Page 153 of Once Upon a Holidate
***
It took nearly an hour to untangle the lights. Bethany kept laughing at Cade’s frustration.
“Why didn’t you coil them up last year?” she asked, doing her best not to grin.
“I wasn’t here last year,” he grumbled. “This isn’t my fault. The tree should come prelit.”
“You’ll have to take that up with God. To be honest, a prelit real tree would freak out most people.”
“I’d like it.”
“Well, then. It must be done.”
They managed to string the lights. Cade opened boxes of ornaments. Some were old and delicate, wrapped in yellowing tissue paper. Others were from when he’d been a kid. One was a tiny handprint and there were several made of Popsicle sticks, and one kind of strange creature made from pipe cleaners.
“I think that’s supposed to be a reindeer,” he said, sounding doubtful.
“It kind of looks like a lizard, and it’s green. Why would a reindeer be green?”
“I can’t believe you’re being critical of my work.”
“I know. I’m a horrible person.”
He opened another box filled with shiny ornaments from a discount store. “Are you mocking my creative ability? It’s already a sore subject. Nick is a famous artist. I’m doing the best I can, but sure, crush my childhood dreams.”
She laughed. “Poor broken bunny.”
“That’s me.”
“Shall I kiss it and make it better?”
She’d meant the comment to be teasing, but the second she spoke, the air became charged. Cade’s gaze sharpened and everything inside of her went still.
Wanting flared to life. Wanting and need and a thousand other emotions that made her realize that sometime, when she hadn’t been paying attention, she’d fallen for this man.
He reached for her and in that split second before his hand touched her body, she knew she had to make a choice: a single night or the truth. Because she couldn’t have both. And even knowing it was the wrong decision and one she might regret forever, she took a step toward him and raised her face for his kiss.
***
Bethany had only been with two men in her life. Cade made three. But to compare making love with him to what had gone on before was to compare a great ocean to a glass of water.
He touched her gently, almost reverently, but with confidence that had her surrendering to him. He explored every inch of her, finding the places that made her gasp and moan, then taught her the same about himself. By the time dawn broke over the horizon, she was satiated, weak and unable to hide from the fact that she’d fallen totally in love with him.
She got up to check on Rida, then returned to his bed. They slept nearly until noon before waking up to make love again. Finally they made it to the kitchen for something to eat.
He’d pulled on jeans and a T-shirt, while she wore one of his long-sleeved shirts over panties. They kissed and touched as much as they cooked, which meant the eggs were well-done and the pancakes had burnt edges, but that didn’t seem to matter to either of them.
They sat across from each other at the small table. Cade smiled at her.
“You okay?” he asked.
Because he wanted to be sure. Because no matter what, he would take care of the people in his life. For a second, she let herself pretend it was all going to be okay, that she would tell him who she was and he would forgive her. Only it wasn’t going to be like that.
“I am,” she told him. “Last night was... amazing.”
“Yeah?” His grin turned smug. “For me, too.”
“I’m glad.” She drew in a breath for courage. “You’ve been an unexpected part of my trip here.” She plucked at the collar of his shirt. “I don’t usually do this sort of thing.”
