The holiday season had always been magical for me. The scents of pine and cinnamon filled the air, and twinkling lights cast a warm glow over everything. This year, I decided to go all out with the decorations, and the neighbors definitely took notice. At our annual holiday party, Mrs. Henderson, who lives across the street, couldn’t stop complimenting me.

"You have a real knack for this," she said, sipping her spiked cider.

Others joined in with their praise, but amidst the festive cheer, one particular person stood out—Ryan, the handyman who had helped me put up the lights.

Ryan had a rugged charm that was impossible to ignore. When he pulled up in his old truck with "Handyman Services" emblazoned on the side, I felt a flutter of excitement. He was back to help take down the decorations, but I had other plans in mind.

This time, I was ready. My hair was styled in loose waves, and I wore a soft, clingy sweater that accentuated my curves without being too obvious. I wanted to play this right, to make him work for it, but not too hard. Anticipation bubbled inside me as I waited for the doorbell to ring.

When it finally did, I took a deep breath and opened the door, giving him a warm smile. "Hey Ryan, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year to you too," he replied, his eyes lingering on me just a fraction longer than necessary.

"Come on in. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea...maybe something stronger?" I offered, leading him to the kitchen.

"Coffee sounds good. I’ll need the energy for the work ahead," he said with a grin.

I busied myself with the coffee maker, feeling his eyes on me. "You did a fantastic job with the decorations," I said over my shoulder. "The whole neighborhood loved it."

"You had a vision, and I just brought it to life," he replied, leaning against the counter. "We make a good team."

I turned to face him, coffee pot in hand. "I think so too. So, where do we start?"

He smiled, that boyish, confident smile that made my knees weak. "Let’s start outside with the lights on the roof. I'll handle the high stuff, and you can get the storage boxes ready."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, handing him a mug of steaming coffee. Our fingers brushed, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

As he worked outside, I brought down the storage boxes from the attic, feeling a thrill each time I saw him through the window. I decided to make him wait a bit longer, the anticipation making my pulse quicken.

When I went out to check on him, he was at the top of the ladder, reaching for the highest lights. I couldn’t resist the chance to tease him a little.

"Don’t fall now," I called up to him. "I can't catch you from down here."

He looked down and laughed. "I’m more worried about what would happen if I did fall. I might never leave."

"Maybe that's the plan," I said, biting my lip.

He climbed down carefully, his gaze locking onto mine. "I think you’d like that," he said, his voice low.

We finished with the outside lights and moved indoors. As I was packing away ornaments, he came up behind me and draped a strand of tinsel around my shoulders. The light, playful gesture sent shivers down my spine.

"Looks good on you," he said, his hands lingering a moment longer than necessary.

I turned to face him, our bodies inches apart. "There's one ornament I can't reach. Could you help me with it?" I pointed to a spot deep within the tree.

He stepped closer, reaching into the branches. "I don’t see it."

"It's in there," I insisted. "Just keep feeling around."

His hand brushed mine as he searched, the touch sending sparks through my body. Finally, he found it—a small, glass heart that glimmered in the twinkling lights.

"Got it," he said, holding it up with a triumphant smile.

"Perfect," I said, taking it from him and placing it gently in the box.

There was a charged silence as we stood there, the air thick with unspoken desire. I took a step closer, my heart pounding.

"Ryan," I whispered, "there's something else I've been wanting to do."

Before he could respond, I leaned in and kissed him, a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of all the longing I had felt. He responded immediately, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer.

In that moment, with the remnants of the holiday cheer around us, we gave in to the spark that had been building for weeks. The decorations could wait—our desire could not.