“You want to watch a movie?” Saylor asked them, gesturing to their small TV below the pictures. Considering the state of dishes in her sink, she decided not to pursue hot chocolate at the moment.
“Sure,” said Cole, but it was drowned by Parker’s exuberant, “Yeah!”
Saylor gestured to the couch. “Have a seat. I’ll just grab some blankets.”
Cole crossed over to sit just beside Parker on the floor. He pointed to the robot and began asking the little guy all kinds of questions, receiving excited answers about his new Christmas toys.
She retrieved a pair of blankets from the closet in her bedroom and crossed back through, stopping to take in the state of the kitchen. Dishes in the sink, that one she knew. Looked like the floor needed to be swept too. Dang it.
“Don’t move a muscle,” Cole said. He rose and joined her side, taking the blankets from her and setting them down before returning.
“What is it?” she asked, her breath hitching. He wouldn’t comment on her dirty kitchen, would he?
Cole stood close, smelling far too good for her to think clearly. With a smoky look, he directed her gaze upward. A sprig of mistletoe dangled in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. Right above them.
A slight chill tingled and tightened her stomach. She laughed to hide her unease. “Oh that? I hung it as a joke so I could kiss Parker whenever I caught him under it.”
“Clever,” Cole said under his breath, his deep tone unlocking something inside of her.
“She does, too,” Parker said, sounding annoyed.
“It’s become quite the game.” Saylor tripped over her words, unable to think clearly with Cole this close to her. “He tries to run every time I catch him near it.”
She smiled, remembering the last time it had happened. She’d given chase, captured him, and dragged him back to the mistletoe so she could plant a squishy kiss on his cheek.
Parker grimaced at the same memory, and it only widened her smile.
It was short-lived, though. Awareness prickled over her, and her eyes slid back to Cole’s. He was watching her with an admiring intensity. Insight burnished in his blue eyes, and something told her he had a secret of his own, something he was longing to tell her. From this close up, she could see the scruff growing along his fantastic jawline. Her fingers itched to reach up and brush against it.
Without thinking, she took a step toward him. Heat palpitated around him, straining the air and only making her want to move closer. Cole mimicked the movement, his gaze clapped on hers. His hand cradled her elbow, warm and assuring.
His gaze skimmed to her mouth. Her pulse pounded, hammering out her ability to think, to breathe.
“Ew, you’re not going to kiss her, are you?”
Saylor inhaled and stepped back while sense swirled in. He—they—almost did. Right in front of her little boy.
What was she thinking?
Cole’s lips corked up, first at her, before he lowered his hand from her elbow and faced Parker. “You don’t think I should?”
Parker avidly shook his head, one hand on either side of his robot. “Dad kisses Amanda all the time, and it’s so gross.”
Saylor winced. Parker had failed to mention anything like that, what with all of their talk about his Christmas presents.
Cole glanced at her with an understanding, apologetic smile. He knelt in front of Parker and picked up one of his action figures, staring at the small Captain America in his spangled, blue, superhero suit.
“You know, mistletoe didn’t always stand for kissing.” Cole sat down beside the robot and handed Cap to Parker.
Parker’s little brows drew together. “Mom said it does.”
Cole rested his hands behind him. He stretched his long legs before him, crossing white-socked feet. “She’s right, it does, but it didn’t always. Have you heard of a god named Loki?”
Parker’s eyes nearly popped. He bobbed onto his knees and gestured excitedly with the action figure. “He’s from The Avengers! I have an Iron Man costume, and a Captain America one Mom got for me. Do you want to see them?”
“I’d love to,” Cole said. “But this is a different Loki. Legend says that he was the god of love and forgiveness.”
Parker’s face screwed into a disinterested pout.
“Loki was killed by a vengeful god. His mother was pretty upset about that.”
“Sounds like my mom,” said Parker.
Cole’s eyes twinkled up at her. “Your mom is a neat lady.”
Parker seemed to like where this is going. He set his robot down, and Saylor’s heart cozied to see him scoot in closer for the remainder of the story.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Well,” Cole said, readjusting his weight. “His mom was able to bring Loki back to life. To celebrate, she hung mistletoe up for everyone to see. Love and forgiveness won. That’s why mistletoe was used to represent forgiveness, before it was a symbol for Christmas.”
Saylor raised her brows, impressed. She’d never heard anything like that before.
Parker thought this over for a few seconds. “That sounds nice. The Avengers’ Loki isn’t very nice.”
“No, he’s not,” Cole said with a chuckle, rubbing Parker’s back.
“But Mom likes him anyway.”
Saylor’s cheeks blazed, and her mouth parted.
Cole snuck a flirtatious glance in her direction. “Oh, she does?”
“He’s a good villain,” she said in playful defense from her relaxed position against the wall. “Likeable. Like the Joker. He’s evil, but so cool you can’t help liking him a tiny bit.”
Cole glanced over for Parker’s take on this latest revelation. When the little boy said nothing, Cole said, “Coolness counteracts evilness. I see how you are.”
She lifted her chin. “Only in movies.”
They shared another earnest glance before Saylor had to break away.
Chapter Eleven
They spent the afternoon watching The Avengers—at Parker’s request. It seemed Cole instigated his interest, though the small boy loved action figures and superhero movies anyway. They shared a small dinner of Chinese takeout which Cole offered to order in. After that, they tucked Parker into bed.
Awkwardness
