12 Dates of Christmas (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“So, how was the wine tasting date?” Nick asked a few days later after they both got home from the event.

Leo smiled, settling into his bed. “I had a fantastic time.”

He thought of Nick’s smile over the rim of the wineglass, the way he listened intently when Leo said what he liked about each one. He liked the way he’d introduced him to some friends he’d run into, and talked about future dates. On the way home, they’d also talked about their family holiday traditions. Laughing and reminiscing about good memories from the past, discussing what they’d like to do in the future.

It was a thousand times better than the date with Andrew ‘Twinkle Toes’ Mulford. Though, this time, Leo wouldn’t have minded a tiiiny bit of groping.

Nick said, “I’m sure your date would be glad to hear it. He had a wonderful time too.”

Leo grinned. Maybe the post-date debriefs were a little silly but he enjoyed them and it sounded like Nick did too.

“He was a perfect gentleman,” Leo added. “A little bit too much of one.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I mean, a hug at the end of the night and a kiss on the cheek is great but …”

“Feeling impatient, huh?”

Leo sighed. “I know he’s being respectful and showing me he’s not rushing things this time. But like … I kinda want to rush things.”

“He is also tempted to rush,” Nick admitted. “But he’s trying very hard to show you he values you for a lot more than sex.”

“I know.” Leo felt valued. And very horny. “But like, bringing tools to fix my bathroom door was incredibly hot!”

Nick chuckled, his voice warm and low in Leo’s ear. “Yeah?”

“I mean, I guess I have a competence kink too,” Leo said. “But a man fixing stuff with his hands is always sexy.”

Nick had cleared it with Joel of course, who had sounded both grateful for the help and miffed Leo hadn’t mentioned the problem to him.

Secretly, Leo was glad it had been Nick to the rescue though. He’d been dressed casually in jeans and a flannel and Leo had watched avidly as he took the door off its hinges and used a small hand tool to shave the top of the door down. When he re-hung it, it worked perfectly.

“And now I’m thinking about him throwing me around like he manhandled that door,” Leo admitted with a sigh.

“He’ll definitely keep that in mind.”

“What about on our next date?” Leo suggested hopefully.

“Mmm, he was planning to invite you to go on a boat ride to the falls.”

“ After the boat ride?” Leo asked hopefully.

“He’ll take it under advisement.”

“Tease!” Leo shot back.

“No, if I was being a tease, I’d take a picture of me in bed right now,” Nick said, dropping the pretense they were talking about anyone else.

“I mean, you could do that toooo,” Leo said, sliding his hand down his stomach because fuck that sounded hot.

“But I won’t, because it’s late and we both need some sleep,” he said.

“Gah, you’re such a responsible adult,” Leo teased.

“Well, one of us has to be!”

Grinning, Leo wiggled to get comfortable. “Night, Nick. I won’t be thinking about you when I jerk off before bed or anything.”

Nick groaned. “Goodnight, Leo.”

Leo was driving Nick crazy. He got more flirtatious with every day and Nick was losing his damn mind. He deserved it, though he didn’t think Leo was doing it to tease or punish him or anything.

Leo was being his usual flirty self and Nick had to remember he was in this for the long haul.

If he wanted a future with Leo, slow and steady was the way to go. He didn’t ever want to risk hurting Leo the way he’d done the first time they had sex.

But oh, it was sweet torture as Nick drove them to the outskirts of Christmas Falls and Leo had his hand on Nick’s thigh, squeezing every so often as he talked about his workday.

“But you’re probably sick of hearing about Zoom meetings,” Leo said with a laugh as he finished the latest story.

“Never!” Nick assured him. “Though I think I’d lose my mind if I had that many corporate meetings.”

“The jury’s still out on that one for me,” Leo said grimly.

Nick chuckled.

“So, how about you? Any good matches lately?”

“Yes, actually. A very sweet older couple. They knew each other in high school but went their separate ways and lost touch. She was widowed, he’s divorced, and they were each other’s second date. The moment they both got home from the date they sent me messages saying they didn’t want to match with anyone else.”

“Aww, that’s adorable!” Leo said. He squeezed Nick’s thigh again and Nick would swear it was higher this time.

“It’s the best part of my job,” he admitted.

Thankfully, they arrived at their destination a few minutes later and Nick parked the truck. “So we’re going on a boat ride, yeah?”

“Yes. A boat tour of the falls the town was named after.”

