Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Cole cupped his chin and tilted his head toward him.
“Hey, what’s the matter? What happened?”
Spencer lowered his head, and Cole allowed him to retreat into the safety of his throat. He held the back of Spencer’s neck and massaged him with slow, gentle touches.
He turned toward the asshole who’d grabbed Spencer’s hand and gave him a deadly glare. If he was the cause of this, he would pay.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”
“I’m sorry. This is not like me.” Spencer sniffed and shook his head as if he was being ridiculous. “It’s just this goddamn holiday, fuck. No matter how much I try to ignore people’s nasty comments, I…”
“I understand,” Cole whispered against the bottom of Spencer’s jaw. “I detest this time of year.”
“Then you’re doing a better job at hiding it than me.”
“Meaning?”
“I mean, I haven’t seen you cringe once at the flashy decorations or the piano player’s third rendition of ‘Santa Baby.’” Spencer clenched his fists in his lap. “And what the fuck does Mariah Carey have to do with Christmas? She didn’t invent it. Whatever happened to baby Jesus?”
Cole chuckled, but Spencer kept going because he wasn’t kidding.
“Every store smells like those stupid cinnamon pine cones that they put right at the entrance to be sure you are all the way assaulted. And don’t even get me started on the kids being out of school and breathing their disgusting germs on everything. I would stay in the house, but I no longer have a television because I threw the remote control into it.”
“Jesus, why?” Cole was curious but also entertained.
“Because now I don’t have to turn it on and see National Lampoon’s Christmas on every goddamn station.”
Isn’t that movie a classic?
Spencer gave him a look that said he better not disagree. Cole had a feeling if they weren’t inside, Spencer would be screaming these offenses at the top of his lungs… and he was still on a roll.
“And if I hear one more person ask me what my New Year’s resolution is, I’m going to snip the tip of their tongue off with my cigar cutter.”
The pain and heartache were evident behind Spencer’s forced humor, and Cole wished like hell he had the power to take it all away… for both of them.
“If I wasn’t at work, I’d be home in bed with the lights off on my Holiday Grinches Facebook group.”
“Did you say ‘holiday grinches’?”
Spencer’s gorgeous smile began to slowly reappear. “I sure did. Started it myself.”
Cole just stared at the man who was damn near perfect for him.
He was close to asking Spencer what time he got off tonight. He wanted to ask if he could spend the rest of the evening with him, but he didn’t think he’d take the suggestion well.
Cole didn’t want to fuck him, not tonight, anyway. He just wanted to be near him. His chest wasn’t so tight with Spencer around.
Spencer brushed his thumb along Cole’s lower lip, coaxing it from between his teeth. The delicate fingertips against his tender flesh made electricity spark inside of him.
“What are you thinking about so hard, hmm? That I’m crazy?”
Cole closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “No, I’m thinking I need some air. Can we step outside for a moment?”
“It’s freezing out there.”
“It’s either we step outside and I compose myself, or I take your mouth right here, right now, in front of everyone.”
Spencer’s eyes ignited with fire. “I’ll get my coat.”
While Spencer was gone, Cole got a message that his car would be out front in fifteen minutes.
Shit.
He snapped his wrist up. He couldn’t believe it was already eleven-thirty. He’d promised his guys they could have Christmas Day off. But he wasn’t ready to leave Spencer.
He racked his brain for an idea because there was no way Axel was going to allow him to stay out all night without security.
Spencer took Cole’s black trench coat from the attendant and held it open. His touches were purposeful and teasing in all the right places while he helped him into it.
Spencer smoothed his hands along Cole’s shoulders, then came around to stand in front of him. He methodically fastened each button and looped Cole’s scarf around his neck without them taking their eyes off each other.
“Do you always provide such exceptional service?” Cole asked, needing to know.
Spencer’s brow creased, and his gaze fell to Cole’s chest. He studied him for a long time while he rubbed the flat of his palms behind the lapels of his coat.
“No, Cole. That’s why everyone is staring at me like that. I never do this. Well, not in a very, very long time.”
“Why with me, then?” Cole held his breath. Please say because you don’t judge a man by how much money he has.
“Because despite everything I grumble about, I wanted your company tonight too. I wanted to feel special and have a meaningful conversation with someone,” Spencer’s expression was solemn. “Or maybe I just wanted to flirt with the pushy sales manager I met at the mall who I thought for a second liked me.”