Page 5 of Everything Christmas

She could tell it was a joke from the playful grin on his face. But Merry just sat there and looked at him like an idiot, not really knowing what to say. She loved a man with a sense of humor, but she was afraid if she got to know him more, she’d end up throwing herself into his arms at the first opportunity and be the sixth notch on his bedpost this month.

He’s not for you, Merry. He’s a womanizer, and according to lover number five, a cheater.

He drained the last few drops of his lemonade, and she couldn’t keep from staring at his tongue slipping out to catch an errant drop of the tart liquid. Holy smokes, the man was seriously dangerous to her peace of mind!

She looked away as soon as he set down his glass. Feeling heat flood her cheeks, she was relieved she was already flushed from working outside. How much redder could she get?

“I should get going,” he stated, rising to his feet. “I just wanted to apologize for the scene this morning. I try not to make my personal business so public.”

“It’s okay and really none of my business.”

“When you’re subjected to filthy language like that, I think it is. Thanks for the lemonade, neighbor.”

Following him to the door, she didn’t want to be caught ogling his perfect nylon-covered butt again. Looking anywhere but there, she babbled about the weather, of all things.

“Hey, is it usually this warm in September?” She suppressed a groan when she heard the question leave her mouth. What a ridiculous cliché she was.

She saw his shoulders shake. He was laughing at her. Of course, who wouldn’t? The weather... for Pete’s sake.

He politely answered as he stepped out on the porch and turned to face her. “It’s a little warmer than usual. Are you complaining?”

“No, I was just hoping to have seasons. Living in Florida, you only get three.”

“What, no winter?”

Shaking her head, she smiled at him from the doorway. “I lived in Jacksonville. We got spring, summer, and hurricane. That was enough to make me move north.”

He laughed, and Merry almost swallowed her tongue. His smile transformed his usually serious face from handsome to breathtakingly beautiful. And was that a dimple in his cheek beneath the scruff of dark beard?

“See you around?”

“Sure thing. Stop by anytime.”

Inwardly, she gave herself a reality check. Like he’d come back for more of her dirt-and-sweat-covered company and scintillating conversation.

“I just may do that. Bye, neighbor.” His smile was friendly as he nodded and walked away.

“Bye, Reese.” After he left, she leaned against the closed door and admonished herself for being such a ditz—a sexy man smiles at you and your brain becomes goo. Shaking it off, she headed for a shower. It wasn’t like she had a chance with a guy like him anyway.

***

LATER THAT NIGHT, REESEstood in his bedroom, transfixed by the silhouette that moved gracefully around the room. The bright light behind her outlined every nuance of her killer curves and narrow waist as she undressed. But when she stood in profile... Damn!

The sight made his mouth dry and his palms sweat. She had lush thighs, a luscious ass, and full, round tits, at least a D-cup in his expert opinion.

Forcing himself to move away from the window, he reached down and adjusted himself to relieve the pressure of his hard-on, which was currently wedged painfully against his zipper. The temptation to return to the window and continue to gaze into his neighbor’s bedroom was overwhelming.

Hell, Morgan! You arrest Peeping Toms for a living, now you’ve turned into one?

Grumbling to himself about having some fucking self-control, he went down to the kitchen to grab a beer and on to his den. He switched on the Titans’ game. Maybe by the time it was over, the peep show across the street would be, too, and he could get some sleep. The damn fool woman needed to get decent curtains.

Distraction didn’t work, however, because when he climbed in bed an hour later, and tried to sleep, he kept seeing her in the tiny shorts and tank she’d worn that morning. Her soft, curvy body made his hands itch to touch her. The rest of her was just as lovely, particularly her compelling green eyes and her fair skin tinted with a becoming blush from the unseasonably warm September temperatures. Her hair, which he thought was red at first, shimmered in the bright sunshine with so many colors he couldn’t count them all. And when the tip of her tongue slipped out to glide along her plump, soft-looking lips, all he could think about was taking her in his arms and tasting them.

She reminded him of an actress in a fantasy movie he’d seen as a teen. He couldn’t recall the name of the film because the story had been subpar, but to this day, many of his fantasies featured the same elfin movie star.

Reese went to bed uncomfortably aroused, tossing and turning until he finally fell into a restless sleep. A short time later, he found himself wrenched wide-awake—panting, heart racing, body covered in a light sheen of sweat, his hand gripping and busily stroking his aching cock, on the verge of coming.

Damn! He’d been a horny teenager the last time he’d had a wet dream.

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