Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Lyra
I should take things slow. I only just met the guy, right?
But I didn’t want to.
I wanted to jump in headfirst and never resurface.
And the strange part? It felt so right.
Fuck, I had it bad for him. So bad, I hoped he’d ask me to spend the night.
Three-date rule, remember?
The warning reminder popped into my head. Shit, I forgot I promised myself that.
After a few disastrous dates and a few one-night stands, I didn’t want to put out so easily anymore. A real man, a gentle, kind, and caring man, would wait for me to be ready.
It was time to put my thoughts to the test.
Nolan walked me to my car, parked on a side street near the bar. The snow had stopped, thankfully. As pretty as it was, driving in it made me nervous. “Thanks, Nolan. I had a good time tonight.”
“Me too. A lot more fun than I expected. So I should be the one thanking you.”
“Can I see you again?”
“I’d like that. I was trying to come up with the nerve to ask you if you wanted to come home with me.” Nolan chuckled, the sound tight and anxious as he looked anywhere but in my eyes.
Aw, he’s shy. And sweet.
So sweet.
Not yet, don’t do it. Make this one count.
“I’d love to, Nolan, I really would. But is it okay if we date first? I’m not really the going home on a first date type girl if you even call this a date.”
Nolan chuckled, and his shoulders relaxed, the air between us lighter. “I think we can call tonight a date.”
“I agree.”
“It’s respectable of you to wait. I shouldn’t have asked. I just can’t stop thinking about kissing you again.”
“Well, no one said anything about kissing.”
The corner of Nolan’s lip turned up, and he dipped his head lower. “Thank God. Because I don’t think I can stand another minute longer.”
He cupped my cheek with one hand and ran his thumb up and down, the rough touch sending shivers down my spine.
Then he leaned forward and covered my mouth with his, sweeping me under his spell.
And down, down, down I fell.
The next night, Nolan took me out for dinner. We ended the date with another kiss at my door, this one longer than last night’s.
We skipped a night because of my classes, but we were back together the next day. And the next day.
Our kisses grew longer and more intense. Soon, we had full-blown make-out sessions in his truck. I wanted to ask him inside, but I promised myself to wait at least a week, maybe more.
“Why are we waiting again?” Elaine, my coworker at the daycare, asked me the next afternoon at work as we cleaned up the kitchen while the kids slept.
“I don’t know. I just want to do the right thing. He’s so great, and I don’t want to mess anything up.”
“Trust me, love. You won’t be messing anything up by inviting him into your bed. From what you describe, he seems pretty into you, too. A guy will not spend a lot of money and time on a woman just for sex when sex comes a dime a dozen. He’s going to spend it on a woman he likes.”
“Yeah, that’s true. He refuses to let me pay for dinner, though I’ve offered several times.”
“See what I mean? He’s spending his money on you. I would say he likes you. But you’ll know when you’re ready for sure. And I want to see what this hunk of a man looks like, so get a picture soon,” Elaine said, her eyes lighting up.
“Well, you’re in luck. He’s picking me up later.”
“Really? Perfect. I have a few questions for the fella.”
“No, you don’t,” I quipped.
We got to talking about the night’s events. It was the daycare’s annual Christmas party for the children and their families. We had a Santa come in and lots of fun crafts planned.
After I told Nolan my plans for tonight, he asked to pick me up. It was Christmas karaoke night at Mixer, and of course, I told him I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
“Is everything good to go for tonight?” Elaine asked as Stephanie, the daycare director, stepped into the kitchen with a large clipboard.
“Just about!” Stephanie said. “We just have one small problem.”
“Oh no,” Elaine and I groaned at the same time.
“Our Santa canceled at the last minute. His car broke down or something. Does anyone know someone we can recruit last-minute to be Santa?”
The three of us looked at each other when suddenly an idea popped into my head.
Nolan. He’d make a perfect Santa.
“I might know someone. Let me make a phone call.” I said and hurried to the back office and grabbed my phone from my purse tucked under the desk. I dialed Nolan, and he answered on the first ring. “Lyra? Everything okay?”
“Yes. I kind of have a favor to ask.”
“Sure, anything.”
“How would you feel about dressing up as Santa for the kids tonight?”
Nolan paused, and I suddenly wondered why I thought this was a good idea in the first place.
“You know what? I’d love to.”
“Great.” I gushed. I filled him in on the details and what time to show. Now I just needed to find him a Santa suit. But I’m sure we’d think of something.
As I told my coworkers the new plan, I couldn’t help but beam with pride. Nolan wasn’t even my boyfriend, and the idea of it caused my heart to race.
Falling in love with the silver fox wasn’t on this year’s Christmas wish list. But there he was, all handsome, sexy, and kind. He became my number one Christmas wish.