Page 15 of New Resolutions

“How many times have you done this? Pick up women at your Christmas party?”

“Never.”

“Another omission. You’ve never scouted your party, but you always take someone new for the holidays. You just find them in other places. What? A stewardess here, a model there. Guess, I was the only plain one, huh.”

“First of all, don’t talk about yourself that way. But what you say is fair.” My heart plummets at his words and I have to close my eyes to fight back the sting that comes into them. “You want to know my history. People who have done what we’ve done would normally share that.”

I open my eyes to find him closer. I don’t really want to know his ‘history’ and all the women he’s gone through before me.

“I don’t pick up women or have new ones on different holidays. I’ve not dated anyone in…maybe ever since I haven’t committed to anyone before. I haven’t been with anyone in years.”

“I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business.”

“Yes, it is your business. And you are far from plain, my angel. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I saw you through the crowd and…it was like you were glowing.”

He comes to stand right in front of me and I can feel the anger melting from me -even though it shouldn’t.

“It was the stuff in my hair.”

“It was you.” His arms wrap around me, and he cups my cheek so softly. “It was from within. I saw it. Other people saw it. I just…didn’t want you to change if you found out who I really was.”

“Change?” I glance up at him through my lashes.

“Would you have left with me if I came out and told you who I really was?”

Crap again!

“I didn’t think so.” My answer must be written on my face. “You are the only woman I have ever taken to my diner. And the only woman I have ever brought home.”

“Really?”

He nods. “Melony realized as soon as she saw you what you were to me, how important you were.”

Our bodies brush closer to one another, my breasts bumping against his warmth. I should keep in mind that he lied to me. He used my best friend…

It’s that thought that has me pushing away from him or at least trying to.

“You used Sarah.”

“No, I asked Javi if he could find you. It just so happened he was spending his Christmas the same way we were, only with your friend. I don’t think he ever meant to hurt her. Not the way he looked at her.”

“How did he look at her?”

“The same way I look at you.”

I’m not going to touch that one. I let him pull me back in. “Sorry I hit him.”

He chuckles and takes my right hand in his to look at the scuffed knuckles. When he finds out some of them are bleeding and swelling, the smile drops off his face.

“Angel?” He has me up in his arms and heads to the kitchen before I can register what is happening. “Why didn’t you tell me you hurt yourself?”

He sits me on the island and goes for the freezer. I can’t help but push -just a little bit.

“Omission of truth.”

He turns his head and shoots a narrow-eyed glance my way. I think I gave my first genuine smile since I left him. He walks over with an ice pack and gently places it against my knuckles before sweeping me back into his arms. He carries me into the bedroom and more memories hit me. They hit the hardest in this room. It was in this room that so much happened.

Flashes of him kissing his way down my body as he undresses me, the first time he laid between my legs and used his mouth on me, the first time I came on his tongue. The first time I ever put a man in my mouth. That one makes my body turn molten and a throb starts at the juncture of my thighs.

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