Page 310 of Screwged for Christmas

“You’re trapped and all alone in an eight-bedroom B&B with massive amounts of paints, little twinkly lights, and spotty power and have fifteen, maybe twenty people, due in a few days’ time all expecting the Winters holiday treatment.”

“You forgot the baking, the cooking, the replacing of light fixtures and sole caregiver to one very attention-hungry golden retriever. So yep. That’s my holiday horror story in a nutshell.”

“Max is a handful. But you forgot one thing.”

“You’re right.” She scooped up another mouthful. “I’m being stalked by a huge reindeer that has a fixation for my twinkly lights and cookies. I can’t redecorate so I can scratch that off my list. Silver lining?” She shrugged. “Thinking about it, maybe I should thank her for that.” She retrieved her planner from her bag. “I guess that’s one thing I don’t have to buy either.”

“Big mistake,” Aspen warned. “Nothing will save you now that she’s found a friend who will feed her cookies.”

Her attention moved from her notes to Aspen’s tempting gaze. Like the richest coffee and so full of sin she didn’t dare tempt fate and do what she was thinking--stealing another kiss.

This isn’t real though, she reminded herself.It’s just a fantasy of whirlwind of excitement and emotions getting tangled together. Nothing real.

Ivy shifted and as she moved, her hand brushed over his thigh.

The slow smile of his should be outlawed. It made her forget about everything instantly.

And she meant everything. The past douche faced fiancé. burned houses, Christmas and New York City. And in that order.

He simply continued to hold her attention with his deep gaze. Waiting to see what she wanted next, no doubt. A repeat of what they were doing back at the grocery store would be nice. But this time she would crawl over his lap. spread her legs over him and slide down that well-built body all the while kissing the hell out of the man.

“Are we alone?” The question was out of her mouth before she thought better of it. Something she apparently did often around him. Too often for comfort.

“For now. Have something in mind?”

Funny, she didn’t remember the golden specks in his eyes. Her gaze slipped to his mouth.

“I was thinking about dessert.”

Her phone buzzed and the interruption jerked her back to reality. Aspen pulled away with a nonchalance she could never pull off. So confident, easy-going as though they were not thinking about firehouse sex in broad daylight.

The urge to ignore the phone as so strong she nearly hit the end button without looking at the screen.

But the adult part of her couldn’t.

Aspen was everything Lewis wasn’t. Where Lewis was too busy trying to make partner at his law firm to care for anyone around him Aspen made time to connect with those he cared about. Took time to ask the important questions. He listened.

And if she’d wanted to strip down to her lacy bra and panties and make out right here in the kitchen she had no doubt he’d do it without hesitation.

She pulled her phone from her bag. “Ugh. No.” Speak of the devil. Just what her daydidn’tneed.

At least that’s how she felt today. Last week might have been a different story, but today she didn’t want to talk to a man who so easily gave up on her. Or maybe he wasn’t all that into her to begin with.

Aspen pushed back his chair. “I’ll give you some space.”

She flicked the screen and ended the call before stuffing the phone back in her bag.

Yes. Space. The more she could get the better.

“No.” She reached between them and grabbed his hand before he could stand and walk away. “It’s not important.”

He flashed a grin. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s not who I was hoping.”

He nodded and returned to her side and propped an elbow on the table, their empty plates forgotten to the side.

“What were you going to say earlier? You said something about me forgetting something.”

---