Day 7 of 12 days of Kissmas is here, and do we have an amazing post for you today! Posy Roberts wrote flash fiction especially for this post, based on her Kissmas picture below. And if you don’t sigh and just walk away happy, you clearly aren’t a romance reader. 🙂 Make sure you enter the giveaways! But first, welcome to Posy!!!!
As I considered what to write about for this 12 Days of Kissmas celebration, I decided to go where this beautiful photo took me. Flash fiction is the result.
Whirlwind Christmas
by Posy Roberts
“Nick, you guys’ll get along great!” Tracy literally shoved me toward the table where Anthony sat next to an empty chair, but I got caught up on her veil. As she detached the delicate lace from my boutonniere pin, she whispered, “He’s an artist like you, but he’s not stuck designing corporate crap. He freelances and only takes jobs he wants. He has your dream job, and I think he’s your dream man.” She winked and shoved me in his direction again.
Thirty minutes was all the time we had together, but we connected in an instant. As we sat in our suits, sweating in the heat but barely even noticing, he laughed in all the right places, smiled in a way that made my stomach curl with desire. And right before I was called away to take care of my Best Man duties, he reached for my hand and asked, “Can I get your number?”
“Of course.”
We exchanged contact information, gave each other a hug I regretted not turning into a kiss, and went our separate ways. Only days later, I found out Anthony didn’t live in Chicago. He was all the way out in LA, so the likelihood of seeing him again was slim to none. I regretted walking away even more.
I contacted him when I couldn’t get our brief encounter out of my head, and we chatted online for months. First it was every few days, then daily, and before I knew it, he was the last voice I heard before I fell asleep, and his texts were my first sight when I woke.
Maybe it was our art that drew us together, bonded us in a unique way. We had a common language few understood. He’d send me his rough sketches, then FaceTime me to tell me what had been going through his head as he’d drawn it. We’d brainstorm, inspire each other’s latest pieces, support artistic pursuits. He encouraged me to build an online design business so I wasn’t stuck as a corporate drone, but I didn’t have a head for business like he did, so it languished. I only knew how to create.
I woke the last day before my long holiday weekend to a snowy landscape, dreading trudging through the ice and snow for another day interpreting someone else’s concepts into art rather than my own. His text sent right before he crawled into bed was on my phone, bringing a smile to my face before I even read it.
Busy day for me tomorrow. I still have three gifts to buy for the nieces. Talk to you soon. ❤️
I forced myself out of my cozy bed and prepared myself for the morning meeting with upper management. They didn’t recognize my work, let alone value it. I doubted any of the managers even knew my name.
I’m so jealous of you right now. How warm is it there?
I knew Anthony would still be asleep for a few more hours, but he liked waking up first thing to my messages too. I wondered how he reacted to my texts. Did his whole demeanor change when he saw my name like Tracy said mine did?
As I sat in the conference room, his response made my phone vibrate in my lap. I looked down as I clicked it to life. Toasty warm. Perfection. Would be better with you here. I was sure I had a dreamy look on my face as the meeting started, but I recovered and focused on the projects my team was involved with.
Ten minutes in, Mr. Drexler pointed right at me and narrowed his eyes. “Nick, I understand you’re sticking around over the holidays. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“No family coming to visit? You’re not going anywhere?”
“I planned on hanging out with friends this year, but that’s it.” I didn’t want to get into the fact that I didn’t speak to my family. No one at work needed to know that.
“How would you feel about spending Christmas in LA?”
“For…?”
“You worked on the Mercer project. I heard good things. They have some tweaks they want to make to their campaign, but it has to be done fast, like today or tomorrow. It’s a tight deadline, but you know the project. You’ll make ’em happy.”
“Sure.”
“I need you to leave in…” He looked down at his watch and bit his lip. “Twenty minutes. You’re taking the company jet from Midway. Hurry.”
I’d never run out of the office faster.
#
I typed out a text to Anthony as soon as I landed in LA, telling him about my impromptu trip. I heard nothing back from him before I arrived at the Mercer offices, but last night he’d told me he had a packed schedule. I easily got swallowed up by my own work and made multiple changes I wasn’t happy with. But the client was thrilled, which was all that mattered.
In the end, what could’ve been a solid weekend of work turned into only an afternoon. The company jet wouldn’t be back until the day after Christmas.
I checked my phone to see if Anthony had written back yet, only to discover I’d never sent my original message. It was still sitting there waiting. I deleted it and shot off, I’m in LA until Tuesday.
One of the sales reps gave me advice on hotel accommodations nearby, so I headed outside to hunt the place down.
What are you talking about? arrived just as I turned my face to the warmth of the sun.
I called him, not willing to thumb type right then. He picked up immediately. “I’m in LA for work.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I didn’t know I was coming until this morning. It was fast. I didn’t even have time to pack.”
“I need to see you, if you can spare time away from the job.”
“I’m already done. I’m free for days.”
“’Cause you’re a talented man.”
“Or something like that.” I chuckled. He was always building me up.
“Where are you?”
