"So what do we need?"

"We need all different kinds of candy for decorations. My mom said she'd make the gingerbread and most likely the icing too." I instructed as I steered Knox towards the candy aisle.

"Homemade gingerbread? Wouldn't it be easier to just buy the kits?"

"Yeah but my mom will find any excuse to bake. Plus when we are finished we can eat them." I grinned.

"You are secretly a sugar addict aren't you?"

"My like for sugar is normal, unlike you who doesn't like sweets. What's that about anyways?" I raised an eyebrow at him. Only a crazy person doesn't like sweets.

"Just never have." Knox shrugged. "I do like some things but I can only have a little." I shook my head.

"Well you better somehow get a taste for it because its only going to get worse with my mom. From now until after Christmas there is going to be so many cookies, pies, brittle, anything and everything. She's going to try and pawn most of it off on you."

"Can't I just politely decline them?"

"And insult my mom?" His eyes went a little wide at my words. The look on his face made me laugh and reach over to pat his arm.I felt for Knox he really had no clue how my mother was. She bakes and bakes so much this time of year and then she takes home stuff from the bakery, so the house will be over flowing with food.

"Don't worry if you can't eat anymore just...tap my leg three times and I'll take it from you."

"What if we are standing up?"

"Then tap my arm or somewhere."

"Why do I feel like you've had this system before?" He quirked his eyebrow at me.

"My dad and I did it actually. When neither of us could eat anymore cookies or something we would tap each other three times and the other person would somehow get rid of it. We'd eat the stuff or find away to put it back or in the garbage." My chest ached slightly at the memory.

"Sounds like you and your father were close."

We were slowly walking down the treat aisle as we talked, neither of us making a move to walk any faster.

"Yeah we were. As cheesy as it sounds he was my best friend. Much to my mom's disappointment I was a daddy's girl. Wherever my dad was I was there. He was out building something I was next to him handing him the tools. If he was in the backyard teaching my brothers to throw a football or baseball, there I was ready to learn as well."

"My mom hated that though. She always wanted me to be in the kitchen with her baking or helping her do 'girly' things. But I liked being with my dad. Even when he was working at the construction site, there I was in my hard hat tagging along."

"He sounds like a great dad." The feel of a hand on my arm made me look up at Knox. He stared down at me with sympathy on his face. Normally I would have hated that look but for some reason with Knox I didn't feel that way. There was something in his eyes that told me he knew exactly how I was feeling. And that thought alone made me want to know everything about him.

"Wow sorry I brought the mood down." I cleared my throat, pushing back the tears. "We really need to look for those gingerbread houses decorations.

I was shocked at myself for opening up to someone, especially Knox of all people. I don't like talking about my dad to anyone yet with Knox I did. There was this weird feeling I get around Knox. I felt...safe. Like somehow as long as I was near him I would be okay.

I didn't know what to make of the foreign feeling. Considering how we first met I shouldn't even feel that way around him. Not in the mood to over analyze it I shoved all those thoughts to the back of my mind. Now was not the time or if ever. He was leaving in a few days anyways.

With that in mind I quickly moved away from Knox and started looking at the shelves.

"So anything you think would make good decorations. Dots, candy canes, peppermints, stuff like that." I rattled off. Thankfully Knox didn't comment on the sudden change and instead started looking at the candy.

"Would these work?" He asked a moment later, holding up a bag of Cinnamon Bears.

"I think those would be perfect actually."

It went like that for the next 5 minutes. Each of us finding a bag of candy and asking the other if it would work or not. By time we were done the cart was littered with all kinds of candy. Albeit a few I put in weren't for gingerbread houses. Who can pass up peach rings and sour gummy worms.

"Think we got enough candy." Knox said sarcastically as we made our way to check out.

"Actually I think there are still a few we could use." I made the motion to turn around when a hand grabbed mine, pulling me back.

"No I'm getting you out of here." Knox tugged me after him as he pushed the cart towards the checkout stand.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish at the feel of his hand in mine. This was the first time he's voluntarily held my hand when my family wasn't around.

His hand felt so rough compared to mine and the entire thing was able to wrap around mine, making mine look so small. The weirdest part was the tingly feeling that went through my fingers and up my arm. The simplest touch and I could feel everything.

I wasn't sure if he could feel it and a part of me wished he could. I didn't want to be the only one but a peek at his face showed me nothing. His face was such a mask that there was no way to tell if he felt anything.

But I needed to remind myself that I couldn't feel anything about Knox. I was paying him to be here to help me. Once Christmas was over we would both go our separate ways and never see each other again. And I'm pretty sure Knox was counting down the days to get rid of me.