The board is huge, and I take my time neatly arranging the cheese cubes and slices of meat. I didn’t expect to connect so easily with Theo, and more frightening than the little slips of innuendo is the urge to tell him more—about me, my work,my family, mylife. I didn’t come here to spill my guts to him; I came here toseducehim. So why am I hiding in the kitchen after one little compliment?
I know why. It’s because it’s the kind of compliment that says he seesme, not just the image I’m projecting tonight. And it’s more than I bargained on.
After a few moments, I hear someone enter the kitchen. I turn, expecting to see Mr. Barnes—Nate—but it’s Theo.
“I’ll be out in a moment,” I say quickly, since I don’t want him to think I’m avoiding him. “Just finishing this.”
“Not a problem.” He pulls a screwdriver out of his tool belt. “Since I came prepared, Nate asked me to tighten the hinges on the top cabinet. It’ll just take a second.”
He comes closer and opens the cabinet next to me. I should probably move out of the way, but as usual, Theo’s nearness makes my brain malfunction and I freeze in place. He smells like a cold forest breeze, but heat radiates from his body. Even though it’s warm in here, I want to wrap myself up in him like a fuzzy blanket and sleep for a week.
He fixes the hinge, then checks the others while he’s at it. As he’s closing the cabinet door directly over my head, my rational brain finally pops back online and tells my feet to move the hell out of his way. I turn to leave, but he steps aside at the same time, and somehow in the confusion, we’re knocked off-balance. Theo’s pelvis slams directly into mine.
My lower back hits the counter, trapping me against him, and he grabs the edge by my hip, bracing himself to keep from falling on top of me.
His eyes go wide. “Shit. Sorry about that.”
And in a moment of perfect clarity, I know it’s time to make my move.
Before he can step back, I clamp a hand on his forearm, holding him in place. “It’s okay,” I say, a little breathless from the impact and from staring directly into his eyes.
His chest heaves, like he’s also having trouble catching his breath. His gaze drops to my lips before meeting my eyes again. “Yeah?”
I swallow hard and nod. “Yeah.”
And somehow, we both know I’m sayingyesto something else.
He shifts closer, almost imperceptibly, and my palm slides up a few inches to the crook of his elbow. His other hand grips the counter, effectively caging me in, which is fine because there’s nowhere else I want to be right now.
His eyes are still locked on mine as his head lowers a fraction. “You sure, Evie?”
My lips part as I lift my chin. “I’m—”
“Hey, Theo! We need your height!” someone calls from the living room.
Theo’s head snaps up and he glances over his shoulder. His eyes shut briefly and he mutters, “Fuck.”
Then his gaze returns to mine with such fierce focus that it makes my skin tight.
“We’re not done yet.” His voice is rough and deliberate, and all I can do is nod.
And then he’s gone, leaving me slumped against the counter with only a half-full charcuterie board for company.
Chapter Five
The party is fun, and it’s nice to meet my other neighbors and Nate’s music industry friends. But it’s impossible to steal another moment alone with Theo, or to catch Mrs. Greene to thank her for the ornaments. And in the back of my mind, all I can think about is Theo’s decree.
We’re not done yet.
I don’t know what he means by that, but every part of me is keen to find out.
I’m headed into the kitchen for the wine opener when Theo and I finally cross paths again. We pause in the doorway, and he gives me that slow, secret smile he’s been sending me all night, the one that has my panties feeling a little damp. My face heats and I smile back, but before either of us can pass, a voice yells, “Kiss! You’re under the mistletoe!”
It’s Mrs. Greene, whose delighted and mischievous smile sparkles as much as her red sequined gown.
Theo glances above our heads and frowns at the small cluster of leaves hanging from the lintel. “That definitely wasn’t there earlier.”
The rest of our neighbors—led by Mrs. Greene and Mr. Barnes, who are almost assuredly in cahoots—egg us on with hollers and chants. The wine has been flowing liberally tonight, and everyone is in a jovial mood.
