After the Christmas Party(32)

He nodded.

She arched a brow.

“Come with hunger in your belly and a smile in your heart.”

She hesitated a moment then met his gaze head on, making his heart stutter a time or two.

“That’s all you want me to bring?”

A dozen different responses ran through his mind. An open mind. A spirit full of Christmas. Open arms to embrace him. A willing heart. He settled for something simple.

“For now.”

Okay, the man was really too good to be true. Because Riley had not only cooked for her, he’d lit candles.

Candles.

At no point in her life had a man given her a candlelit dinner. Actually, never had a man cooked for her either.

Riley had done both and was merrily singing while he did so.

What was this? A romantic seduction? Didn’t he know he could have had her at any point over the past week?

She’d like to think not, but truly, had Riley pushed, she’d have invited him into her bed any of the nights that he’d seen her into her apartment then left with little more than a kiss.

Not only were there candles on the dining table, but they were scattered around the room as well. Plus, his tree sparkled with the thousands of lights they’d strung around the branches. Garlands hung over the doorways. Gorgeous burgundy and gold ribbon bows accented the centers and twined outwards. A nativity scene was spread out over a coffee table. His sofa cushions had been replaced with ones with a smiling Santa on them.

He even wore a “Kiss Santa” apron tied around his waist.

Leaning against the deck railing, she shook her head. “I do have to wonder how old you are sometimes.”

A breeze ruffling his hair, he glanced up from where he stood at the grill. “A person is only as old as they feel so I’m about…thirteen.”

Smiling, she glanced through the glass windows making up the back of his house and door leading into his open living and dining area again. Her eyes caught on the toy train set on the floor beneath the Christmas tree. Her lips twitched. “Gee, I was thinking more along the lines of six. Maybe seven.”

“Nah.” He shook his head, moved away from the grill long enough to plop a kiss on her lips. “Six-and seven-year-old boys couldn’t care less about girls and I definitely am into girls. Specifically, I’m into you.”

Trinity’s belly did a few somersaults. “Point taken, and I’m glad.”

Because as scared as she was of getting hurt, she was honest enough to admit that she wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on being the center of his attention. For however long it lasted, Riley was into her and that was a glorious thing. Her defenses might warn she should run while she still could but another part of her admitted that it was already too late.

Perhaps it had been too late from the moment at the Christmas party when she’d looked into those devilish blue eyes and he’d assured her he was a man who aimed to please. No one had ever made her feel the way he did. Worthwhile. Wanted.

“You look beautiful, by the way.”

Point in case. Trinity’s cheeks burned. He was always complimenting her, making her look in the mirror and wonder what he saw that she didn’t. That no one other than him had ever seen. Because despite their nine-month relationship, Chase had never called her beautiful. Neither had he ever made her feel as if she was.

Why had she fancied herself in love with him?

Because she hadn’t known any better? Hadn’t known what a good man was really like and she’d been settling for what had been right in front of her rather than looking for something more? Something real?

Something like Riley.

No, she wasn’t in love with him, although it would be so easy to fall in love with him. The man was a phenom. She didn’t know how any woman could spend any amount of time with him and not fancy herself in love with him. He was that kind, that considerate, that witty, that sexy, that everything.

“I hope you’re hungry, princess.” He lifted a tin-foil-wrapped salmon fillet off the grill.

“Starved.”

Starved for food, but maybe for much more than she’d bargained for. Nothing in her life had prepared her for Riley. She was supposed to be taking charge of her life, learning to deal with her Christmas aversion. She was not supposed to be becoming so entangled with a man she’d have a difficult time ever letting go of, and yet she didn’t regret being here with him. She cherished every precious second of his company, of his attention.

She’d given up pretending otherwise.

“Starved?” He grinned. “That’s my girl.”

His girl. He didn’t care who knew, who saw them together, or who saw him brushing his knuckles across her cheek or just giving her hand a quick squeeze. If anything, he acted possessive, as if he wanted everyone who saw them to know they were together. As if he was proud she was with him.