“Well, we’ve watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” Is there anything we’re missing?” Ben asked.
“I wanna watch Frozen!” Dez piped up.
Jade laughed. “I don’t really think that’s a Christmas movie, baby.”
Dez stuck out her lower lip. “But it’s got snow in it.”
Ben gave a playful shrug. “She’s got a point there.”
Dez turned to her mom with pleading eyes. “Please?”
Jade stood up. “Fine. I’ll go see if they have it at the front.”
“Let me go.” Ben stood up. “I need to return a few calls anyway. I’ll be back soon.” He smiled down at her, and his hand brushed her shoulder as he walked past and out the door.
“You’re doing it again.”
Jade turned to her daughter. “Doing what? What are you talking about?” she asked, even though she had a feeling she already knew the answer.
“You were staring at him again.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were. And you looked just like this.” Dez puckered up her lips into a kissing face. Jade couldn’t keep from laughing.
“You better be careful, or he’ll come in here and see you doing that.”
“Come in here and see you doing what?” Ben’s voice at the door made Jade jump. He flashed a grin. “Sorry. I left my phone. Did I miss anything important?”
“Just the part where Mommy said she wanted to kiss you.”
Jade felt the heat rush to her face. “No, I most certainly did not say that.”
“Yes, you did.” Dez smacked her lips together noisily.
“That’s enough.” Jade could hardly force herself to meet Ben’s eyes to see his response.
He kept his focus on Dez. “Well, tell your mom that kissing is something very special. You should only do it with someone you care about very much.” He grinned. “See you in a few minutes.”
After he left, Jade leaned closer to her daughter. “What do you think you’re doing, talking like that?” She didn’t know if she was more angry or mortified.
Dez shrugged. “I was only trying to help.”
Jade searched her daughter’s face for the tell-tale signs of sassiness, but they were missing. “Well, don’t do it again. You’ll make me die of embarrassment.”
“I didn’t know adults got embarrassed.”
“Well, they do. Especially when you’re talking about your mother kissing someone she hardly knows.”
“You know him well enough. And you do want to kiss him, don’t you, Mama?”
“Just lie down and get some rest. Aren’t you supposed to be sick or something?”
Dez grinned. “I still think that you should ask Ben on a date.”
Jade pointed her finger in her daughter’s face. “There you go again. What have I told you about talking like that?”
Dez sighed loudly. “Sorry. I mean you should ask Officer Ben on a date.”