The next song came in with a bit of a ruckus. “Jingle Bells.” The cheery sound and familiar beat took them from the quiet, rather intimate moment to a more playful feel. He cupped her hand and moved into a jive dance with her.
“Did you know Jingle Bells was originally meant to be a Thanksgiving song?” he asked, giving her a twirl.
“No.” She giggled as he pulled her into him once more. She moved her feet to keep up while wrapping her hand around his back.
“Apparently, the composer had it played on Thanksgiving Day in Sunday school. It was supposed to commemorate the Medford sleigh races.”
“I didn’t know that,” Ivy said. “Did you know that it was also the first song broadcast from space?” she offered.
Dang, he liked this. Liked having somebody one step ahead of him. “No,” he lied. “I didn’t know that.” A rush of anticipation stirred within him as Easton contemplated the hours ahead. Sure, Ivy might have been a mere stranger to him just days ago, but somehow, being stuck in a yurt with her seemed like the best thing ever. And, he mused, the perfect way to spend Christmas Day.
Chapter 11
Ivy lay on her belly before the fire, Easton at her side. “Okay,” he said, “you ready for the next one?”
She’d been propped up on her elbows, but at his prompt, Ivy flattened herself and rested her cheek on the floor. “Ready.”
Easton propped a finger at the upper right side of her back, looped it up and around, then came down in a long, straight line. Easy. “A candy cane.”
“Nope,” he said. “A shepherd’s hook.”
Ivy reached out to give him a playful swat on the leg. “Same thing.” She rolled onto her back then and propped the back of her head with her hands to look up at him. Easton’s expression shifted as she held his gaze, his smile replaced with…well, she dared say adoration.
“I could stay here with you for another week,” he said. The comment ignited a delicious fire within her, the heat sizzling all the way down her back. “I almost wish we would be stuck here a little longer.”
Her heart clanked out a few extra beats.
“I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to your family though,” he was quick to add. His brow furrowed as he turned his gaze toward the fire and draped his arms across his bent knees. “I bet Chantelle’s getting impatient too,” he mumbled.
Ivy studied him as he narrowed his gaze at the flames. She got the sense he regretted saying what he had, about wishing they could stay longer. She hadn’t forgotten what he’d told her the other night—that he didn’t believe in love. And as guarded as she’d been over the years, Ivy knew Easton’s reservations went much deeper. So what would happen after today? He’d just go back to his life of solitude? Sure, he had coworkers and clients coming through, but would he ever really give his heart to someone?
And what if her wishful thinking stemmed from a place that wondered the same thing? A place that said if he and Ivy had enough time together, he might just overcome his objections completely?
The thought planted an ache deep in her chest. Part of her wanted to assure him that she felt the same. She’d love to spend another week with him there. But another part of her, the part that said it was best to quit while she was ahead, was glad their time would end before he could discover the parts that made her…easy to leave. Better to end things on a good note, remain mysterious, and know that he left liking her the way she liked him.
But what if that thought was selfish? It was cowardly, in the least of it. Because wasn’t Easton worth the risk? If he truly was finding a unique connection with her, if there really was potential for something more, one of them would have to push past their fears and do something about it.
I could stay here with you another week…His comment came to her mind, suggesting that, in a way, Easton had put himself out there.
Come on, Ivy. Tell him you’re not in a hurry to get back. That you’re barely missing your family because he’s made the day so special and fun. And romantic…
“I almost forgot,” Easton said, hurrying to a stand and heading toward the cupboard.
A blend of relief and disappointment sunk through her. Gone was the pressure of stepping out of her comfort zone. But also gone was her chance to assure Easton that she felt the same.
“I got you one last surprise while I was out,” he said. “After we sent your family that text, we weren’t able to stick around where the internet connection was to get their response. So today, I took your phone with me, turned it on while I was in range, and let it receive all your texts.”
A rush of excitement shot through her at the idea of hearing from her family. “You did?” She was quick to sit up as he joined her back at the fireplace, phone in hand.
“I did,” he assured. “I also sent them another text that said we’re still safe and still waiting for the storm to clear.”
Now it was gratitude rushing in. “That was so thoughtful,” she said as she took the phone from him. “Thank you.”
Her family hadn’t disappointed. There were over eighty missed texts on her family group chat. She hovered her thumb over the screen as a grin pulled at her lips. “You ready?”
Easton’s brows lifted. “You’re going to share with me?” he asked, already scooting in closer.
“Of course.” The warmth from his closeness felt like a promise. There had to be more to this. So much more. But then she noticed something. Her battery was higher than it’d been before. “This was at twelve percent earlier,” she said, baffled.
“I have a battery pack, so I gave it a little juice to keep it going.”
“Ah,” she tipped her head back. Of course.
The text thread opened up with dozens of bubbles filled with holiday greetings, photos from the Christmas Eve party, and…assumptions about what Ivy was up to?
In her effort to breeze past the long thread and up to the top, Ivy had spotted a text from her teasing brother, Ronny: Hope Ivy’s cuddling up to the Colorado bachelor to stay warm tonight. Kissy, kissy…. Kissing emojis followed.
“Looks like they’re talking about me too,” Easton pointed out.
Ivy’s face flushed with heat. She glanced up at him, wondering if perhaps she’d made a mistake by not looking over the messages by herself first. It’d be impossible to filter through them with Easton so close.
A wide grin spread over his handsome face as she contemplated. “C’mon, Ivy. Don’t back out now.” He followed up with a playful nudge to her shoulder, his against hers.
Her heart skipped a beat, maybe more, as she grinned back at him. Worth it. This was worth whatever humiliation they dished. She didn’t want Easton to move even an inch away from her.
She glanced back down to see she’d made it all the way to the top of the thread, where she’d sent her text about the storm. “Okay,” she said. “Here goes nothing.”
Mom was first to start off the comments, expressing relief for the fact that she was okay. The motion was seconded by the others until her sister piped up about something that caused another streak of embarrassment to push through her.