jump on the fact that you don’t even like the way they taste. You just like the way they remind you of the holidays.”
“I never said that.”
“You did when you mentioned sensation right before you mentioned swallowing love.” A laugh threatens to escape him, but his grin is evident.
“You’re hopeless.”
“I’m fun,” he corrects.
“Childish,” I say with a smile.
He doesn’t disagree as he opens his bag and holds up a cluster of peanuts. “Are you ready to have something truly delicious in your mouth?”
When I nod, he slips the nuts through my lips, and damn, the sweet and salty goodness puts my chestnuts to shame.
My tongue is still salivating from how yummy his nuts are, but I keep my lips pursed and shrug in indifference. “They’re fine.”
“You’re the worst liar.”
The dimples that appear on his cheek makes me lose my cool, and I end up letting out a huge laugh. “Gosh, fine. Your nuts are delicious.”
Yes, I realize how dirty that sounded, and I lean up and put a hand over Hunter’s mouth before he can say anything crude. I can feel his smile widening against my palm, so I snatch his bag of nuts out of his hand and replace it with mine.
“Glad you’re enjoying those,” he croons as he scrunches the bag and slides them into his coat pocket.
“I would enjoy them even more if we swung by Saks Fifth Avenue and watched the lights dance on the sides of the building.”
“You really are trying to get me to like your commercialized Christmas, aren’t you?”
“What, are you the Grinch?”
“The merriest I get is a mulled wine and a cigar by the fire.”
Just the thought of a fire has me wrapping my arms around myself. “A cozy snuggle by the fire sounds awesome. We’d have cocoa and lie on a large fur blanket with no lights, except for those coming from the embers and the Christmas tree lit in the corner.”
After a moment, I realize he’s not walking anymore. I turn to see him looking at me with a twinkle in his eye and a small smile tugging at the side of his mouth.
“How do you always manage to be this wistful?”
I shrug at his curious stare. “A happy heart, I guess. Is that a bad thing?”
He lifts his chin and gives a closed-mouth grin. “Not at all. I’m just surprised.”
“By what?”
He takes three purposeful steps toward me and stops just close enough that the front of his coat brushes up against mine. Even in heels, I have to tilt my head up to see his face. The snowflakes sticking to his hair make it seem like we’re standing in the middle of a snow globe, not New York City.
I lean up and pop the collar of his coat, providing extra warmth to his neck. The action makes the corners of his mouth rise up.
“What does a romantic girl like you see in a guy like Branson?” he asks.
I have to look away from his smoldering stare as I think of all the reasons I adore Branson. “He has a way about him. A sophisticated grace. He’s kind, charitable, a true gentleman. Even when he’s dismissive of someone, he does it in a way that makes them think it was their idea. And he’s beautiful. I could get lost in his grin for days.”
“You know, if he does return your affection, you could lose your job. You can’t date your boss.”
“Then, that’s the risk I’m willing to take.” When I glance back to Hunter, I notice he’s no longer smiling. “Have you ever had a crush on someone like that?”
“Yes,” he breathes.
A chill runs up my spine. I tug my coat closer to protect myself from the cold.
I tilt my head to the side, wondering aloud, “Has someone broken your heart?”
“You’d have to let someone in first to give them your heart,” he says without hesitation.
“And you’ve never done that?” I ask.
Hunter places a hand on my cheek and pulls me in. The steam of his heated breath pours from his mouth as he draws me near.
We’re close—not as close as in the bar, but from this angle, I feel that mesmerizing pull, the one he has with women. It makes my chest rise and my lips part. My once-cold body is suddenly blistering with heat.
I blink, breaking our trance, needing the space to breathe for a second. I can’t tell if Hunter is trying to teach me something or what. He has this way with many women, I know.