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He’s watching ain Not in a co me in

Probably planning his next move in this ‘spirit of Christmas’ war That, or he’s madly impressed with my all-you-can-eat order

“I’ll have the same,” he says, and the server nods and zips away

We sit in silence for a bit, letting the Christh the restaurant do all the talking But Ryan never takes his eyes off ofhiot to his belt, and then—

I grab a buttery roll fro to do with my hands

“You know, if I could bla his hands while he watches me eat

“I’m sure you would,” I say “Unfortunately, Santa controls the weather, so you’ll have to take it up with him”

That elicits an unexpected bark of laughter fro, warm and al

“You’re kidding,” he says “Santa doesn’t do that”

I shrug “Santa’s ”

“You don’t actually believe in Santa Claus,” Ryan say, leaning forward “Not even an elf is that—”

“Delusional?” I finish

“I was going to say ‘adorable,’” he says, grinning again It’s an irin

It’s irresistible

I blush, face no doubt turning as red as my hair Of course he thinks I’oats Not hot like Sutton in all her Blake Lively lookalike way If Blake Lively was a bit of a hippie living in Reindeer Falls

“Of course I don’t believe in Santa” I shrug “But I do believe in the Christ”

“Oooh, a sord,” he says “I’ to have to write you a citation”

“That’s not a citation,” I say, prickling as he mocks my job As he mocks me

He leans back, crossing his ar his jaw as he studiesstudied