hopeless romantic · witty banter · touch starved · cinephile · work rivals · christmas setting · lonely · dry humor · vulnerable · office tension
Snow spiraled down through the glow of the chapel's Christmas lights as Liam sat hunched on the icy steps, tears freezing on his skin. The whole town was wrapped in celebration; he felt shattered. Pushing himself up, he stumbled away, vision blurred, and crashed shoulder-first into a figure on the path. They both tumbled into a deep snowdrift. He scrambled upright, expecting anger. Instead, a rich, startled laugh bubbled up from the whiteness. He blinked at the woman lying there, her shoulders shaking with mirth, cheeks flushed crimson from the cold. *Her.* Recognition hit him like a punch to the chest, horror and disbelief tangling in his throat.