“We are matching.” I wink at him. “Maybe later, you will let me taste your candy cane.” I flick my tongue out between my teeth, wiggling my eyebrows.
“Woman, you’ll be the death of me.”
“I mean, if we go out fucking, I’ll be more than happy.”
He taps my ass.
“I hope so.”
Then he leans in and kisses me, quick and fast, as Vicky honks the horn. He opens my door, and I get in.
“Show off.” Vicky snickers, smiling.
Danny is expected to meet us later tonight. Usually, he comes for the alcohol once the judgy, stuck-up suits are well and truly drunk.
Smart really, and I feel sorry for Noah already.
When we pull up, Noah looks at the house, then turns to me.
“Oh, she didn’t tell you she was rich.”
“My parents are, not me,” I say, getting out.
Noah walks around and easily slides his hand in mine.
The house is brightly lit. They have the most decorated house on the whole street at Christmas time. Santa is on the roof with his sleigh, and colored lights are everywhere. It’s really beautiful, and people come from all over to stare at the sparkling wonder.
“I apologize in advance,” I say as we reach the door.
My mother answers and looks straight at me, then to my dress. Of course, I can see the distaste in her eyes before they land on Noah. “You brought a date?” she asks.
“I did,” I answer quickly.
Noah beats me to the introductions as her eyes flick back to him.
“Noah Masters.”
Mum’s eyes go wide at his words. “I have indeed heard of you, Noah. Welcome to my home.” My mother is in a white dress, as most women here are. Even Vicky is in a white dress. While the men have a choice of what to wear, the women really don’t.
I like to be a rebel.
“You approve, Mum?” I ask with a smile as we walk past.
She lifts her lip at me before she shakes her head. I giggle and walk in.
My father steps over to us next and says hello to Noah and pulls him away for a drink. I reluctantly let him go.
“You must marry that one, he’s quite the catch.” My mother walks up behind me as I watch Noah walk away with confidence in to my father’s den.
“We aren’t getting married, Mother,” I say with an eye roll as I spot my sister.
“Christmas has a way of making us fall harder and faster in love. Your father and I were like that,” she says in a sing-song voice as she walks away. My mother met my father in December, and by the end of the month, they were married. Together now for almost thirty years. Go figure!
I’ve heard it takes six months to fall in love with someone. By then you know their quirks and who they really are. Does he make you happy when you think about him? Does he make your heart skip a beat? Is it him you miss when you wake up and he’s not there? Is he your first confidant?
Then I hear stories about love at first sight. Arranged marriages. So many different ways to fall in love.
None of them are right or wrong. They just… are.
Maybe we just are?
Though I am not sure I am in love with Noah, I know for sure I could be falling.
And that could be savage.
“Maybe a threesome tonight?”
Oh, for God’s sake, I cringe at Anderson’s voice.
Turning around, Rylee walks over and looks at him, then to me. I don’t even bother paying him any further attention.
“Father seems in love already.” Rylee nods to where Noah is standing in a group with my father and his friends, they’re all laughing.
“I’m going to steal him,” I say, walking away. I don’t want to stand anywhere near Anderson because I’m unsure if I can keep my opinions to myself. Walking over, I step up next to Noah. He looks at me and slides his hand around my waist. My father smiles in approval.
“I see you wore your mother’s favorite dress,” my father says, winking.
“Of course.”
“You look beautiful,” Noah says.
“That she does. Always do, don’t you, biscuit,” my father says. He taps his friend on the back. “Why don’t you take Noah out back and show him what your mother does for Christmas.”
I nod as my father and his friends walk away.
“Your mother really loves Christmas, hey?”
“She does. She says it’s the best time of the year. It’s the best excuse to see everyone, to see those you love. She says it is magical,” I whisper. “We were born on Christmas day,” I say, turning to him.
“Your birthday is on Christmas?” he asks, surprised.
“Sure is. This year the big twenty-three.”
“Oh to be that young again,” he says as we walk out.
“I bet your life was already planned out by then.”
“Sure was. Married and working.” As soon as we step out the back door, his words stop.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s the only reason I still come.” Our mother has the whole backyard filled with snow. A snow machine is constantly blowing snow to give you the illusion it’s snowing. It’s always hot here at Christmas, and I’ve never had a real white Christmas. Even when I was traveling, I had to come back for Christmas.
This is my version of a white Christmas.
“It’s magical.” He turns to face me.
“As you are.” A piece of snow blows onto my face, and he wipes it away. “Your father is immensely proud of you. Did you know that? All he did was tell us about your travels and how you live independently and have done so since you were old enough to be on your own.”
I look at him, surprised.
“And your mother, she adores you. But I get the feeling you keep her on her toes with your attitude, which she secretly loves. She smirked at me when you looked down at your dress after she asked why you were wearing it. She definitely enjoys your antics.” His words rock me to my core.
“They are smitten with you.”
“Only because I am smitten with you.” I shake my head at his words.
“No, you could have brought any man, but if you weren’t smiling like you did, I’m sure they wouldn’t have approved.”
“I’m no Rylee,” I say to him.
Noah wraps his arms around my back and dips me. I smile up at him.
“No, you are completely different, yet so much the same. You, Rhianna Harley, are the fire to this family and the light in my eyes right now.” He leans down and kisses me.
“I think I found my birthday and Christmas gift all wrapped in one package” I smile at him.
“Oh, and what is that?”
“You…my love-struck lover.” I smile at him.
“Absolutely. Because, baby, I’m all fucking yours.”
“Merry Christmas.” I smirk, then lean up and take those lips.
And what fucking lips they are.
Now, they’re all mine.
If you want to read Rylee’s story, click here.
About the Author
USA Today Best Selling Author T.L. Smith loves to write her characters with flaws so beautiful and dark you can't turn away. Her books have been translated into several languages. If you don't catch up with her in her home state of Queensland, Australia you can usually find her travelling the world, either sitting on a beach in Bali or exploring Alcatraz in San Francisco or walking the streets of New York.