“Since when do you write romance?”
Colbie tucked her phone into the crook of her neck so she could grab her laptop and open her story file. She scrolled through the pages and took a deep, shaky breath.
Embarrassment tangled with the anxiety and temper, never a good match—especially since he was right.
She was writing a romance. “Oh my God,” she whispered to herself.
“I mean, yeah, the writing is good. Excellent even,” he said. “But you’re a YA author.”
She closed her eyes.
“It’s that new guy, isn’t it,” Jackson said.
But Colbie was still stuck on what she’d done. Her writing was different but . . . she’d loved writing it. “Okay, yes, it’s different. But there’s still a story there. I can merge both worlds.”
Jackson was silent. A first.
“Look, I’m coming home,” Colbie said. “We can discuss it when I get there.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.” Her flight was first thing in the morning. She’d be walking away from one of the best times of her entire life. She’d be walking away from new friends. She’d be walking away from Spence.
The thought was crushing, and she knew there was something she had to do before she left. “I’ll see you there,” she said and disconnected. Then she went to the second floor and knocked on Elle’s office door.
Elle opened up and looked at her in surprise. “Hey,” she said. “Again, about last night—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” Elle said. “I want to make sure you understand that no one meant to hurt your feelings.”
“I know.”
“And I hope you also know that we . . .” she paused and rolled her eyes “. . . like you. Okay? With or without your kickass shoes.”
Colbie had to laugh. “Did that hurt?”
Elle sighed. “Not as much as I thought it would. Thanks for stopping to see me.”
“I didn’t come for you. I . . .” She shook her head. “He doesn’t have any decorations, Elle. Not a one.”
“Spence?”
“No,” Colbie said. “Santa Claus.”
Elle laughed and put her hand to her heart. “I feel so proud of your sarcasm and cynicism. Spence doesn’t have any decorations because he won’t let Trudy decorate his place.”
“Why not?”
Elle shrugged.
“Probably something stupidly male, like he thinks he doesn’t have a right to Christmas because he doesn’t have family around other than Eddie. Which is bullshit because we’re his family and he never puts anything over us ever.”
“Do you have any extra decorations?” Colbie asked. “And how can we get rid of him for a bit?”
Elle picked up her phone and checked something. “He and Caleb are out at Marin Headlands, probably drone-testing.” She called someone. “Need holiday decorations,” she said. “For Spence’s apartment. No, he’s not asking. Colbie is.” She listened for a few seconds and then laughed wryly. “I do get the irony.” She disconnected. “Willa’s bringing you some stuff. She’ll meet us at the elevator.”
“And the irony part?” Colbie asked.
“Spence has always pushed us to go with our hearts and yet he’s managed to hold back on going with his. Until now.”
Colbie shook her head. “No, you don’t understand. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. But I don’t feel right going until I know he’ll be okay, that he’ll still celebrate Christmas.”
Elle just looked at her. “What about Cinder?”
“She’s coming with me.”
“You’re taking a stray cat but leaving behind your man?”
Colbie’s heart twisted. Her man . . . “He doesn’t fit into the carrier I bought.”
Elle shook her head. “You two are both so stubborn you should have your pictures in the dictionary.”
Colbie opened her mouth and then shut it. She had no defense.
Willa did indeed meet them at the elevator and the three of them decorated Spence’s apartment. At the forty-five-minute mark, Finn called Willa and warned them that Spence and Caleb were back and heading their way.
Willa and Elle vanished, saying something about not wanting to get caught in the cross fire. Plus Keane had sexted Willa, so she was in a big hurry to get home.
Colbie stayed, quickly changing into the dress she’d worn on her and Spence’s first date because she knew how much he’d liked it.
Spence and Caleb walked in the front door less than a minute later, each carrying two drones, looking tense and unhappy.
They set their things down, Spence’s gaze never leaving Colbie, who was standing in the center of his now decorated living room, surrounded by twinkling white lights, garland, and mistletoe . . . everywhere.
She might have gone overboard.
There was also a tree in one corner with colorful balls hanging from the branches. She had no idea how Willa had gotten it here so quickly, but she hadn’t asked questions in her eternal gratitude.
Spence looked stunned. “When did Christmas throw up in here?”
Caleb, clearly taking in the tension between them, backed to the door. “I’ve gotta . . .” He jerked a thumb in the direction of the door and then vanished.
Spence met her gaze, his own completely shuttered from her for the first time since she’d met him. “Thought you were gone,” he said.
“My flight doesn’t leave until the morning.” She gave him a small smile. “And I kept thinking about how lonely it seemed in here, the only place in the entire building without holiday decorations.”
He held her gaze a moment and blew out a breath. “Look, you’re a fixer. I get that. You assume responsibility for everyone and everything around you. But I don’t need fixing, Colbie.”
“I know.”
He gestured around them. “And yet there’s stuff twinkling everywhere,” he said, still not coming toward her.
Not touching her.
His voice distant.
It broke her heart and she closed her eyes.
“Colbie.”
His voice. Low. Sexy. Perfect. Was she really going to be able to walk away? And even if she managed that, how was she going to move on and forget? The lump in her throat became so huge she couldn’t swallow. Or speak. Stupid lump.
Then she felt his hands on her shoulders. “Honey, look at me.”
She opened her eyes and found his intense and unwavering.
“This isn’t easy for me either,” he said. “I suck at goodbyes.”
She could only nod, but she did step into him and press her face into his throat.
He let out a breath and his warm arms came around her, hard. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What?”
“I want to toss both our phones out the window and then lock ourselves into my bedroom. Tell me absolutely not.”
Instead she let her lips brush softly against the hollow of his throat.
“Honey.”
“I’m trying.” But that was a big fat fib. She wasn’t trying to say no at all.
“Last chance,” he warned.
She lifted her head and met his intense gaze. “I want this. I want you, Spence, even if it’s the last time.”
“Colbie,” he said quietly, regret heavy in his voice.
She closed her eyes tight.
Apparently getting that she didn’t want to talk, he took her hand and used it to pull her slowly back into him, giving her plenty of time to change her mind.