Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Ahem.
I was being ridiculous.
But Thomas had been right. I did need to be cheered up, and there was something fun about being in a toy store with all the chaotic energy it brought. I forgot how fun these places were. After all, it wasn’t exactly a place I frequented—I was hardly awash with children to buy such things for.
Although if the boxes in my arms were anything to go by, Thomas seemed to be the grown-arse man child I could buy LEGO for.
Jesus, what was I thinking? I was hardly going to spend more Christmases than just this one doing this, was I?
Ugh.
That thought kind of made my stomach hurt a bit.
“Here, I’ve got the basket.”
I jolted at Thomas’ quick return and dumped the boxes in the wheeled basket he was carting along behind him. “Is there anything else I should buy for my non-existent cousin, or is he going to be happy with just the one spaceship?”
Thomas grinned. “Just the one for now, I think.”
“Damn straight at that price,” I muttered. “Right, what else do you need to buy? For Danny. Not my ‘cousin.’ Danny. Your nephew.”
Thomas laughed and grabbed a police car LEGO set from the shelf before adding it to the basket. “A lot,” he said, shooting me a playful grin that made his blue eyes twinkle. “Someone’s love of Christmas lights might has me feeling a little festive this year, so I should make the most of it before my reluctant Christmas spirit dies, don’t you think?”
My cheeks reddened, and I looked away. “Do whatever you want.”
“Stop blushing, or I might start thinking you like me, Sylvie.”
“You know what Danny needs? Board games. Let’s go there.” I gave him a light push in the back before rushing past him and darting through the store. I had no idea where I was going or where the games were, but I didn’t really care.
If I stayed there any longer, there was every chance that I would admit out loud that I did, in fact, find myself liking that pain the arse.
And that was something I absolutely did not want to do.
I wasn’t sure I could stand complicating my life any further right now and outwardly admitting that I had feelings for Thomas would do that without a doubt.
Especially since I was sure that he, too, was feeling something towards me.
If he didn’t, then he was clearly just a shameless flirt.
Well, he was that regardless, but still.
“Damn, that’s a lot of board games,” Thomas said, resting his chin on top of my head. “Where do we start?”
“By removing your chin from my head,” I replied.
“I decline.” He looped his arms around my shoulders until I was pressed firmly back against him.
I peered down at his arms circling my upper body. “Isn’t this whole thing to cheer me up? Is this supposed to make me happy?”
“You have a handsome, rich duke hanging off you. Does it displease you?”
“The notion of a handsome, rich duke hanging off me doesn’t displease me, but must it be you? Can’t you call a friend?”
“Oh, Sylvie,” he murmured, lowering his face so his mouth was close to my ear. “You just broke my heart.”
“You should be used to that by now.”
“To think that you kissed me, then so blatantly ask me to introduce you to a friend.”
My cheeks flamed once again, and I pressed my hand against his face to turn it away from mine. “Stop bringing that up.”
Thomas snatched up my hand, linking his fingers through mine from the back, and pressed his lips against my palm. “Why would I?”
“Stop flirting with me in a toy shop,” I mumbled.
“Does that mean I can flirt with you outside of it?”
“...Will you let me go if I say yes?”
“I won’t mention the kiss, but I don’t know if I want to let you go.”
“You’re just a clingy old man, aren’t you?”
“Mm, aren’t you a few weeks older than me?”
I paused. “Shut up. I’m ninety at heart.”
Thomas released my hand and laughed, straightening up, but he didn’t remove his arm from around my shoulders. The tingle that trickled down my spine spread across my skin like a spider web of goosebumps, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from letting it show.
This bloody man.
“Mum’s buying Danny a drum kit,” Thomas said, his head jerking as he scanned the shelves. “Which board game is he going to love that’s absolutely going to piss her off?”
I pointed at the noisiest, most irritating game known to man. “Hungry Hippos.”
He raised his hand and wiggled his finger in the tapping motion in front of my face. “That one?”
I turned my head and stared at him. “Was the finger movement necessary?”
“I’m trying to show you my good sides.”
“By wiggling your finger right in front of my face?”
Thomas looked down at me and grinned, then leant in, dipping his mouth close to my ear. “I’m trying to sell you on my good points.”