Read Online A Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B

in bright colors.
    “They come with your name painted on them,” the woman in the booth said with a smile. “How about a lovely star?”
    She held up a red one.
    “We’ll take it,” Dante told her, then spelled Evie’s name.
    “I don’t have a tree,” she said.
    “We’ll get one of those later. You need an ornament with your name on it.”
    “Only if you get one, too.”
    “You going to let me put it on your tree?”
    She laughed and leaned close. “Yes, but why does that question sound dirty?”
    “Because it was supposed to.”
    They both laughed.
    He paid for both ornaments and tucked the small bag into his coat pocket. They continued to wander through the center of town, then turned back toward their neighborhood.
    Somewhere in the distance, a church clock chimed the hour. She could hear Christmas music. There were a thousand stars in the sky, and her breath made puffy clouds in the cold air.
    “I’ll admit it,” she told him. “There is something just a little magical about this place. The tree, the hot cocoa, the window decorations.”
    He stopped and faced her. “It’s going to get worse.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Your family at the holidays? There are going to be a lot of get-togethers.”
    She could only imagine. “I tend to stay on the fringes. It’s easier that way.”
    “You’re assuming they’ll let you. I think the easiest solution is practice.”
    She had no idea what he was talking about, but it didn’t matter. Staring into Dante’s blue eyes was kind of a nice way to spend an evening. She didn’t even care that she was freezing.
    “For example,” he continued, his gaze locked with hers. “What if there’s mistletoe somewhere? We’ll be expected to kiss.”
    She felt herself smile. “Oh, right. That could be awkward. We barely know each other. What if we bump noses?”
    “Our timing could be off. People would talk. I know you wouldn’t want that.”
    “I wouldn’t.” Anticipation tiptoed through her stomach, warming her from the inside out. She tilted her head. “So you think we should practice?”
    He sighed heavily. “It’s probably for the best.”
    “You’re such a giver.”
    “I am.”
    With that, he lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers.
    His lips were warm and tasted faintly of chocolate. He kissed gently, lingering as if he’d been waiting for this his whole day and planned to enjoy every second of it. She put her hand on his chest while he held her lightly by the waist.
    They were on the edge of the main square, neatly tucked in a doorway to a closed shop. Around them twinkle lights flashed on and off. It was like something out of a Christmas movie, she thought, letting her eyes flutter shut as she concentrated on the heat burning through her.
    They stayed there for what felt like a long time. While part of her wanted to deepen the kiss, another part was content to leave things as they were. Uncomplicated, with just enough zing to make her thighs tighten. The perfect combination, she thought hazily.
    Dante drew back and rested his forehead on hers.
    “I’d give us a B.”
    She opened her eyes and glared at him. “Excuse me?”
    He grinned. “Kidding. That was nice. But we probably need more practice.”
    “What did you have in mind?”
    “We have a month until Christmas. That gives us time to work out the kinks.”
    She laughed and linked arms with him. “You’re the strangest man I know.”
    “That’s what all the girls say. Admit it. You like me.”
    She laughed again, and they started for home. In truth, she did like Dante. She wasn’t an idiot—she knew he was a player and that expecting anything but a little fun was a mistake. But he was exactly what she needed right now. In the midst of preparation for the Christmas Eve performance and having to deal with her family, Dante was a distraction. One any girl could appreciate.

Chapter Six
    D ante walked into the Fool’s Gold fire station with a list and an idea for a plan. He