Page 107 of The Mistletoe Kisser
“Then after twenty-four months we get engaged. Get married. Live happily ever after.”
A single fat snowflake fell from the sky and landed on her cheek.
She could feel herself nodding as if it was all perfectly logical. “I like this plan. How do we seal this deal?”
He looked above them at the mistletoe. A few more fat flakes drifted toward the ground. “I’ve got a few ideas.”
“How many of them are family festival friendly?” she teased.
He nuzzled into her neck, then bit her earlobe. “Zero.”
“Take me home, Wrong Ryan.”
29
Magic really did happen. And this time it was happening to her, Sammy thought as Ryan kissed her across the threshold of her front door.Theirfront door. That would take a little getting used to. She couldn’t wait.
“Mmm, wait,” she said, breaking away from the kiss. “Why is it so clean in here—Oh my God! There’s a Christmas tree!”
Her little farmhouse was immaculate. The crafting supplies, laundry, and dishes were gone. There was a garland draped over the mantel above the warm glow of a fire. A Christmas tree topped with mistletoe stood in the corner, strands of colored lights casting a soft glow.
There were candles in her windows. Instrumental holiday music played softly in the background.Die Hardwas cued up on the TV screen.
It smelled like sugar cookies and happiness.
“How did you do this?” she asked, bringing her fingers to her mouth.
He stroked a hand over her hair. “I asked for help.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me.” She blinked back tears that blurred the lights into starbursts.
“I didn’t do it alone. You have a whole town of people who love you, Sam.”
McClane padded by, a plaid bowtie on his collar. Stan the sheep let out a snore from a dog bed next to the fireplace. “What’s that under the tree?” she asked, spying a small, flat box wrapped with a red ribbon.
“Go find out,” Ryan suggested. “But lose some layers first.”
With a grin, she shrugged out of her vest and handed it to him. When he wasn’t looking, she pressed her face to the scarf and took a breath.
While he hung up their coats, she toed off her boots and pounced on the package.
Ryan sauntered over to her and joined her on the rug. As she worked the ribbon free, he pulled off both her socks.
When she started to lift the lid, he stripped her sweater off over her head.
“This isn’t how unwrapping presents usually goes,” she said as he sank his teeth into her shoulder next to her bra strap.
“Mmm, are you sure? Because I think the rest of the world is doing it wrong,” he said as he worked open the button on her jeans.
Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers dipped into the waistband. “I can pay attention to this later,” she decided, sliding the box away and reaching for him.
“Open your present, Sam, and let me open mine.” His gray eyes glittered in the soft light of the fire, the tree. Dangerously romantic, she thought. Then he maneuvered her onto her hands and knees, and she was left with just dangerous.
Her heart hammered away in her chest as he knelt behind her and slowly slid her jeans down her trembling thighs.
His laugh was soft, ragged, as he traced one finger lightly over her underwear. “Mistletoe here too, Sparkle?”
She shivered. “I don’t make the rules,” she teased, her voice quivering.
