Chapter 15
Allison
I know exactly what Luke is saying. His eyes hold a seriousness that I cannot deny. We’ve been talking about how kissing under the mistletoe leads people to get married and spend the rest of their lives together. I am a little shocked that I’m even considering this, but I am. I would have been disappointed if he would have said anything else.
Of course, one kiss doesn’t mean marriage, but I think we both know that we’re thinking that way.
“I can’t believe how this evening has changed me,” Luke says as he steps down off the step stool and sets it aside.
I haven’t moved, and he comes back and stands directly under the mistletoe, looking up at it.
I take a breath and walk the one half step to where he is, standing directly in front of him.
“I wasn’t looking for anything like this when I stopped here this evening,” I say, feeling nervous but understanding what he’s saying. I think he has shifted his plans and goals more than I have, but I certainly wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, or a husband, this evening.
“Maybe we both have changed, but somehow my mind has shifted from building my business to wanting to settle down in a remote inn with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life.” He pauses for a moment, and then he says, “I don’t want to scare you. I know that...I would most likely be running if someone had said that to me after one evening together.”
“Right? But it sounds exactly perfect coming from you right now. I...” My voice trails off as my hand, almost on its own, goes up and settles on his shoulder. A little smile tilts up the corners of his mouth as he looks deeper into my eyes.
“I don’t think I’m scaring you.” His statement holds humor, but it also holds an undertone of attraction, and I want to move my other hand. I want to move closer too.
I no sooner think that than he wraps his arm around my waist and puts his other hand around my neck. I tilt my head, and he looks down at me.
“I feel like we’re doing something rather dangerous, because after all, we’re under the magic mistletoe.”
“Not magic. Just... Perfect timing. For both of us.”
I don’t want to believe in magic. I don’t think there is such a thing, but I do think that when two people make a decision to do something, and they are both determined to stick to it, then there is a special kind of magic that happens there, but it’s the kind where a marriage between a man and woman becomes a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. It’s something that I don’t necessarily understand, but something that I feel like I can have with Luke.
“Are you going to mind being an innkeeper’s wife?” he asks softly.
“You haven’t even kissed me yet. Maybe you want to do that first, and then we’ll think about the logistics later.” I pause, and he laughs, but there is concern in his eyes. “I don’t care what you are. If we are together, we’ll make it work, no matter what.”
He smiles into my eyes, and then his head slowly lowers. “I guess we need to do what the mistletoe demands,” he murmurs softly.
“I want to do it because I want to,” I whisper back.
His head pauses for a moment, and then he turns it and presses his lips to my temple. “I want to too. It has nothing to do with mistletoe. I’ve wanted to do it all evening, and it’s rather inexplicable to me, since I don’t usually go around thinking about kissing. Of course, I don’t usually go around decorating an old inn and thinking about buying it either. But you are by far the most extraordinary thing that has happened to me, not just tonight, but ever.”
I don’t know if anyone has ever called me extraordinary, and I really love it. Of course, I love the feel of his arms around me and the anticipation of the kiss that we both know is going to happen but that we’re both enjoying waiting on too. After all, it’s something that’s going to last for the rest of our lives. There’s no rush to get it started right now. We can enjoy this, savor these moments, and wrap them up in our memories until the end of time.
His lips slide down my cheek, and I tilt my head just a bit so that it’s not long until our lips meet, and I forget about the mistletoe above us and the inn around us, and even the ideas that we have for the future, and how much talking we have to do. I know we’re going to work it out. Whatever we decide. And I know that for some reason, the Lord has us here together this evening, and everything, including this kiss, feels perfectly and absolutely right.
He lifts his head, his lips touching the corner of my mouth, his hand sending shivers down my spine as his fingers twirl in the hair at the base.
“I think it’s a good thing that Miss Judy suddenly remembered there was another room.” His eyes twinkle into mine, and while I can see the passion and attraction in there, I appreciate what he’s saying.
“I think Miss Judy is a matchmaker. One who is very good at her job. I wouldn’t have looked at you and thought that you were perfect for me, but right now, I can easily see that you are.”
“You are perfect for me. It’s interesting that you fit perfectly in my arms as well.”
I hadn’t been paying attention to the music, but something soft and slow comes on, and Luke lowers his head. “I think that first kiss needs a second following.”
“And a third and fourth,” I say, unable to keep the laughter out of my voice. For some reason, I’m extraordinarily happy and unbelievably grateful for the snowstorm.
“I aim to please,” he says softly before his lips cover mine, and it’s a long time until either one of us thinks about going to bed.