bottom, they were back in Hot Ink’s neon glow – back in the real world, with a few other people passing here and there and snow falling thicker than ever.
“I’ll walk you to your car.” He rested a hand against the small of her back but resisted the urge to wrap his arm around her, not wanting to irritate her freshly-inked skin. “Be careful,” he said when they reached her vehicle. “The streets will be getting slick.”
“I will. Thanks.” Her gaze lingered on his, and he was impervious to the cold. “I know you have family visiting and people get busy this time of year. So just in case I don’t see you before then…” She took a step forward, breath swirling with pelting snowflakes. “Merry Christmas.” She pressed a kiss against his jaw and he let that be that, because anything more would’ve strained the limits of his self-control.
“Merry Christmas.” The holiday seemed far away as she climbed into her car, leaving him to withstand the silent night alone, aching as he made his way back to his own car, snowflakes evaporating the instant they hit his overheated skin.
* * * * *
The decorations were still up when Mallory got home, but the distinct aura of Christmas cheer generated by all the tinsel and hot chocolate seemed to have faded during her absence… Or maybe she was just imagining things because no amount of glitz or glitter could compare to the rooftop encounter she’d just shared with Tyler.
Her heart picked up pace as she let the memories slip over her for one hot moment, dispelling the chill she’d brought inside.
“Mallory.” Her mother waved from where she sat on the couch, facing the TV.
“Hey mom.” Reluctantly, she stopped reliving his kiss, his touch.
As she entered the living room, shedding her jacket, it was obvious she wasn’t just imagining things – there was a definite difference between the woman she’d left smiling and chatting with Theo and the woman perched alone on the couch, pretending to pay attention to a commercial. “How’s it going – anything good on?”
“Not really.”
“Why watch TV, then? I’m sure I have a book you could borrow if you’d rather read.”
“Actually, I was waiting for you to get home.”
A hint of dread tainted Mallory’s consciousness. What had happened – had her father called again, stirred up more hurt feelings?
Her mother looked away from the TV, meeting Mallory’s gaze directly. “You left me alone with Theo.”
“Is that a problem? I mean, I had an appointment to keep. Did something happen?” It was hard to imagine Theo offending anyone, let alone her mother.
Her mother arched a brow, looking uncharacteristically shrewd. “Just me, him and Swiss Miss … I bet you thought it’d be real cozy.”
A hint of heat crept into Mallory’s cheeks. “I take it he stayed to finish his hot chocolate?”
“He stayed. And he asked me… He asked me if I was seeing anyone.”
A spark of satisfaction flared to life inside Mallory despite her mother’s frown. “Why are you so upset? You’re not seeing anyone.”
“That’s not the point. It was embarrassing. Mallory, you know I’m not looking for a man. How could you try to set me up with Theo?”
“It never occurred to me to invite him to stay until I saw what a good time you were having talking to him. I thought it’d be nice to have some company for once, and he’s such a nice guy. I didn’t want to rush him out just because I had to leave. I thought you were enjoying yourself.”
Her mother’s frown flickered, betraying conflicting emotions. “I’m not looking for anyone. I—”
“I know you’re not looking mom. But that doesn’t mean you won’t cross paths with anyone who’s interested. For the record, I think Theo is great. What did you tell him?”
“What do you think? I told him I wasn’t interested in seeing anyone.”
“So you’re not even going to consider giving him a chance?” Mallory was already imagining her
“I’ll walk you to your car.” He rested a hand against the small of her back but resisted the urge to wrap his arm around her, not wanting to irritate her freshly-inked skin. “Be careful,” he said when they reached her vehicle. “The streets will be getting slick.”
“I will. Thanks.” Her gaze lingered on his, and he was impervious to the cold. “I know you have family visiting and people get busy this time of year. So just in case I don’t see you before then…” She took a step forward, breath swirling with pelting snowflakes. “Merry Christmas.” She pressed a kiss against his jaw and he let that be that, because anything more would’ve strained the limits of his self-control.
“Merry Christmas.” The holiday seemed far away as she climbed into her car, leaving him to withstand the silent night alone, aching as he made his way back to his own car, snowflakes evaporating the instant they hit his overheated skin.
* * * * *
The decorations were still up when Mallory got home, but the distinct aura of Christmas cheer generated by all the tinsel and hot chocolate seemed to have faded during her absence… Or maybe she was just imagining things because no amount of glitz or glitter could compare to the rooftop encounter she’d just shared with Tyler.
Her heart picked up pace as she let the memories slip over her for one hot moment, dispelling the chill she’d brought inside.
“Mallory.” Her mother waved from where she sat on the couch, facing the TV.
“Hey mom.” Reluctantly, she stopped reliving his kiss, his touch.
As she entered the living room, shedding her jacket, it was obvious she wasn’t just imagining things – there was a definite difference between the woman she’d left smiling and chatting with Theo and the woman perched alone on the couch, pretending to pay attention to a commercial. “How’s it going – anything good on?”
“Not really.”
“Why watch TV, then? I’m sure I have a book you could borrow if you’d rather read.”
“Actually, I was waiting for you to get home.”
A hint of dread tainted Mallory’s consciousness. What had happened – had her father called again, stirred up more hurt feelings?
Her mother looked away from the TV, meeting Mallory’s gaze directly. “You left me alone with Theo.”
“Is that a problem? I mean, I had an appointment to keep. Did something happen?” It was hard to imagine Theo offending anyone, let alone her mother.
Her mother arched a brow, looking uncharacteristically shrewd. “Just me, him and Swiss Miss … I bet you thought it’d be real cozy.”
A hint of heat crept into Mallory’s cheeks. “I take it he stayed to finish his hot chocolate?”
“He stayed. And he asked me… He asked me if I was seeing anyone.”
A spark of satisfaction flared to life inside Mallory despite her mother’s frown. “Why are you so upset? You’re not seeing anyone.”
“That’s not the point. It was embarrassing. Mallory, you know I’m not looking for a man. How could you try to set me up with Theo?”
“It never occurred to me to invite him to stay until I saw what a good time you were having talking to him. I thought it’d be nice to have some company for once, and he’s such a nice guy. I didn’t want to rush him out just because I had to leave. I thought you were enjoying yourself.”
Her mother’s frown flickered, betraying conflicting emotions. “I’m not looking for anyone. I—”
“I know you’re not looking mom. But that doesn’t mean you won’t cross paths with anyone who’s interested. For the record, I think Theo is great. What did you tell him?”
“What do you think? I told him I wasn’t interested in seeing anyone.”
“So you’re not even going to consider giving him a chance?” Mallory was already imagining her
Similar Books
