A Hippogriff for Christmas - Zoe Chant Page 0,14

too wrapped up in her own thoughts to even notice her hovering.

Now, she shot her yet another look, hoping that either she or Christina or both of them had suddenly developed telepathic powers in the last ten seconds so that she’d hear Annie’s desperate psychic messages of Please, will you shut up?

And maybe she had, because in the next second, Christina gave her a roguish wink before disappearing out to the storeroom again, leaving her alone with – with –

Oh, I don’t even know his name, Annie thought.

“My name’s Beau Colson,” the man said, as if he’d read her mind. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier.”

He held out his hand. Annie stared at it a moment, before reaching forward to take it. It was warm, and she couldn’t help but suck in a quick breath as her palm tingled where her skin pressed against his.

“Annie Shaw,” she said.

She knew she ought to release his hand, but somehow, she couldn’t quite make herself do it. The tingling feeling she’d felt in her palm seemed to have settled into a gentle warmth, and she was reluctant to end it.

Finally, swallowing, she forced herself to draw back. Was it her imagination, or did Beau seem just as reluctant as she did?

Definitely your imagination, she told herself. What was she doing, letting herself get her hopes up like this –

“Did you mean it when you said you’d be spending Christmas alone?” Beau asked.

Annie nodded, feeling herself flush. She wasn’t usually a blusher, but under Beau’s dark, intent stare, she couldn’t help it.

“Yeah. But I usually do, so it’s not that big of a deal.” She paused, then, under the same strange compulsion to be totally honest, added, “I don’t really like Christmas anyway.”

“You don’t like Christmas?” He sounded genuinely surprised. “Really?”

Annie laughed, feeling a little self-conscious. “Not really – I guess I just don’t get the big deal. I don’t really have a family, so honestly it’s just never really meant that much to me.”

“Three days.”

Annie blinked, looked up at Beau, who was staring at her with that same intent stare – the one that almost felt like he wasn’t just looking at her, but that he could somehow see right down into her heart.

However, penetrating stares or not, she still wasn’t sure what he meant.

“I – I’m sorry?”

“Give me three days – three days of your time, until December twenty-third. I’d really love to help you love Christmas again.”

Annie stared at him. Is this guy for real?!

Beau’s expression was earnest and sincere. But he must have read something of her thoughts in her face, because he shook his head, looking a little sheepish.

“Sorry. I get that was a little weird. I just – well, Christmas is supposed to be about having a good time. I’d like to share it with you, if you’d like to. Or at least up until the twenty-third. If, after that, I haven’t convinced you, then I’ll admit defeat. But if I can convince you…”

Annie shook her head, not certain if she could trust her own ears. “What – you mean like a date? A three-day date?”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could snatch them back again. Of course he didn’t mean like a date! Guys like him did not ask girls like her out on a –

“I guess you could say exactly like a date,” Beau said, a warm smile spreading across his face. “That is, of course, if you’d like it to be a date.”

Of course I’d like it to be a date! Have you seen yourself?!

Annie swallowed down the first words that crowded impulsively to the tip of her tongue, searching for something that sounded at least a little cooler.

“I – uh – yeah, I’d like that.”

She hoped she didn’t sound too awkward. She hadn’t exactly been asked out on many dates in her life. She really wasn’t all that sure how to respond.

“Great!” Beau beamed, his whole face lighting up in a way that Annie had to admit made her heart flutter.

Jeez, she thought. He’s hot as hell, he gets rid of creeps, and he has the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen in my life. I really never stood a chance, did I?

“I mean, that’s great,” Beau said, clearly trying to tone down his obvious joy at her agreement. “I’d really like that.”

Almost despite herself, Annie felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. While she might be a little confused as to why