Under the Mistletoe

Soft Glow

As evening approached, I stood in front of my closet, nerves bubbling up inside me like a shaken soda can. Tonight was the night—my date with Ben, if it could even be called that. Was it a date? I still wasn’t sure. The uncertainty only added to my anxiety as I rifled through my clothes, searching for something that felt right.

Rachel burst into my room, practically buzzing with excitement. “Okay, let’s see what you have to work with!” She wasted no time, pulling hangers from the closet and tossing clothes onto the bed. “You need to look amazing for this dinner!”

I watched as she flung a couple of blouses and skirts aside, my heart racing at the thought of the evening ahead. “It’s just dinner, Rachel,” I said, trying to downplay my nerves. “There’s no need to go overboard.”

“Just dinner?” she echoed, arching an eyebrow. “You’ve been spacing out and nervous all week. You can’t just treat it like it’s a casual meal. This is a big deal!”

I rolled my eyes, trying to keep my composure. “I’m not talking about it. It’s just… work-related. You know how it is.”

Rachel shot me a knowing look as she held up a sleek black dress. “This could work. It’s classy but still tempting enough to show off your figure. What do you think?”

I glanced at the dress, biting my lip. “It’s nice, but" I trail off, was it too much? Too less?

She put her hands on her hips, a playful grin on her face. “May, you’re not fooling anyone. You never get this indecisive when its a work thing. You like who ever this is, don’t you?”

I felt my cheeks heat up as I tried to deflect. “Fine ill wear the dress. Do you think the black flats would go with it?" I attempt to divert the conversation.

Rachel narrowed her eyes at me, clearly unconvinced. But leaves to my closet to grab some shoes.

I quickly slip into the dress whilst Rachel's back is turned. I face the mirror and a small smile forms on my lips. I felt a rush of confidence, the fabric hugging my curves perfectly, showcasing a respectful amount of cleavage.

Rachels eyes widen when she comes back.

“Wow! You look stunning!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Rachel holds up a pair of classic black heels. “These will elevate your look. Plus, they’ll make your legs look longer."

As I slipped on the heels, Rachel continued to pry. “So, what will you two talk about? Anything exciting?” I shrugged, adjusting my hair in the mirror. “I don’t know, just catching up. Nothing special.”

“Right, just catching up,” Rachel said, her tone teasing.

I managed a smile, feeling the tension ease just a little. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

Rachel grabbed my shoulders, looking me straight in the eye. “Make sure to use protection.”

I couldn’t stop the blush from flooding my cheeks as I gasped in shock. Rachel let go and then burst into laughter, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “Rachel!” I squealed, mortified.

“Don’t wait up for me, you evil witch!” I called out awkwardly as I quickly exited the house, shutting the door behind me. I made my way down the footpath, my heart racing.

Just then, a sleek black Audi pulled up at the curb. I swallowed hard as my nerves kicked in again. My hands felt slightly sweaty, and my stomach turned as butterflies danced wildly with anxiety.

Ben exited the driver’s side, making his way around to my side. He opened the door and greeted me with a heart-stopping grin. He looked absolutely gorgeous in his black form-fitting dress pants and a matching button-up shirt that hugged his figure perfectly. The sleeves looked like they could burst open at any moment, and his windswept brown hair framed his godlike face, accentuating his dreamy brown eyes.

“You coming, May?” he asked, and I snapped out of my daydream, my face flushing again. Great, I had already been caught staring at him.

“Yes, sorry!” I mumbled, ducking my head as I passed him, the scent of his cologne hitting me like a wave. He shut the door once I was inside and moved to the driver’s seat.

As he settled in, I glanced out the window and gasped when I caught sight of Rachel’s shocked face peering out at me. Great, so much for keeping this a secret. I could only imagine the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind.

“Everything okay?” Ben asked, glancing at me with a curious smile.

“Yeah, its nothing” I replied, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

“Good to know,” he said, turning the key in the ignition. “Ready for our night out?”

I nodded, my heart pounding as he pulled away from the curb.

As we drove through the city, the soft glow of streetlights illuminated the interior of the car. I was acutely aware of Ben’s presence beside me, his strong frame filling the space, and I felt a mix of anxiety and desire swirling in my stomach. It was hard to focus on anything else as I stole glances at him, captivated by the way his hands gripped the steering wheel and the subtle confidence in his movements.

“So, how’s your week been?” he asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

I took a breath, trying to ground myself. “It’s been good in a way.” I noticed him grin, the corners of his mouth lifting in that charming way that made my heart flutter.

“I take it Mason’s been a bit harder to deal with since our meeting?” he replied, glancing over at me with that devilish smirk. Suddenly, it hit me and I let out a small gasp. “You haven’t responded to him because you knew it would make him crazy?”

Ben let out a rough laugh, his eyes darkening slightly. “Oh May, if he’s already losing his marbles over a meeting, there’s no way he’ll make it in the big league. Now that I know he’s going crazy, I might just postpone my response a little longer.”

I frowned at him, shaking my head. “Please, Ben. If I were in charge of a business and had the chance to make a deal with someone of your caliber, I’d be anxious too.”

“My caliber? What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked playfully, his brow furrowing in mock confusion.

I couldn’t help but smile at his teasing. “Fishing for compliments, are we? Your business is blooming, you’re a billionaire, and you have every girl begging for your attention. You’re handsome.”

He suddenly cut me off, his expression shifting. “You think I’m handsome?”

I felt my face flush a bright crimson. I had called him handsome—to his face. Oh my God. I quickly ducked my head, trying to hide my embarrassment.

Just then, I jumped as his large hand landed on my exposed lower thigh. The heat radiating from his touch sent tingles racing through me, and my stomach clenched involuntarily. “I asked you a question, May. Or are you going to ignore me again?” he whispered, his voice husky and filled with an intensity that made my heart race.

I met his gaze shyly. “I said what I said. If you missed it, that’s too bad,” I whispered, trying to inject a tiny bit of confidence into my voice.

Ben let out a warm, heartfelt laugh, and a smile broke across my face in response. “Okay, okay, I’ll take what I can get. You look beautiful tonight, May,” he said with a smirk, his confidence radiating.

My face flushed again, and I groaned, my hands instinctively trying to cover my cheeks. He laughed once more, and we fell into a comfortable silence, but I was acutely aware that his hand hadn’t left my thigh. Instead, he began absent-mindedly tracing shapes against my exposed skin, sending shivers of warmth through me.

I tried to ignore the ache that started to build between my legs, the tingling sensation spreading throughout my body. Swallowing my growing desire, I turned slightly toward him. “Where are we going exactly?”

Ben smiled at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “We’re almost there. I was just going to get Chinese takeaway, but with how you’re dressed, I decided on somewhere much nicer.” He gave me a wink that sent another rush of heat to my cheeks.

“Really?” I asked, surprised. The thought of going somewhere special made my heart race.

“Absolutely,” he replied, his tone light but laced with a seriousness that made my stomach flutter. “Looking like that you derseve to show off a little.”

As we approached the restaurant, I couldn’t help but admire its grandeur. The exterior gleamed under the soft glow of streetlights, and a sense of elegance enveloped the entrance. Ben parked in front, and a valet was quick to take his keys.

He rounded the car and offered me his hand, a charming smile on his face. “May.”

I smiled back, taking his hand. “Thank you.” The moment our hands connected, a spark traveled up my arm, igniting a warmth that spread through me. He helped me to my feet before wrapping his arm around my waist, guiding me toward the entrance.