Chapter 13

13

A lyssa moved around the towering Christmas tree, carefully draping strings of twinkling lights over its fragrant branches. The tree farm had officially closed for the day, but she wanted to get a head start on decorating for tomorrow’s Santa event. She hummed along to the festive music playing softly in the background, losing herself in the task at hand.

The sound of footsteps behind her made Alyssa turn, surprised to see Denise standing in the doorway. “Hi,” Alyssa said as she took Denise in. Her hat was in her hand as she ran her fingers through her long blond hair, tousling it as she left the hat on a box inside the door. Alyssa had assumed that she’d gone home.

“Hi,” Denise said before she closed the door behind her, blocking out the cold night air. She shrugged off her coat too, and Alyssa watched as Denise approached the tree, her gaze lingering on the twinkling lights. “Need a hand with those?” Denise asked, gesturing to the tangled strands in Alyssa’s arms.

Alyssa hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sure, thanks.” She handed Denise a portion of the lights, and they began working together in silence, weaving the strands through the branches.

Alyssa bit her lip, heat creeping up her neck when she thought about what had happened outside. “Listen, about earlier. With Quinn Fallon... I’m sorry if I was acting weird. I just wasn’t expecting to see her, you know, here. I’ve seen most of her movies.”

Denise raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Oh, so you’re apologizing for being starstruck by Quinn, but not by me?” Her tone was light and teasing, but Alyssa could sense a hint of jealousy beneath the surface.

Alyssa felt her cheeks warm, and she focused intently on untangling a particularly stubborn knot in the lights. “Actually, I was starstruck when you first walked into the lawyer’s office,” she admitted. “But then I was too busy being angry at you.”

Denise didn’t say anything as she moved around the tree with the lights, and Alyssa couldn’t see her reaction. Then they’d reached the point where someone would have to get up on the ladder.

Denise handed Alyssa the lights in her hands and went over to the ladder in the corner of the room and brought it over, climbing the steps and holding out her hand for the lights.

Alyssa swallowed as she took a step back, intending to direct Denise with the lights. But she found herself momentarily distracted, her gaze fixing on the hint of skin revealed as Denise’s sweater rode up.

“Do you have a star?” Denise asked, and Alyssa quickly averted her eyes, a flush warming her cheeks.

“Hmm?”

“An angel? A topper of some kind?”

“Oh, um…” Alyssa turned to look at the boxes in the corner of the room. “Yeah. Hold on a sec.” She found the gold star in the second box she tried and went over to the ladder, standing on her toes to hand the star up to Denise.

“Thanks,” Denise said with a bit of a smile on her lips.

Alyssa stepped back, tilting her head to get a better view of the tree. The lights cast a warm glow across the room, but her attention kept drifting to Denise perched on the ladder. Those jeans fit her perfectly, hugging every curve.

“How is this looking?” Denise asked.

Alyssa’s eyes snapped up, meeting Denise’s questioning gaze. Her mouth went dry. The soft Christmas music playing in the background faded away, replaced by the sound of her own pulse in her ears. She blinked, trying to focus on the star rather than the way Denise’s sweater had ridden up even further.

“A little to the left maybe.” Alyssa’s voice came out rougher than intended. She cleared her throat. “I think it’s crooked.”

“Now?” Denise looked down at her from the ladder, one eyebrow raised. A few strands of blonde hair fell across her face, momentarily distracting Alyssa. The soft glow of the Christmas lights highlighted the delicate curve of Denise’s cheekbone, and Alyssa swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. The room seemed to grow quieter, the Christmas music fading further into the background as she focused on Denise’s questioning gaze. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding.

“Yeah. That looks good.”

The ladder creaked as Denise descended. Alyssa moved closer to the tree, picking up an ornate glass ball ornament from one of the boxes on the ground to hide the heat rising in her cheeks. She heard Denise’s footsteps behind her.

“You know your girlfriend wouldn’t be impressed if she saw you checking me out like that.” Denise’s voice carried a playful smirk.

The ornament slipped from Alyssa’s fingers, but she caught it before it could shatter. Her heart thundered in her chest. “What?”

Denise met her gaze, those ice-blue eyes piercing right through her. “You looked me up and down. More than once. I mean, unless you have a free pass, if that’s even still a thing. Although, you’d probably pick someone like Quinn.”

“Why?” Alyssa’s voice came out smaller than intended.

Denise shrugged, the movement elegant and controlled. “Well, she’s out. She’s your age.”

“Yes, but I know you’re gay so it doesn’t really matter whether you’re out or not,” Alyssa said as she hung up the ornament.

“I just meant when you were picking your free pass,” Denise explained.

