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Pearl chuckled. “I’m sure you’re quite aware what mistletoe looks like. I was given it by a friend but alas I’ve got no use for it. I thought you two could put it up.”
Luke’s jaw clenched and he looked over at Anna, a cocktail of emotions in his eyes. Bemusement, frustration, annoyance, wariness. Want.
“It’s very kind of you.” Anna turned back to Pearl and knew she couldn’t refuse the mistletoe without upsetting her. “I’m sure we can find it a home.”
Pearl beamed. “Wonderful. Now tell me, what does the advent calendar have in store for you both today?”
Tension rippled through Luke as he waited for her reply. “Christmas movie night,” she told Pearl.
Luke relaxed a fraction.
“Ooh, how lovely.” Pearl pointed to the mistletoe. “You need to pop that up in your TV room, get yourself a couple of hot chocolates and a bowl of popcorn, snuggle down on the sofa together under a big duvet and watch the Hallmark channel.”
Luke’s body tensed again.
“Thanks, Pearl. We’ll be sure to do that.”
They both watched in silence as Pearl returned to her condo.
“That’s really what the advent said?” Luke asked finally as he followed Anna back inside.
“Yep.” She smirked over her shoulder at him ‘What could possibly go wrong?”
He grunted and looked down at the mistletoe. “We’re not putting that up.”
Irked at his tone, and the implication he didn’t want to have to kiss her, she turned and gave him a cool look. “As it’s my place, not yours, I get the final say.”
His hands shifted to his hips, his green eyes turning turbulent. “You don’t want to push me, Anna.”
“And you don’t get to tell me what to do.”
He muttered something that sounded like grouchy hungover female.
“What was that you just said?”
He looked her straight in the eye. “I said I’m going to take a shower.”
“No you didn’t.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “If you’re that certain, why ask me?”
He stomped off towards his room.
“When do you want to watch the first movie?” She yelled out after him.
He stopped and turned. “As it’s your place, you can make that decision.”
“I know I can, but I asked you, because I’m kind that way.” He muttered something else under his breath. “What did you say? And tell me this time because not doing so, is rude.”
He must have heard the hurt in her voice because he let out one of his epic sighs. “I said you’re too damn kind for your own good.”
“I’m not sure how to take that.”
His eyes blinked closed for a beat, like he was trying to find his equilibrium. “I need to take care of something,” he said finally. “How about we save it for later this afternoon?”
“As long as when you’ve taken care of that thing, you come back in a better mood.”
He thrust a hand through his hair. Sadly the disheveled look only made him more appealing. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.” His gaze dipped to where she’d placed the mistletoe on the side cabinet. “What are you going to do with that?”
