Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (Holiday Romance Collection #3)

12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Noelle

I can’t keep my eyes off of Theo. All night. It’s getting a little out of hand.

The man appeared in the kitchen after me, looking like we hadn’t practically just dry humped in the study. Arms out wide, wearing that ridiculous Santa suit, the hat still on his head, he went around the room hugging everyone in greeting.

We ate dinner—Mom had gone all out on the feast, as usual—and then we migrated into the living room. Beau stoked the fire in the fireplace until it was roaring nicely, the crackle and snap of the logs drowned out by the laughter and chatter. Presents were handed out—by Theo, of course, he takes his Santa duties very seriously—and they were opened one by one.

I’m sitting on the floor, my back resting against the front of the couch where Willow is sitting behind me next to Luck. Mom is in the other corner of the couch, Beau and Val are snuggling in one of the oversized loveseats, and Drew and Marnie have taken up seats in two cozy recliners. Glasses of wine and highballs of whisky are either half empty or just freshly refilled. I take a sip of my wine, watching my favorite people around the room.

Theo walks up in front of me, sinking down onto the floor directly next to me with a quiet groan as he folds his six-foot four body on the floor, leaning his back against the couch, too, forcing Luck to shift his knees to the side with a grumble about personal space. Our shoulders are nearly touching. He took the thick velvet Santa jacket and pants off a while ago, changing into a pair of well-worn jeans and that same long-sleeved t-shirt from this morning with the check boxes on it. The Santa hat is still on his head, though, slightly lopsided. His blonde hair peeks out from beneath the white fur trim, and my fingers ache to reach out and slide my fingers through his hair.

Fingers shaking with the sudden compulsion to touch him, I take another sip of my wine before glancing out of the corner of my eye at him. He grins down at me, holding out a red paper wrapped gift to me. It looks like a photo frame, like an eleven by fourteen inch. There’s a white ribbon tied around it.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I murmur, setting my wine down on the floor next to me, then reach out and take the gift out of his hand. It’s definitely a picture frame of some kind. I set it in my lap.

“Mmhmm. Just like you didn’t have to get me anything, either,” he grumbles, winking at me. “Those seats are going to be amazing.”

I’d gotten us tickets to an NBA game, Detroit vs Chicago. He’s over the moon.

“And those lightsaber chopsticks? Freaking amazeballs,” he continued, bumping his shoulder into mine. “Perfect for our next Chinese night in.”

“I got a pair, too,” I laugh, leaning into his shoulder lightly. The heat of him sets my body ablaze and I try to steady my breathing at having him so close. When did all of this change? Do I want things to change between us?

“Jedi blue?” he asks, bringing me back. His gaze is narrowed down at me, eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Pfft. You know better than that. Dark Side all the way, baby.”

“I don’t know how we’ve managed to be friends all this time—”

I elbow him hard in the side and he grunts, but stops talking, as Beau pushes himself to his feet. Offering Val his hand, he says quietly, “Come with me for a second?”

Val sets her wine glass down on the end table next to her, uncurling her feet from beneath her legs. Beau helps her to her feet, and then the two of them disappear out of the living room and down the hallway.

We all wait a handful of seconds before every single one of us scrambles to our feet. We’re trying to be quiet, but we’re a giddy herd of half intoxicated elephants as we sneak down the hallway. Beau’s left the double French doors leading into the study open, and we all crowd just in front the doorway against the wall, barely out of sight in the hall.

“Ooooh, is that mistletoe? Did you bring me in here just to kiss me, babe?” we hear Val murmur as we inch closer. I reach behind me and get an almost silent high five from Theo. He squeezes my fingers before letting them go. My fingers tingle clear up my arm.

I’m on my hands and knees on the floor, Theo is crouched half on top and half behind me, like in position to hike a football, one hand flat on the floor in front of me. I have to force my breathing to remain steady at having him so close against my back. Miss Kitty is back to purring, the horny bitch.

The white pompom on his hat swings forward, hitting me in the face and I swat at it and whisper-hiss, “Get your balls out of my face!”

I can feel his answering chuckle against my back where he’s crouched, nearly touching me. Is it hot in here? No? Just me? Okay, great.

My mom shushes me from somewhere to my right as Beau starts talking. She sniffles, and I hear Willow next to her, handing her a tissue. We’re stacked on top of one another like that episode of FRIENDS with all their heads stuck in Monica’s apartment door. Out of the corner of my eye I see Marnie and Mom with their arms wrapped around each other in the darkness of the hall. They’re both crying already, of course.

“Val, sweetheart, I’ve given a lot of thought to how I wanted to do this, how I wanted this night to go.” We hear him take a deep breath in and exhale heavily. None of us can see them, hiding behind the frame of the door, but I can imagine it. And then Val’s gasp reaches us, and I can’t help it, my eyes tear up. Because I know Beau is down on one knee in front of my sister, and she’s just realized what’s happening. “You have been my girl for so long, Val, so much longer than I even knew. Taking you out for that Valentine’s date was the best decision I’ve ever made… well, maybe second best, since this is probably my best decision—”

I’m inching forward, trying to peek around the doorframe when Theo wraps his free arm around my waist, hauling me back. His chest is flush against my back, and leans close to whisper low in my ear, “Hey, no cheating. Get back here.”

“Calling you my girlfriend hasn’t felt right, Val,” Beau continues quietly, and my eyebrows dip into a V. “Please, sweetheart, let me have the honor of calling you my wife . I need the world to know that you are mine, and that I am yours. Forever. Be mine , sweetheart. Marry me.”

“ I told him to say that —” Theo whisper hisses in my ear. My elbow connects with his ribs and he groans quietly, tightening his arm around my middle in reflex.

“Shut up!” I hiss up at him. My words come out all shaky and breathy though, the contact of his hand spanning across my ribcage where his arm is circled around me making everything in my head fuzzy. His thumb is spanned wide on one side of my right breast, his fingers curling beneath the minimal curve, fingertips pressing into my ribs. His touch is lighting me up.

Mom shushes us both again and I hold my breath as Theo’s fingers flex against my side, stroking lightly. He’s got to be able to feel how hard my heart is pounding in my chest, his arm is pressed below where it’s hammering away. I force myself to relax as we collectively hold our breaths, waiting. Until—

“Yes! Beau… a million yesses !” Val whispers, her voice breaking. I swipe at the damn tears tracking down my cheeks. A rustle of movement and then the unmistakable sound of passionate kisses fill the air.

“Get your nosy asses in here, she said yes!” Beau calls out, his own deep voice rough with emotion. Mom and Marnie are rounding the door before the words are out of his mouth, followed by Drew, Willow, and Luck.

Theo’s arm is still banded around my waist, that stupidly large hand still splayed wide, half spanning my ribs below my boobs and half across my side. His other hand is flat on the ground near my own hand as I’m still on my hands and knees. He presses his nose to the shell of my ear and I nearly faint. Holy. Shit . His breath mists my ear as he whispers low, “Are you crying, Noelle?”

“Pfft,” I mutter, my voice shaking. Then, I grumble admittedly, “ Yes. ”

“Good, me too,” he whispers, then pushes himself to his feet, hauling me up with him. My ass connects with his lap as we straighten and he grunts, pressing his hand to my stomach to steady me. “Christ, you’re going to be the death of me, woman.”

Same, buddy. Fucking same.