Page 98 of Holiday Hopefuls
“With my assessment of your … ” his heated gaze travels the length of me. “Attributes. Since you were so kind as to share some of mine.”
My heart kicks into high gear, thrashing more rapidly with each step he takes. And when he reaches where I lay and holds out his hand, my entire nervous system hums in anticipation.
“Callie.”
Needing no further urging, I place my hand in his. The effect this man has on me is criminal. The moment his skin touches mine, my entire body sings.
Outwardly, only my breathing gives away any discomfort from the need growing in my core.
He doesn’t miss it, biting back a smile as he pulls me to my feet. Oliver adjusts so that I’m standing toe to toe with him, those long fingers intertwining with mine by our sides.
Blush rapidly staining my cheeks, I chance a peek up at him. “You wanted to discuss, um, something?” I whisper. Air catches in my throat as his intensely blue eyes hold mine.
“Yes, Ms. Rutherford. I’ve spent a good deal of time with you, you see.”
“I’m aware,” I nod.
He grins. “And I believe I’ve gathered some notes worth sharing.”
“Oh?”
Oliver brushes his nose along the length of mine. “Oh.” Swallowing, I shiver at the featherlight touch as his cheek lifts into a smile against my face. “First, there’s your dedication to a career you love.” He presses a kiss on the tip of my nose. “You take care of all those plants.” Another kiss lands on my right cheek.
“You would consider that a feat,” I tease. This close, his scent is intoxicating and I have to work twice as hard to keep my mind from wandering. Worrying about if he still thinks this is fake for me.
If this is still fake for him.
Or what would happen if I just started peeling off my clothes.
Focus Callie.
His smile widens as he continues. “There’s your courage in standing up to your family at every turn.” A third kiss warms the other cheek as Oliver wraps my arms around his middle.Only when my hands are linked does he release me from his hold, palms moving to press into my back. “But then there’s my favorite one.”
Leaning back, I raise my brows in question. “You have a favorite thing about me?”
“Callie, everything about you is my favorite.” Despite my teasing, Oliver’s voice only holds gentle sincerity.
I love you. The words catch in my throat, clawing for freedom. But that lingering doubt screams in the back of my mind.
One of his hands reaches up, tracing my cheekbone with delicate fingertips while his blazing blue eyes remain my entire universe. “You don’t understand, do you? You work so hard to accommodate everyone else that you don’t even realize there are people who would turn their lives upside down to make sure you stayed there forever.” Oliver leans in, closing the distance remaining between our lips as his other hand presses me deeper into him. His heartbeat thrums through the thin shirt, every hard plane melding perfectly with my curves.
My hands move from his waist. Curling around, they grab at the loosened front of his pants, gripping as tightly to them as I’m trying to hold on to my sanity.
A battle I’m quickly losing.
Breaking the kiss, my apprehensive gaze finds him. “Oliver, I feel like I need to tell you something.”
Two large palms cup my face.
“This … this is?—”
“Real,” he finishes.
I nod. “So, I don’t really know if this is a good idea. You know, if it’s still fake for you. And I completely understand if it is.” Silently pleading with the hot chocolate gods to make the word vomit stop, Oliver proves he knows how to answer my every prayer.
Those kind eyes holding my gaze come to life. Pressing his unyielding groin against my stomach, the fire staring back at me only burns brighter. “Is thisrealenough for you?”
My breath hitches, eliciting a wicked grin from the man before me. Swallowing, I nod to myself before peeking up at him. “I’m sorry, Dr. Rhodes, but I think I’ll need to take a better look before I can adequately answer your question.”
