Page 66 of You Wish
He reached out, fingers brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her skin was warm beneath the touch, and suddenly everything else felt distant, like they were the only two people on earth.
She let out the softest moan he’d ever heard when their lips met. Tender, like something that had been building quietly between them since the night when they’d slept together. Like their bodies had been waiting for this moment to catch fire.
He memorized the curve of her mouth, the way her fingers curled against his Henley. He could hold on to her—just like this—forever, in the middle of a snow-filled night that suddenly felt like it was made just for two.
When they finally pulled apart, she smiled that shy, breathless smile that made him want to kiss her all over again.
“Better?”
She gave a nod and knocked on the door. Immediately it opened and the warm scent of cinnamon and cocoa spilled out into the cold.
He slyly smacked her right butt cheek, nudging her forward.
“What was that?” she said under her breath.
“Just keeping things interesting.”
“You’re here,” Benjaman’s mother said on a breath. She wore some kind of red velvet dress with a necklace made of blinking tree lights and dark spots of sorrow under her eyes that expressed her disbelief—as if she hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up too high only to be let down. Again.
Jake knew that smile. He’d watched a brave Georgia wear it time and again when they’d been together. Never in front of anyone but him. Which is why he knew that if he turned around he’d see her hiding it again.
Georgia stepped forward and let a gentle smile warm her face. She took Nadine’s hands and squeezed them. “I broke apromise once to someone I loved and vowed to never let that happen again.”
“Thank you.” They held on to each other as if afraid that if they let go the moment of understanding would vanish. “Dear me. You must think I’m a horrible host. I’m Nadine.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m?—”
“Jake Evans. I know. I only hear your name shouted around my house daily. I am so grateful you made it. I know the holidays are for being with family?—”
“And tonight, you and Ben are our family,” he assured her. “Now, where is the man of the hour?”
“He’s in the front room with his cousins, rewatching the highlights of when you won in Germany.” That had been the last time he’d placed first this season. And if he didn’t figure out what was going on, second might be the place he finds himself again.
She wrung her hands. “I had no idea if you’d make it, so he has no clue. If you want me to introduce you…”
Jake grinned. “I got this. I’m practically an honorary uncle in three countries.”
Georgia rolled her eyes but followed him in. The second they stepped into the family room a cluster of little faces whipped toward them like they’d heard sleigh bells. Ben was in the middle, frozen mid–eggnog sip, his eyes going huge.
It took everything Jake had not to drop to his knees and cry on the spot. Ben reminded him so much of Connor. The oval face, the hopeful blue eyes, the underdeveloped body.
It was uncanny and heart-wrenching.
Pull it together, man.Today is about Ben, not your feelings.
“Hey, champ,” Jake called, giving him a two-finger salute. “Heard you’re the fastest kid in town.”
The boy didn’t speak. Just sat there in an F1 decorated wheelchair looking as if Santa had just come down the chimney.
“Holy shit,” someone said.
Jake turned around and saw a man he assumed was Ben’s dad.
“Sorry, you just look like Jake Evans,” the man said.
“Dan,” Nadine said, embarrassment tingeing her cheeks. “This is Jake Evans.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jake said and before he could shake the man’s hand, he heard the telltale sound of an electric wheelchair speeding over hardwood.
