Page 324 of Screwged for Christmas

“Sooo cool!” cut in one of the kids, his little expression that of wonder as he poked his head through the railing.

Ivy bit at her lip. “Don’t you ever get tired of playing hero?”

Aspen held up two of the waterlogged chicken legs. “Well, this chicken could have used one. I guess we can’t march to the beat of these drumsticks anymore.”

Mrs. Howard laughed beside her and a perplexing amount of embarrassment and relief fought for dominance. She didn’t know whether she wanted to hug the life out of him, laugh or cry or pull him up to her bedroom. All options seemed like the logical pick.

Aspen stepped to the side of her and tossed the chicken in the basket beside the registry desk.

“Let me get out of your way. For now.” He pulled her to the side. “I’m always only a phone call away. You know that right?” He leaned in and whispered only for her. And he meant it. Looking into his eyes, she saw the sincerity of his words reflected back at her. He stood close, closer than she remembered a second ago, and he rested a hand on her the small of her back

“Thank you, Aspen,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I’m closer than I realized to losing my cool. I can’t believe Gran left me here to deal with everything.”

Mrs. Howard ushered her kids to the living room and settled them down with some books and board games by the fire.

Aspen cupped her cheek. “You all right? When did the guests start arriving? I can stay a while. Help out.”

“I don’t know what I am right now, honestly. Everyone arrived about ten minutes before hell broke loose and everything went up in smoke. At least there was no damage. Curtains can be replaced. For a girl who has no luck, I had some tonight. ”

“True. You were lucky, Ivy Sunday. But I don’t think your pajamas were.”

“What?”

He pointed down.

She hung her head. “These were my only pair.” Soot and grease smeared her left leg while her other was soaked with foam.

“I think you’re adorable in anything you wear. My fave is your birthday suit.”

She knew he was trying to make her smile and leaning against the wall with him leaning over her like he owned her didn’t make her want to smile. It made her want a repeat of this morning.

“I especially find the little patches of burned cookie on your face sexy as hell and have me hard under all this gear.”

Her mouth fell open.

“But we can leave how I would like to offer to help clean you up later. Right now another van just pulled up behind and I don’t think you want to greet more guests in your pajama bottoms.”

Aspen rubbed at one of the spots he mentioned and she briefly wondered how he managed to keep it all together so effortlessly while she couldn’t manage to get one thing right lately.

“I’ll welcome the new guests that just pulled up while you change.”

She followed his gaze to the entrance. “What am I going to do, Aspen? I don’t even have enough food in the house for these people. No trees. The place is a mess. More so now and I look like an old alley cat.”

He angled her to him and away from the door and her panic attack ebbed to manageable levels, but her heart rate was still skyrocketing into dangerous territory.

His lips found hers and strong hands settled on her hips, pulling her close. He wasn’t lying about the hard-on he sported. The thick ridge of his cock pressed into her and she gave a little gasp into his mouth.

She had no idea how, but he made her forget all her troubles.

“Take a deep breath. It’s all going to be okay. I’ll send a couple of the men back to the fire station with a list for Kade. He’ll bring food while you and I can take care of the rest. You’ve done this before only it’s me here to help instead of your grandparents. Go on, take a shower and change. It will help calm your nerves.”

Only if he joined her! Right now, her panties could use a change. She’d creamed them the second he’d grabbed her by the hips and kissed her like he wanted to tongue fuck her all night long.

She placed a hand on his chest and rose to her tiptoes. Eye to eye reiterated, “I don’t even have Christmas trees for the kids, Aspen. It’s three days until Christmas and the lots are all empty. I tried. I called. Nothing. I’ve ruined Christmas for kids I don’t even know.”

“What about the ones your gran ordered? Didn’t they deliver?”

“The Ivy Effect struck and you already know the rest.”

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