“Oh, this’ll be fun. I’ve been wanting to do this for ages,” Leo said, his eyes sparkling in the dim light of the cab.

Nick smiled. “I’m glad.”

Once they were out of the truck, Nick took Leo’s hand. Leo smiled, swinging their arms as they walked toward the ticket booth. After Nick had confirmed he’d already pre-paid for their tour, they followed the signs and glowing lanterns to the lake where a pontoon boat waited.

“Oooh. It’s so pretty!” Leo said as they boarded the boat, craning his neck to look at the strings of Christmas lights. “Have you ever done this before?”

“Yes. A long time ago.” He hoped Leo wouldn’t mind that he’d done it with Nicole and some friends of hers from out of town, but Leo only smiled brighter and tugged Nick toward empty seats at the front end of the boat.

Nick was spreading throw blankets over them both when Leo earnestly said, “I hope Nicole would be happy we’re dating.”

Nick froze, glancing over, surprised but touched by the comment. “She would,” he said hoarsely as he pulled Leo closer. “She’d be delighted. Second-chance romance was her favorite trope to write.”

Leo grinned, squeezing his hand.

The tour started a short while later and they both fell silent, listening to the tour guide talk about the falls and the history of the area as they pulled away from the dock.

The boat cruised slowly toward the low cliffs and everyone on board gasped when they got their first clear glimpse of the lit-up falls. There were no big mountains in this area but the water poured over a low cliff, flowing over two tiered outcroppings before finally landing on the lake’s surface, creating a riot of foam.

Little prisms of water droplets glittered in the lights at the base of the falls and Leo let out another gasp, loud enough to hear over the roar of the falls. “It’s so beautiful , Nick.”

Nick smiled, kissing Leo’s temple and feeling the soft wool of his hat tickling his lips. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I love all of these dates you’ve planned. You’re amazing,” Leo said with sigh. “I hope you know that.”

Nick squeezed Leo tighter.

They both took a few pictures of the falls and they were trying to manage a selfie with the falls in the background when a nearby woman asked if they’d like her help. They both enthusiastically agreed and she snapped a few shots of them.

They stared at Leo’s phone after, heads bent together, as they looked at the photos. Nick had been worried they’d look too dark or blurry because of the lighting but they’d turned out great.

“We look so good together,” Leo said.

“Are you surprised?” Nick asked, amused.

“A little bit,” Leo admitted. “At first, I thought you were straight. And out of my league.”

“Neither are true,” Nick said fiercely, gently touching Leo’s face until he could look him in the eye. “Maybe I felt that too when I first realized I was attracted to you. You’re so vibrant and full of life and optimistic and I … I wondered if maybe you wouldn’t want to be with someone so much older who’d been through all of this heavy stuff and?—”

“Never,” Leo said fiercely. “I’m sorry you had to go through it but I don’t think it makes you any less worthy of love because you’re grieving the fact you lost it. I know you’re capable of deep love. That’s the kind of guy I want to be with.”

He kissed Leo then, a brief brush of their lips and a promise of more to come.

Leo blinked, clearly surprised, before he let out a happy sigh and burrowed close. The boat moved again, pulling away from the falls for the return trip to shore.

An hour later, as Nick pulled into the lot behind the bakery and parked, reluctant to see the night end. He wanted to lean in and kiss Leo. He wanted to let it grow so heated he let himself be dragged upstairs to Leo’s bed.

“What are you thinking about?” Leo whispered, his voice hushed. “The way you’re looking at me …”

“Thinking about how much I want you,” Nick admitted. “How much I wish I could go upstairs with you.”

“You’re the only one stopping you.” Leo’s tone was laced with humor but it was true. Nick was the one doing this to himself.

“I know. But I—I want to woo you.”

Leo bit his lip, grabbing the front of Nick’s jacket. “But you don’t have to keep wooing me, Nick. I’m already thoroughly wooed.”

“Never,” Nick said huskily. He reached up and brushed his thumb across Leo’s cheek. “If we do keep seeing each other, I’ll spend the rest of our lives wooing you.”

“Ohh.” Leo blinked. “Oh, Nick. Kiss me. Please .”

Nick smiled as he leaned in, brushing his lips across Leo’s cheek before he drew back.

Leo huffed. “Not what I meant.”

“A little longer, please?” Nick murmured. “Be patient with me. It’s important I take my time.”

Leo searched his face for a long moment before he nodded and kissed Nick’s cheek. “Yeah, of course.”