Read Online That Mistletoe Moment by Cat Johnson - Free Book Online

realized that their meeting wasn’t without risk for Nathan, either. It had to be against the Build-A-Boyfriend employee code of conduct, but he was doing it anyway.
    He felt the chemistry between them, too. A spark. A connection so strong she’d never had anything close to it with George.
    She remembered how George had described their relationship. The words that had angered her so and prompted her to break it off with him.
    Being with someone shouldn’t be based on “habit” or “convenience.” A relationship should be exciting. It should make your heart pound and your hands shake with anticipation, the way she felt now waiting for Nathan.
    The sound of a loud knock had her eyes widening as she whipped around to stare at the door.
    Could it be Nathan?
    If so, he was early.
    Thank God she’d been so nervous that she had gotten ready hours ago, right down to her lipstick—which was probably worn away by now.
    She didn’t have time to remedy that as she ran to the door.
    Unlike yesterday, when George had snuck up on her, Noelle was not going to be surprised again. This time she peeked through the peephole.
    The man she saw looked vaguely familiar, in spite of the way the peephole distorted his features.
    In all the excitement it took her a second, but finally she focused enough to realize why she recognized him.
    Frowning, Noelle quickly unlocked the door. She pulled it open to reveal all six-foot-plus of her Thanksgiving cranberry savior.
    After that brief encounter in the store, and that single text with her recipe, she’d never thought she’d see or hear from him again— unless for some reason they ran into each other in the fruit and vegetable aisle again.
    The pieces of a puzzle she knew she should have the answer to began to shift in her brain.
    This guy’s name was Nathan. His number was in her phone.
    Holy shit. She must have texted him instead of the Build-A-Boyfriend number.
    Even as the blood drained from her face as she realized her mistake, he smiled wide. “Hey. Sorry. I know I’m early. There wasn’t much traffic, so I might have sped a little bit during the drive.”
    â€œNathan. Um, hi. Uh, come on in.” Shaking, she took a step back.
    â€œI stopped and picked up some hot chocolate. It should still be hot. I figured we could drink it in front of your tree while we decide what to do.”
    For the first time she noticed he held two cups in his hands. “Um, sure. That would be great.”
    Now that the shock was starting to wane, reality set in, and what a reality it was. The guy she’d been texting, the one she’d connected with so strongly, wasn’t a Build-A-Boyfriend employee at all. He was real and he was here, not to mention gorgeous.
    She knocked herself out of her spinning thoughts and realized he was standing just inside the doorway, coat on, cups in hand, waiting for her to do or say something.
    â€œUm, take off your coat and come sit down.” She gestured in the general direction of the sofa and the Christmas tree, plainly visible from where they stood by the door.
    â€œOkay. Thanks.” He put the cups down on the kitchen counter and pulled off a thick dark blue jacket that said NAVY on it in yellow.
    Noelle’s focus moved from the insignia on his jacket to his face, realizing she didn’t know all that much about this guy. “Are you in the Navy?”
    â€œYes, ma’am. For over twelve years now.” He grinned and glanced around him, his jacket in one hand.
    â€œOh, let me hang that up for you.” She stepped forward.
    When he handed the jacket to her, she felt how it was warm from his body. That realization did something to her, making her want him to warm her the way he had the lucky jacket.
    She hung it on the hook by the door on top of her own and turned back. “Are you at the submarine base in New London?”
    â€œNo. I’m stationed down in Virginia, but I