“I don’t have a free pass,” Alyssa said, still reeling from being caught looking and that they were having this conversation at all.

“Well,” Denise turned away, “Then this is a pointless conversation.”

Alyssa’s heart pounded in her chest as she reached out, her fingers wrapping around Denise’s wrist. The touch was electric, sending a jolt through her.

“I don’t need a free pass because I’m not seeing anyone,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.

Denise turned back, her eyes meeting Alyssa’s. There was a moment of silence, a charged pause where the world seemed to hold its breath. Alyssa’s gaze flickered down to Denise’s lips, lingering there for a heartbeat too long. Before she could stop herself, she was leaning in, closing the distance between them. Her lips brushed against Denise’s, slowly, tentatively.

Denise’s lips were soft against hers, and for a moment, Alyssa’s heart stopped as she waited for Denise’s reaction. Then Denise’s hand came up to cup her cheek, and she kissed Alyssa back, her lips moving with a slow, deliberate tenderness that made Alyssa’s pulse quicken and her breath catch in her throat.

Her mind flashed back to that moment earlier among the trees. She’d rounded a corner too quickly and crashed right into Denise. When Denise’s hands had caught her waist, steadying her, the way Denise had looked at her then – There had been heat in that gaze, and that’s what had given her the confidence to kiss Denise.

Now, as Denise’s thumb traced along her jaw, Alyssa knew she hadn’t imagined it. The same electricity that had sparked between them outside crackled now, intensified by the warmth of Denise’s mouth moving against hers. Alyssa’s hand found Denise’s waist, fingers curling into the soft material of her sweater as she drew her closer.

The kiss deepened naturally, and Alyssa’s pulse quickened as Denise’s tongue traced her bottom lip. She parted her lips with a soft sigh, letting herself get lost in the sensation.

Denise broke the kiss a few moments later, her hands gently resting on Alyssa’s shoulders. “I saw you with that woman.” Denise’s eyes searched hers. “You looked like a couple.”

Alyssa slowly shook her head, her eyes never leaving Denise’s. “She’s a friend and my high school girlfriend if you must know.”

Denise studied her, her expression unreadable. “You’re single,” she said, more a statement than a question.

Alyssa nodded. “Yes.”

Denise leaned in, her lips meeting Alyssa’s in a kiss that was anything but tentative. It was a kiss filled with longing and desire, a kiss that promised more.

Denise’s hand slid underneath Alyssa’s sweater, and Alyssa sighed into the kiss, her body responding to the unexpected touch. Denise’s fingers traced the curve of her waist, sending a tingling sensation rippling over her skin. And then the kiss deepened, their tongues dancing together in a sensual duet that left Alyssa breathless.

When Denise pulled away again, Alyssa’s heart pounded in her chest.

Denise looked at her with a mixture of desire and uncertainty in her eyes. “I don’t know what’s happening between us,” she said softly. “All I know is that I want you.”

Alyssa’s heart fluttered at Denise’s words. She traced her fingers along Denise’s jawline, savoring the softness of her skin. “You know, I never understood the appeal of enemies-to-lovers stories.” A small laugh escaped her lips. “All those romance novels where people who hate each other end up falling for each other? I always thought it was kind of ridiculous.” She pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of Denise’s mouth. “But now? Standing here with you? I get it.”

Denise’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Are you saying I’m your enemy?”

“Well, you did threaten to contest the will.” Alyssa’s fingers slid to the back of Denise’s neck, moving underneath her silky smooth hair. “And you insinuated that I was a gold digger.”

“I was wrong.” Denise’s thumb brushed across Alyssa’s bottom lip. “About so many things.”

Alyssa’s heart raced as she looked into Denise’s eyes, seeing the desire that mirrored her own. The words tumbled out before she could second-guess herself. “Come back to the cabin with me.”

Denise’s gaze intensified, her eyes darkening with want. Alyssa had never been one to move this quickly, but there was something different about being with Denise. It was electric, a connection that sparked and sizzled between them.

Denise’s lips curved into a small smile. “Okay.”

That single word sent a thrill through Alyssa. She reached for Denise’s hand, their fingers intertwining as she led her towards the door. With her free hand, Alyssa switched off the lights, plunging the room into darkness save for the soft glow of the Christmas tree.

They stepped outside, the cold night air surrounding them. Alyssa locked the door, her hand trembling slightly with anticipation. When she turned back to Denise, she found her standing close, the fog of their breath mingling in the space between them.

Denise’s hand came up to cup Alyssa’s cheek, her thumb brushing over her skin in a gentle caress. Alyssa leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. When she opened them again, Denise was leaning in, her lips brushing against Alyssa’s in a soft, teasing kiss that left her wanting more.

“Let’s go,” Denise whispered against her lips.