Chapter One
"Ohhh... the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is sooooo delightful, and since we've no place to go... let it snow, let it snow, let it snooooow...." Ryan sang as he grabbed the last of the small boxes of twinkling lights and started stacking them neatly on the shelf.
"Ryan! Spare me, please!"
Ryan laughed as he slowly spun around to face his best friend, carrying yet another huge box of lights to be stocked on the already overcrowded shelves.
Angela was always a sight for sore eyes, even if she was being grouchy. Her long brown hair was put up haphazardly with a sparkling red clip. Her sweet, round face always had a rosy flush to her cheeks, and her dark eyes glittered with mischief.
Ryan took the box from her arms, set it down, and grinned at her as she put her hands on her ample hips. "Angel babe, you know you love my singing," he said as he puckered his lips and made kissing noises at her. She laughed and shook her finger at him.
"Honey, just because you like Dean Martin doesn't mean you can sing like him! Besides, I've never seen Dean Martin wear reindeer antlers while he crooned "Let it Snow" on any of his Christmas specials he used to have every year." Angela reached up and flicked one of the antlers on top of his head, causing the bells to start jingling.
"And, he's the lesser man for it," Ryan teased as he wrapped Angela up in his arms and dipped her backwards, causing her to laugh, just like he intended for her to do.
He heard someone behind him clear their throat.
"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt the newest solid gold dance moves, but could you tell me where the wrapping paper is?"
The smooth and slightly tense masculine voice washed over Ryan from behind. Angela immediately disassembled herself from Ryan's arms and stood there looking over Ryan's shoulder with a slightly embarrassed smile on her sweet face.
Ryan slowly turned around, and had to stop himself from gasping with pleasure.
Standing a couple of feet from him was the most beautiful man Ryan had ever seen. At five foot seven inches, Ryan was used to men towering over him, but not like this man. Tall, dark and handsome definitely fit the bill for describing the stunningly beautiful man before him. Beneath a wealth of gorgeous black hair shone the bluest eyes Ryan had ever laid eyes on. They seemed to twinkle from within. His smooth olive skin, tousled hair and five o'clock shadow gave him that sexy, just-got-out-of-bed look that Ryan always found so adorable. He was dressed casually in a worn brown leather bomber jacket, red T-shirt and jeans that were so old and tight, they hugged his muscular thighs and encased a prominent bulge at his crotch that made Ryan want to fall to his knees and worship the ground he walked on. He was gorgeous, and Ryan knew he was totally and utterly in love.
The man's full lips formed a half-smile and he cocked his head to the side as he looked expectantly at Ryan, as if waiting for something.
Ryan felt himself cringe as he felt the unwanted heat of a flush come over his face and body. Damn! Being a natural redhead definitely had its drawbacks. Ryan knew his face was probably as red as Rudolph's red nose, which caused him to blush even more.
The man's crooked smile turned into a full one, causing his blue eyes to light up and small wrinkles to appear beside each, proving that this gorgeous hunk of a man smiled often. Between his brilliant white smile and ocean blue eyes, Ryan found himself immediately captivated with him.
"Can we help you?" Angela asked, apparently not having any trouble finding her own voice.
The man looked slowly from Ryan to Angela, and his smile dimmed a little.
"Could you point me in the right direction of the wrapping paper?"
God, even the man's voice was amazing, deep and smooth, with a slight Southern accent. Ryan would bet his measly year's worth of salary that the sexy man standing before him could sing "Let it Snow" and women as well as men would be throwing themselves at his feet to hear more.
"Um, well, I'm not exactly sure where it's located at, but my associate Ryan would be more than happy to show you where you need to go," Angela said sweetly as she indiscreetly shoved Ryan in the right direction, bringing him out of his trance.
Feeling totally off balance, Ryan felt himself flush even more as he stumbled toward the man. God, even his feet weren't working right!
The man reached out and grabbed Ryan lightly by the arms, keeping him from stumbling further into the man himself. Through the warmth of the handsome stranger's hands, Ryan felt a tingling sensation from the top of his red hair to the tips of his toes. "Are you all right?" that deliciously deep voice asked softly, causing Ryan look up into those concerned blue eyes. Ryan could feel the warmth of the man's hands through his long sleeved T-shirt as he started rubbing his hands up and down Ryan's arms, as if to soothe any pain away.
He's talking to you! Say something, idiot
Ryan cleared his throat and attempted to smile at the man.
The man smiled back and slowly let go of Ryan's arms as he took one small step back as if to put some space in between them.
"Ooops! Sorry about that! I must've had too much eggnog during break," Ryan joked, as he shrugged his shoulders and smoothed down his "Got Mistletoe?" T-shirt.
The man laughed.
Oh my God, he's got a gorgeous laugh too
"That eggnog will get you every time!" the man said, almost reaching out to touch Ryan's shoulder but stopping himself midway.
At the sound of the stranger's joyful laughter, Ryan felt happiness flow through him and a genuine smile come across his face.
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