Page 52 of A Very Naughty Christmas

There was a rustling noise behind her. Hopeful that another customer had come in and needed her assistance, which would give her a little break from all that was Kyle, she turned to check. The booth remained empty, except for Kyle, who was right behind her, close enough that her body brushed his. Stepping back hastily, she felt the need to apologize, though it wasn’t all her fault, except she bumped up against her table and didn’t get far. She tilted her head, but the words evaporated on her tongue when she found him staring down at her.

He was tall, she knew that, but she’d forgotten how much so. Six-foot-three at least, and his shoulders had broadened beyond what she recalled from high school, which as a football player had been nothing to sneeze at. He’d matured from a well-built boy into a sturdy, broad-chested, muscular man and her breathing picked up in response, her chest rising and falling more rapidly, with him so close the tips of her breasts almost rubbed against him. She bowed back this time, except it didn’t help, because he leaned in.

“Do I make you nervous, Dixie?” With his face only inches from hers, when he spoke she felt the warmth of his breath on her cheeks and smelled the mint of his toothpaste.

“I… uh, no… I mean—” As she was stammering and struggling to come up with an intelligent answer to his question, a customer entered her booth up front. “Excuse me.”

“Saved by the bell, again,” he pronounced softly.

That he remembered that day at the diner surprised her and also warmed her all over. But it shouldn’t, and she wanted to kick herself for falling susceptible to his charm. She knew better, had known so since high school.

Distracted, she tried to push him from her mind as she answered the customer’s questions before she moved on.

Turning back, she angled her chin toward the painting. “This might take me a while, with people coming and going. I have a courier service at the gallery where I display my art. Maybe I can have it delivered?”

“Maybe you can tell me why I get you so flustered, instead.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said, brushing by him as she moved to the table and began measuring the brown paper.

His arms came around her from behind, his palms pressed flat on the table, pinning her in place without touching her. She could feel the heat of his body along her back.

“You do, Dix. Your face is flushed, your respirations are elevated, and your beautiful brown eyes are so dilated they’ve become almost black. And if I put my fingers to the pulse at your throat, my guess is your heart is racing. Should I prove I’m right?”

One hand rose, brushing her hair where it curled over her shoulder. She knew what came next—Kyle pushing it aside to expose her neck, a place that was very sensitive and would make her heart, which was already pounding from his nearness, very likely leap out of her chest.

She spun to face him, a mistake that she regretted instantly when he moved closer, his coat rubbing hers, his hard chest meeting the softness of her breasts. Her hands came up in between them as his slid up her spine.

“Kyle…”

“What time are you through here?”

“The show ends at six, but it will take me time to close down and haul everything to my car.”

“I’ll be back and help you pack up, then take you to dinner.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“You keep saying that. We’re attracted to one another, Dixie. Like we were in school. Only after the episode with that idiot Spencer, you were too ticked off to ever give me the time of day.”

“What makes you think things have changed?”

“I was hoping both of us would have matured. I never imagined you’d be the type of girl to hold a grudge for twelve long years. You need to let me explain.”

“There’s no need. Besides, you obviously haven’t changed. You’re splurging on someone special, the other day you made a special trip merely to pick up a woman’s umbrella, and despite being involved with someone else, now you’re hitting on me.”

His arms tightened around her at the same time his face lost its smile, his jaw going tight. “So you know me so well, you’ve got me all figured out, huh?”

“Spoiled rich boys who think the world—as well as every woman they see—is theirs for the taking rarely change. Nor do lying, cheating jerks. Step aside.” She pushed against his chest when he didn’t move, although her efforts didn’t so much as budge him. “Step back, please.”

He moved fast, and before she knew it her wrists were clasped by strong fingers and pinned behind her. His face was a fraction away, the brush of his breath now on her lips, and his eyes were snapping with fire like the hottest blue flame.

“I’m tempted to take you over my knee and spank some sense into you.”

She was so stunned, other than her mouth falling open, she couldn’t move.

“And if you were mine, I’d do that here and now.”

“Kyle,” she breathed shakily.

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