Chapter Ten
Xander
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“Oh, I thought... Never mind.” She quickly brought the cup to her lips.
“What did you think?”
She shook her head more vehemently as she looked up. “It really doesn’t matter.”
“It fucking does. Tell me what’s weighing on your mind.”
“Since we didn’t get to talk any more, I assumed that you want us to forget about it.”
I leaned in so damn close that I was completely in her personal space, but after last night, I needed the closeness. And she wasn’t pulling away—quite the contrary.
“Are you kidding me? All I wanted last night was to find another minute alone with you. I wanted to take you home and—”
She looked up abruptly. “Oh my God, you did?”
I could practically feel her body relaxing.
“Don’t tell me that you spent the entire night thinking I was some kind of asshole who avoided you on purpose.”
“I don’t know. Maybe not on purpose. But it did cross my mind.”
“No, I just... got distracted with Bella.”
She smiled. “I saw you. It was endearing.”
“And then I wanted to talk to you, but you were gone by the time I rejoined the group.”
“It felt like I was intruding once the guests left.”
“You were not intruding,” I said, touching her cheeks with my fingers. I was dying to taste her lips again.
“Do you mind moving out of the way? We want to take pictures with Mr. Bingle too,” a guy said.
I looked right at him, preparing to tell him to mind his own business, but he was with his wife and three kids. So instead, I took Bailey’s free hand and pulled her out of the way until we were quite a distance from Mr. Bingle.
“Do you have time to talk now?” I asked.
“Can we walk and talk?”
“Sure. What do you want to do?”
“We can walk through Carousel Park.”
“Walk, not drive?” I double-checked.
“It’s just two and a half miles.”
“Precisely, and then we have to come back to the car.”
I took in her pink cheeks, the way she kept moving from one foot to the other. Despite the hot chocolate, she wasn’t warm. Moving was a good idea.
“You do the walk every year?” I asked her.
“Of course. Don’t you?”
“I haven’t done it in years.”
She gasped. “No way. You don’t come to see the lights? But they’re so beautiful. For me, they symbolize everything that’s good about Christmas.”
“You can be my guide.”
“With pleasure.”
“You want another hot chocolate?” I offered.
She hesitated. “No, there aren’t too many toilets on the way.” Then she dropped her head back and sighed in desperation. “Ah, why did I tell you that? I’m not really good at making a sexy impression.”
I laughed. “Bailey, it’s an important, natural observation. Besides, you’re so damn sexy that I’m having a really tough time staying here with you.”
“As opposed to what?”
“Going in a dark corner, preferably somewhere warm, and finishing what we started last night.”
“Xander,” she murmured. “God, the things you say. I wouldn’t have penned you for a dirty talker, what with your suits and cuff links.”
“I have far more surprises in store,” I assured her. Even though it was dark and the light only shone on half her face, I knew she was turning red.
“Let’s get moving,” she said, “because I’m really starting to get cold. Should’ve worn my UGG boots.”
“What’s that?” I asked her.
“Ah, some boots with a lot of fur on them. I actually think it’s fake fur. Doesn’t even matter. They keep me warm, but they’re not really a thing around here because it doesn’t get that cold, does it?”
“Except for tonight.”
“This way,” she said, pointing to an alley, and I followed her lead. Even though many were headed here tonight, it wasn’t overly crowded.
“I wonder if Jasmine needs any help. We could go by the stand.”
“No,” I said firmly. “We are not going anywhere near there.”
“Why?” She eyed me suspiciously.
“I’m sure you’d jump to help them whether they needed it or not.”
She shrugged. “Guilty as charged, but I know how these things are. You’re always like ‘Oh, we have a big team,’ but then it turns out that there’s a huge line or something.”
“Bailey, you work long hours. You need to rest a bit from time to time.”
“Not during the Christmas season, I don’t. That’s the busiest time. I look forward to it all year. Isn’t it the same for you?”
“It is busy, but not in a good way.”
“Is that why you haven’t been here in so many years?” she asked.
“Something like that.”
“Please tell me you don’t forsake all New Orleans traditions, or I’ll stop liking you right here, right now.”
I brought my mouth to her ear. “I sincerely doubt that. I’m certain I can make you like me again in a matter of seconds.” I was close enough to hear her sharp inhale.
“You don’t mince words, huh?”
“Not with you.” Straightening up, I added, “I actually do go caroling in Jackson Square with the entire family.”
Her eyes widened. “You participate in that? It really is one of my favorite things to do. I’m so happy that New Orleans keeps up these traditions. We’re so lucky to live in this city. Not many really do stuff like this anymore. At least not as much as we do.”
“It’s good for tourists.”
