Page 13 of Holiday Loss

The smile she shone on him told him he’d made the right choice.

Life could change in an instant, he’d learned that as a kid, going from poverty to luxury almost overnight. That had taught him to live in the moment, to not give voice to all the worries and what ifs, which was how he was able to jump all in with this woman regardless of the fact that they’d just met, and he had no idea what the future held for them.

Chapter

Nine

December 13th

10:46 P.M.

All night Jessica had been debating what she would do in this moment.

There was the smart option, which was simply to thank Donovan for a wonderful evening, for good conversation and great company, and maybe give him a goodnight kiss on her doorstep before saying goodbye and beginning the game of waiting for him to call.

He was going to.

That she knew with absolute certainty.

But still she would wonder and wait, anxiety would take hold, and she would over analyze every single thing she’d said and done, looking for anything that might have turned him off even after he’d been patiently persistent for almost two weeks while she got herself ready to say yes to a date.

That was for sure the smart option.

There was another, though.

One that wouldn't get out of her mind every single time he shot her one of those charming smiles, or his finger brushed against her hand orarm. Every time heat flared in his eyes, or she looked over to find his appreciative gaze lingering on her breasts or her backside.

Why was this even a debate?

She knew exactly how she wanted this night to end, she just wasn't sure she was brave enough to do it.

“When is too soon to call?” Donovan asked as his hand captured hers as they walked toward her front door. “Tomorrow morning first thing before the sun gets up? As soon as I get back to my mom’s house? When I get in the car?”

The last one made her chuckle and relieved her anxiety. Just because she’d been out of the dating game a long time and had only ever been out with one man anyway, it seemed she hadn't managed to turn him off.

Drawing in a deep breath, she steadied her nerves and decided to just go for it.

What was the worst that could happen?

If she jumped in too deep and got her heart broken, she’d find a way to mend it. Find a way to mend her son’s as well. But not going for it when Donovan had been everything she could hope for in a man and then more, would teach her son that you gave into your fears and let them control you.

The last thing she wanted to do was curb her little boy’s natural curiosity and inquisitiveness. She wanted him to live his life to the fullest, reach for his dreams and find a way to succeed at them no matter what they were.

“How about you don’t call,” she suggested, rushing on when Donovan’s face fell. “How about you don’t call because you come in and spend the night.”

Desire, hot enough to scorch her skin with a single glance was quickly replaced by a look of concern. “Jessica, I hope you know I would never pressure you for sex. I know this was a big step for you and you have a son to consider. I can wait as long as it takes for you to be ready.”

“So, you don’t want to come inside?” she asked, taking a step closer until there was practically no space between their bodies, and cupped the bulge in his pants.

“Oh, beautiful, nothing would make me happier, but I'm not going to be the kind of guy who pressures a woman.”

Which was exactly why she was comfortable with him coming in.

“You're not pressuring me,” she assured him. “I want this. Want you.”

With a groan he reached out, hands spanning her hips, and lifted her. “I want you almost more than I can breathe,” he whispered, lips against her ear, then trailing a line of kisses down the column of her neck.

“Mmm,” she moaned, tilting her head to the side to give him better access. Those soft kisses were little touches of aphrodisiacs, and if she hadn't already been burning for him that definitely would have set her desire alight.

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