Kisses on Her Christmas List by Susan Meier

Smiled. “I love cocoa. I haven’t had it since I was about eight.”
    â€œThen it’s time you did.”
    He laughed. “That’s exactly why I didn’t want to apologize for kissing you. I wanted to kiss you.”
    Pleasure exploded inside her again. Why did he have to be so sweet? “Because I make cocoa?”
    â€œBecause you make me laugh. You’re a nice person. A good person. I’d be an idiot if I didn’t see how you’re turning Finley around. She’s actually humming a Christmas song in there.”
    She walked over to the stove, stirred the cocoa mix into the warm milk. “I’m not really doing much of anything. I think Finley’s finally ready to be turned. I just have more Christmas things at my disposal than you do.”
    He shook his head. “No. I think she’s ready because you nudge her along.”
    She walked to the island, brusquely picked up the tray of mugs to take to the counter by the stove. But he caught her hand. “Why won’t you let me compliment you?”
    â€œBecause I’m not doing anything. It’s the season. The time she’s spending at the store.” She shrugged, wishing he’d let go of her hand so she could scamper away. Wishing he’d hold on to it because it felt so good to have a man touch her again. And not just any man. Someone she liked.
    â€œWell, we’re at the store because of you…so we’re back to you being responsible.”
    Humor crinkled the corners of his eyes, pulled his full lips upward. Her heart stuttered a bit, filled with hope. How easy it would be to simply laugh and accept what was happening. Part of her longed to do just that. To relax. To enjoy. No matter what he decided about the store, they’d separate. She didn’t have to fear get ting involved in something so deep it would force her to tell her big secret.
    But the other part knew that she couldn’t spend another four days with this man without falling head-over-heels in love. She was so needy, so desperate, that every scrap of attention he threw her drew her in like a kitten to a bowl of fresh milk. She had to keep her distance.
    Still, she argued with her wiser self. Couldn’t she enjoy this, breathe it in, savor it…so she’d have pleasant memories for the long cold nights ahead?
    She didn’t know. If in her desperation she fell in love, those wonderful memories she was creating could actually haunt her.
    So she simply shrugged. “I see myself more as having fun with Finley than being responsible for her turnaround.”
    â€œAnd we are a team.”
    She smiled slightly. She’d forgotten they’d formed a team that morning. “You’re right.”
    â€œSeriously, you’re great with kids. You’re going to make a wonderful mother.”
    Tears sprang to her eyes. His comment wasn’t out of line. It wasn’t even unusual. But she hadn’t been prepared for it.
    She yanked the tray of empty mugs from the center island, effectively pulling her wrist out from underneath his hand and scurried to the stove to grab a ladle to scoop hot cocoa into the mugs.
    â€œWant to get the marshmallows?” she asked, her voice cracking just a bit.
    He pulled away from the center island. “Sure. Where are they?”
    She pointed. “Second shelf, second cupboard.”
    He opened the cabinet door and pulled out the marshmallows.
    â€œGrab a bowl from that cupboard over there,” she said, pointing at a cabinet across the room. “And put about a cupful in the bowl. That way you and Finley can take as many marshmallows as you want.”
    He filled the bowl with marshmallows, set it on the tray in the center of the three cups of steaming cocoa. But he didn’t move his hand so she could lift the tray.
    So she stepped away again. “You know what?” She walked to the refrigerator and opened the door of the small freezer section