She looked exasperated. “Oh, Xander, it’s like we’re from different planets.”
That made me laugh. “I’m a practical man.”
“Yes, I got that. Don’t you do anything at all that isn’t practical or useful?”
“I go fishing with my grandfathers from time to time, mostly because they need some adult supervision.”
The surprise on Bailey’s face was vivid.
“I love hanging out with them. They have a lot of wisdom to impart, and I like to listen to them. And the bayou is a perfect place to recharge. I used to go fishing with them when I was a kid, too, and with Dad as well. He seemed to notice that we wanted time alone with our grandparents, so he often stays home. I’ve learned a lot from them during our fishing days. I think they instilled in me this love I have for legacy as well.”
“You always knew that you wanted to be involved with the Orleans Conglomerate?”
“Yes. There was never any doubt about it.”
“And the same goes for all your brothers?” she asked.
“Yes—at least I think so. None of us ever even wanted to work anywhere else.”
“I wonder what that must feel like. To know exactly what you want to do. I mean, I thought I did too. That’s why I became a software developer. But things turned out differently. Working at the confectionery is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Bailey...,” I started.
She shook her head. “No. This evening, we’re strolling and admiring the lights. We’re not talking about anything unpleasant.”
I nodded. “Fair enough.”
“The Cajun display is one of my favorites. The Night before Christmas,” she murmured. “I love the attention to detail.”
The wooden house was simple enough, but all the illuminated figurines around it were quite a work of art. They worked well together.
“Want me to take a picture of you with it?” I offered.
“Oh no, I have a million. Do you want me to take a picture of you ?”
“Not necessary.”
“Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I’m just trying to piece things together about you, and I’m getting a very confusing picture.”
I chuckled. “I wish I could clarify it for you, but I’m not my usual self with you.”
She tilted her head but didn’t say anything else.
She was even more attractive than usual with her beanie, mittens, and red cheeks. They made her green eyes pop even more. Her dark hair was sticking out in all directions from under the beanie. I wanted to kiss the living daylights out of her right there and then, so I stepped closer and then stopped.
“Xander.”
“Hmm?”
Her voice was uneven. “If we aren’t taking pictures, we should move out of the way before someone yells at us again.”
“I keep forgetting we’re in public when I’m this close to you,” I admitted, and she licked her lips. That did nothing to soothe my need for her, but we did move along.
After another fifteen minutes of walking, Bailey started to shiver for real.
“Damn it. It really is too cold,” she said.
“How about we head back to our cars?” I suggested.
She pouted but nodded. “Good idea. I don’t want to catch a cold during the busy season. You just never know with the weather.”
She raised her hands to the sky in desperation, dropping them back when others started to look. “Last year I was wearing a short-sleeve sweater. That was fine. Did you park in the lot closest to the snowman?”
“Yes.”
“So did I.”
“I’ll give you my jacket.”
“No way. I’m not even sure how you’re not freezing, but don’t take it off.”
“I can use my arms to keep you warm.” I wiggled my eyebrows.
“I won’t say no to that.”
That’s when I realized she really had to be cold. We quickened our pace, and I rubbed a palm on her back in quick moves, then repeated the motion down her arms.
When we reached the parking lot, we headed straight to her car.
“Who needs more layers when I’ve got a hot-as-hell LeBlanc next to me?”
I growled. “You keep saying that and I’ll kiss you right here in this alleyway for everyone to see.”
“Xander, there are kids around here.”
“One of the reasons why I haven’t done it yet.”
She tilted her head sideways. “What’s the other reason?”
I stopped walking, and so did she. “Last night, everything happened in a rush. I completely lost control of myself. I should’ve taken more time with you.” This was the gist of what had been on my mind since that moment in the kitchen.
“Well,” she said, “it was honestly one of the hottest... Never mind.”
“Tell me,” I said.
“It’s just that... we’re in a complicated situation.” She folded her arms over her chest but looked up at me. “You need to make a decision about you know what.”
“One thing doesn’t have to do with the other,” I assured her.
“It would feel strange for me. Besides, we’re so different. You know, you’re a Grinch, I’m not. You can’t deny that.”
I smiled despite the fact that she’d shot me down. I fucking liked this woman, but what she was saying made sense. And I always did what made sense.
“I’m not.”
“So yeah, that’s what I think,” she said. “I’m not sure this is a great idea.”
I looked at her intently for a few seconds, then nodded and stepped aside, opening her car door. “Then there’s nothing left for me to do than wish you a great evening.”
Her shoulders dropped as if she was disappointed. I sure was, but I didn’t say anything else. She told me how she felt about it, and I wasn’t going to pressure her.
“You too.”