When he pulled back, he was smiling from ear to ear.
“I just like seeing your lair. Says a lot about you,” I said.
“A lot of good things, I hope?”
“Why do you think I’m smiling?”
His smile turned into a grin as I looked around. His furniture was brand-new, in shades of white and dark blue.
To my astonishment, I spotted a plastic fir tree in one corner. It was sad and lonely without any decorations whatsoever.
“What’s with that?” I asked.
“The building management put one in every apartment.”
“I’m not a fan of plastic trees.”
“I don’t like them either. We can go buy a real one if you want.”
Oh my God. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
“Mr. Grinch, let me see if I got this right. You want a Christmas tree. In your apartment.”
“Yes.”
I was barely keeping myself from jumping in his arms. And then I realized... why hold back at all? I pressed my palms down on his shoulders for leverage before literally jumping him.
Winston had good reflexes, only he wasn’t quick enough. He realized what I was up to one second too late. He caught me, but our balance was precarious.
We barreled straight toward the couch.
He grinned, lowering me on it. “What’s this for?”
“Just expressing my happiness. I promise to give you some sort of warning next time.”
He touched my lips with his thumb, looking down at me with so much warmth that I just wanted to pull him closer and not let him go.
“Let me know when you want to go shopping. We also need to buy Christmas ornaments. I just moved here and didn’t have time for anything. Thank God the place was furnished.”
“H
ow many ornaments exactly am I allowed?”
“Your call.”
“Have you seen the office? You cannot give me free rein.”
He touched the tip of his nose to mine.
“Yes, I can. And I am.”
“Why?”
“I want you to like it here, Sienna.”
Were those butterflies in my stomach? Yep, most definitely. An entire army of them.
He was still hovering above me, one knee propped on the couch between my legs.