Page 11 of Under the Mistletoe
“So, how long are you here for?” Hillary asks in asaccharine voice.
“A few more days.”
“Short trip, huh?” She gives a fake smile. For some reason,she feels threatened by Sydney. “But I guess you have to get back to your life.Are you here alone?”
“Yes, I am,” Sydney replies in a controlled tone.
“Shame. Too busy for trivial things like relationships,right?”
Sydney’s eyes do this weird fast blinking thing, and thenshe raises her index finger. I think she’s about to go off on Hillary butinstead, she says, “I’m going to get a drink.”
Once we’re alone, I turn to Hillary. “That was totallyuncalled for.”
“Why? You don’t call me and I come here to find you chattingup your ex.”
“What I do is none of your business. We’re not together.”
“No, but you’ll come to your senses soon.”
“I assure you, I’m in full possession of my faculties. Now,if you excuse me, I’m going to say hello to our host.”
I leave her without a backward glance, working my waythrough the room to get to the man standing next to the huge Christmas tree, dressedas Santa Claus. His wife is with him, and I can tell they’ve both indulged inthe eggnog quite a bit.
“Jake, my boy! Have some nog.”
“Maybe later. Great party.”
“My baby girl is home. That’s reason enough to celebrate.”
“It sure is.”
Sydney joins us, handing a cup to her father. She doesn’tsee it, but I do—the mischievous glint in her mom’s eye. I watch her carefully,curious to see what she’s up to. I don’t know what I expected, but I certainlydidn’t think it would be bumping Sydney with her hip. She cries out, handsflailing as she tries to regain her balance. Once again, I reach out, catchingher before she falls. Mrs. George grins, her mission complete.
Sneaky woman.
“I’vegotyou.”
My hands are splayed on Jake’s chest, my body pressed againsthim. His arm is firmly wrapped around my waist. I keep my eyes closed for fearhe’ll see what his proximity is doing to me.I’ve got you. He has noidea what those words are doing to me. I wish he had me.
“This is becoming a pattern, Syd… you falling for me.”
I finally open my eyes, staring up into his gorgeous face.The noise around us fades away. Everything else disappears, leaving us in aworld where it’s just me and him.
“Luckily, you always catch me.”
His face inches closer to mine, hand fisting in the back ofmy sweater. “Always.”
“Ooh, look who’s under the mistletoe!”
I’m jolted back to reality by my mom’s words. Jake and Iboth look up, and sure enough, there it is hanging above our heads.
“Well, what do you say?” Jake asks.
Looking around the room, I find everyone’s eyes trained onus, including Jake’s blonde friend. With a nervous smile, I pull his head downto my level and kiss his cheek. The crowd makes their disappointment known, andso does Jake. He holds me tighter when I try to step back.
“You call that a kiss?” he raises a brow.
“Jake… please. Just let me go.”
