“Sure, that happens, but what about the stories of people who go out of their way to help a stranger?”
“Yeah, I suppose that’s nice.”
“You suppose?”
“No, that didn’t come out right...it is nice. I guess I just don’t see enough of that. Christmas always seemed the greediest time of year. Really turned me off the holiday.”
“That’s a tragedy.”
He shrugged. “Nah, it’s just life. I like St. Patrick’s Day, if it means anything.”
“And why is that?” she asked.
“Because it’s a day sanctioned for drinking beer.” She rolled her eyes and he grinned, adding, “Can’t imagine a better holiday than that.” Layton held the strand, inspecting it for loose wires of any sort as a force of habit. “Actually, I’d be lying if I said that I don’t enjoy Christmas a little bit. I like the lights and the displays but I’ve seen too many house fires caused by Christmas trees that it’s hard to forget what’s left behind.”
Alexis sobered, pausing in her strand detail. “That must suck.”
“It does. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but Christmastime...can be kind of scary for public service. Do you realize that suicides and domestic violence go up during the holidays?”
“You’re a bowl of sunshine,” she said, handing him the strand. “You should really think of going into inspirational speaking.”
“Sorry. Occupational hazard, I guess.”
“You’re forgiven, but I don’t care what you say, nothing can dim my holiday spirit. I love the holiday and I’m determined to enjoy every last moment.”
Layton had to respect her determination to get her Christmas on, no matter the obstacles.
“One question though.”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you decorating your brother’s place? Is he as nutty about the holidays as you are?”
“Gracious no. Erik is about as observant as a lawn gnome. He’s not much into the whole decorating thing, which is why he lets me do what I want. Someday I’ll have my own place and I’ll be able to stop commandeering my brother’s place.”
“Heaven help the man you settle down with. I can only imagine what your house is going to look like.”
“It’s going to be fabulous and whoever I end up with will be the luckiest guy in the world because I make the world’s most insanely delicious gingerbread-men cookies and I give a pretty hot blow job.”
Layton stumbled back, missing the step and going down hard on his ass in the snow.
“Are you all right?” she asked, barely holding back her laughter.
“I’m fine,” he grumbled, climbing to his feet and wiping the loose snow from his pants. “You shouldn’t say things like that to a man you barely know.”
Alexis smiled with the innocence of an angel, but that impish twist at the corners of her lips ruined it in the most tantalizing way.
“Just stating facts.” She held out the next strand as if she hadn’t just rung his bell hard. “Better hurry, that storm is moving quick.”
“Are you the devil?” he muttered, mostly to himself, but she heard him loud and clear.
“Not the devil but quite possibly a fallen angel.”
A fallen angel with an agenda.
And he was running out of willpower to stay the course.
Heaven help him, what had he gotten himself into?
6
ALEXIS KNEW THE minute the words came out of her mouth that she shouldn’t have said them. What was wrong with her? It was as if she were bound and determined to make the worst mistake of her life in record time.
“I’m sorry,” she said, quickly making amends. “I shouldn’t have said that. It was totally inappropriate. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. My brain is certainly not acting responsibly—not that that’s a big surprise given my track record, but I really am trying to change bad habits.”
His chuckle seemed forced, but what could she expect after she’d just let her potty mouth get the best of her. “Hey, it’s okay,” he reassured her. “Don’t beat yourself up over it. We’ve all made mistakes that we’re not proud of. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with being proud of a skill.”
She couldn’t help herself. “When you say things like that it makes me not sorry at all.”