battery pack, I flick the switch and watch the twinkling lights illuminate the walkway. A satisfied smile spreads across my face, and I turn to Adam. He looks amused.
“What’s next?” he asks, as I make my way back down the stairs and to my bag of goodies. Emptying out my supplies, I talk him through my plan.
“Ever make paper snowflakes?”
“Sure…in first and second grade,” Adam replies, following me back to the lounge where the bags with materials sit on the rug by the fireplace.