Page 12 of Holiday Hook Up

She giggled and shrugged a bare shoulder. “So is Josh. I’ve worked hard to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Besides, when do I ever get the chance anymore to get dressed up and show some leg?”

“You won’t get any objections from me, Caity Bug. Hey, where is your husband? I haven’t seen him all night.”

“Abby needed a hand in the kitchen, but now he’s helping his brother-in-law.” She pointed to the bar where an Armani-clad Josh was serving drinks with Brandon. She winked before adding, “He’s going to get a pretty amazing tip later.”

Adam smirked at his friend, touching one of the long black feathers on her mask. “You two love birds keep it clean until you get home.”

“We’ll see about that. Have fun with your own Holiday Hook Up.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He took a swig of his beer and looked around. If he didn’t focus, it probably wasn’t going to happen, and maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. He’d been so busy trying to be the town’s new love predictor that maybe what he needed was a break from love . . . or being in love . . . or trying to find love.

Maybe, instead, he should consider asking Bethany if she’d be his hookup—of course on a completely platonic level. That would at least guarantee he’d have fun with the woman he was with for the next two weeks.

Bethany would be the perfect woman to do this year’s hookup dates that had been blown up on poster boards and scattered throughout the party. In addition to ice-skating in town and the wild card date randomly picked for the couple, she’d make a cute elf as they passed out presents to families in need.

Liking the idea of Bethany being his platonic Holiday Hook Up more and more, he searched the crowd to find her.Maybe she’s taking a break in the back.Maneuvering away from the crowd, he followed the narrow corridor, passing Zoe now in a serious lip-lock with Will.

Chuckling to himself at that sight, he turned the corner when a soft hand slipped into his and pulled him aside.

And that hand was attached to a beautiful woman in a pretty cream dress. Her blonde hair flowed in waves below her shoulders and a pink mask covered her face.

He tilted his head, trying to figure out who this woman was standing so close to him. He’d requested a blonde and here was one in the flesh.

He looped her long blonde hair around one finger. “Are you a friend of Bethany’s? Have we met before?”

Without a word, she planted a kiss on him. Her soft lips pressing into his while her hands slipped into his sports coat running up and down his back.

No more questions.His lips responded, coaxing her mouth open, while his brain went fuzzy in euphoric intoxication. He pulled her in and continued to kiss her with everything he had.

Whoever this mystery blonde was, she knew what she was doing and he could kiss her all night if she’d let him. But first, maybe he should get her name. His hands glided up and down her arms, loving the feel of the soft lace.

“I’m Adam, and you are?” He reached down and touched the side of her mask.

That action caused her to flinch, and she stepped out of his embrace just as the music stopped.

“I’m sorry . . . It’s nice to kiss you. I mean be with you . . . meet you.” He bit his bottom lip to stop his pathetic babbling. Finally, he asked, “Do we know each other?”

She parted her mouth, but a voice over a microphone drowned out whatever she had said.

“Okay, everyone,” Betty, the popular, old waitress from the Star Lite and emcee for all singles events, boomed into the microphone.

“How about we join the action?” Folding his hand over that of the mystery woman’s, Adam escorted her to the foot of the stairs and let go—not because he wanted to, but he wasn’t sure if she would want to be seen holding his hand.

Betty stood on a small riser, microphone up to her mouth and completely in her element. The spunky waitress took her emcee role seriously. “I need everyone to stand by their Holiday Hook Up. We’ll be taking names of our couples and also your credit cards to benefit the renovations to the town’s senior assisted-living residence.

“Do you have plans for the next two weeks?” Adam turned to his kissing partner, but she was gone. He looked from side to side.

Where did she go?

Spinning around, he flew through the dark hallway, but it was empty. He returned to the main room, zigzagging between the couples. When an arm touched his, he turned around and smiled. “I’m so glad you didn’t leave.”

Rachel beamed up at him. “I’m glad you didn’t leave either.”

“Um . . . yeah.” He looked over Rachel’s head onto the dance floor, not admitting he wasn’t talking about her. How did the woman who’d given him the best kiss of his life vanish into thin air?

“Adam.” Rachel reached for his hand. “Who are you looking for?”

“What?” He glanced down at Rachel’s fingers stroking his knuckles. What was she doing? “I mean, no one. Um . . . er . . . hi.” He pulled his hand away and shoved it into his pants pocket. “Are you having a good time, Rach?”

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