“I’m downtown looking for a hotel.” I relayed the few street names I could see and described the building I stood in front of.
“I’m a five-minute walk away. Head north. You’ll run into a park. I’ll meet you there.”
“I can’t wait!”
“Same.”
#
I was nervous as I walked toward the park. Thinking I shouldn’t show up empty-handed, I stopped at a flower cart near the park entrance. Buckets of colorful flowers popped out among potted poinsettias. I rejected both of those and was drawn to a tiny sprig of greenery hanging from a ribbon. I handed the flower guy a few bucks and tried to calm my worries as I got closer to the park.
I was making a bigger deal of this than I needed to. We were meeting up, not planning a wedding. But I couldn’t help the pressure I felt to make our time together perfect.
Maybe we’d head out for coffee or possibly dinner, but I didn’t want to overtake his weekend because I spontaneously showed up. I was intruding on his Christmas plans. From what he told me, Christmas was a big deal in his family. Not just one day but several celebrations at various relative’s houses. I didn’t want to butt in on that, especially considering we weren’t really dating.
I’d planned on spending most of the holiday alone anyway, so I’d just spend it in a different city this time around.
“Hey!” Anthony’s liquid-silk voice drifted into my ear as he pulled me into a tight hug. “Nick, it’s so good to see you!”
I held him close, relishing the feel of his strong chest pressed to mine and the smell of his cologne. “You too.” I wanted to tell him I missed him, but how could I when all we’d ever done was spend a half hour talking at a wedding. So I left it at that and dragged him over to a park bench.
He stared into my eyes, pulling back a little, but he put his arm around me, rubbing over a knot of tension in my shoulder.
“A whirlwind trip, sounds like. Decided to come visit me in the warmth of the City of Angels, huh?”
I couldn’t help but return his smile. “I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, but I’m glad I’m here.”
He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip, wide smile fading into something softer. “I’m thrilled you’re here.” His voice was just a whisper.
My breath caught and a rush of butterflies took off in my belly. “Me too.”
“Finally.”
I nodded. That was the exact word that had been running through my head. Finally I saw his beautiful brown eyes again.
Finally I was holding his hand.
Finally I was touching the man whose voice sent me to sleep most nights as we talked until I couldn’t keep my eyes open another second.
Finally we were together.
If this would be the last time, I didn’t want it to end without knowing if we could be more. I reached into my pocket and tugged out the sprig of green, holding it above us.
“So nervous about kissing me you needed mistletoe?” he asked.
I let the sprig drop to the bench beneath us and he lifted it by the delicate red ribbon, letting it dangle there.
“I’m nervous because I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, and then suddenly, I’m sitting here across from you. But I don’t need mistletoe.”
I leaned in, so close I could feel his breaths warm my skin. He licked his full lips, glanced at mine, and I didn’t hesitate a second more. I kissed him like I’d dreamed about, like I’d wished I’d done all those months ago.
He was warm and tasted sweet, and when I opened to him, it was as if we were made for kissing each other. I instinctively knew what he liked and gave it to him, and he gave me what I didn’t even know I craved.
I had to pull away. I was reluctant, but if I allowed this to go on much longer, we’d be arrested for public indecency.
I pressed my forehead to his, staring at his lips as panted breaths passed them. “That was surprisingly intense for a first kiss.”
He chuckled. “I’m just getting warmed up. There’s plenty more where that came from. And a lot hotter.”
I thumbed over the arch of an eyebrow and stared at him in disbelief. “I’m never going to want to leave you if I experience much more.”
He beamed. “Then don’t. Stay here. Let’s build a life together. I’d love to work with you, create some art together in the same city.”
“How about we start with a night together?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that. How about one more kiss?” He held the mistletoe over our heads and gave me a wink.
As I pressed my lips to his, I knew I’d never be satisfied with only one more kiss. I wanted all his kisses.
“Hey,” he whispered.
“Hmm?”
“Would you mind having dinner with my family tonight?”
“Are you sure that would be okay on such short notice?”
“Yeah. I’d love for them to meet the man I can’t stop talking about.”
I grinned from ear to ear. “You’ve told them about me?”
“So much that they think I’m making you up. I want them to meet you.”
“I’d love that.”
He stood and held out his hand for me. “Come on. Let’s go spend Christmas together as a couple.”
I took his hand and followed him out of the park, down the street, and toward my future.
The End
I love holiday stories and everything I’ve written for Christmas until this little piece of flash fiction has been set in Minnesota, where I live. Feathers From the Sky was actually inspired by my husband’s family’s house, which is always packed with people. Analog to Digital was a little inspired by my own life, as I got married between Christmas and New Year’s, much like Ethan’s sister. Tangled Mind is a bit darker than the other two, as it deals with grief and the very patient best friend hoping Beck will notice he wants more.
You can win your choice of one of these holiday stories if you enter this Rafflecopter.
For the big prize, I’m including a copy of a book from one of my series, North Star or Naked Organics. Your choice. If you haven’t started either series, start with book 1. If you’ve already started, pick the next book.
