“Wait, my date?”
But I was already talking to Savannah’s back as she hustled to the door. “See you down there,” she said, and then disappeared.
I emerged to find Nick in the apartment, looking more handsome than I’d ever seen him, in a dark blue suit that fit him like a glove and a pressed white shirt open at the collar. His face was fresh-shaven and smooth and maybe even more beautiful than when he’d a several-days’-stubble beard. I wanted to place gentle kisses up and down his cheeks. His hair was still damp and fell in waves down to his shirt collar, and I wanted to run my fingers through it.
“You look gorgeous,” he said, echoing my own thoughts about him.
For a minute, I thought he might kiss me and I decided I would let him, which was a very stupid idea given that we’d broken up that morning. Then he cleared his throat and held out his arm to me, and the moment ended.
He spoke politely, if formally, while we walked down the hall, inquiring about my nap and my impressions of Savannah. “You’ll get to meet everyone,” he said as we stepped onto the elevator. “Kat’s husband, Gage, Kyle’s girlfriend, Cami, and Ryan’s mystery woman. I haven’t met her yet myself.”
I barely processed what he was saying. I was happy to stand close to him and hear his smooth, deep voice wash over me. I’d fallen in love with his voice the night we’d met. And maybe I’d started falling a little bit in love with the man, too, that first night.
I pressed my hand to my chest, willing my heart to slow down and my breathing to calm. This was no time to confront what I might be feeling for Nick Roman. There would be plenty of time tomorrow, when I arrived at my parents’ house alone. And next week, while I made the cross-country trek back to California by myself. And in the coming months, while I avoided Mason’s bar and any place else I might run into Nick.
The elevator doors slid open when we reached the first floor. I stood rooted to the spot, transfixed. The gym had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland.
Nick took my hand and led me into the room, introducing me to the team members’ partners along the way. I responded politely, but I returned to staring at the decorations, from the nine-foot Christmas tree in the corner that was strung with colorful lights and filled with vintage-looking red and green balls, to the matching lights strung around the space, the garland with big, red-velvet bows, and even metal reindeer and a snowman on plush white rugs creating a snowy winter scene by the entrance where we’d come in earlier that day. It would be the perfect backdrop for?—
“Mother Treewould look beautiful there, wouldn’t she?” Nick said quietly.
I nodded as I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Do you like it?” Kat asked as she and her husband, Gage, joined us.
“Very much. Do you always go all-out like this for your Christmas party?”
“Never,” Logan answered. “But Roman insisted. Luckily, he and Wheeler—who is late, per usual—did most of the work. Something about making up for being such an asshole about the holiday on your cross-country drive.”
“He did not say asshole,” Kyle interrupted.
“Thanks Rogers,” Nick said.
“But we knew that’s what he meant.” Kyle slapped Nick on the back.
“I even made a special Christmas drink to commemorate it,” Pasco said. “It’s called St. Nick’s Flaming Asshole.”
Nick glared at Pasco.
“That’s just gross,” Savannah said.
The rest of the crowd groaned, except for Kyle, who had been Pasco’s guinea pig and assured us we were in for a treat. As the group divided into sides to debate Pasco’s bartending skills, Nick and I moved away from the crowd.
I turned to face him. “I can’t believe you did all this for me. Given all that’s happened to you around the holidays, it must have been hard for you.” I blinked back tears, desperately hoping I wouldn’t ruin Savannah’s excellent make-up job.
Nick shoved his hands into his pockets. “That’s the weird thing. It wasn’t hard at all. It was kind of fun. I realized I missed picking out cheesy lawn statues and stringing up lights. I even let Wheeler and Hayes try out their Christmas playlist on me while we decorated.”
I shook my head. “Well, damn, Geezer, I’m going to have to stop comparing you to the grouchy green guy.”
“Back to Geezer, are we?” He shot me a wicked grin, then seemed to catch himself and glanced at the tree. “I’m just glad you like it.”
“I love it.” I leaned against him and put my arms around his neck. “Thank you. This has been the best Christmas ever, which is not what I expected when we started our trip.”
He wrapped his arms around me. “I was happy to do it, Care,” he whispered. “I’d do anything for you.”
I pulled back and looked up into his eyes. I would never ask him for what I wanted most from him. Like Savannah had said, being a hero was in his DNA. I would never ask him to change that for me. But I needed to ask for something else. “Stay with me tonight.”
He winced. “I don’t want this to be like?—”
