Page 28 of Sold on You

Ace had never wanted a woman so badly in his entire life. It wasn’t just sexual desire, it was a need that got him deep in his gut. Deep in his soul. Deep in hisheart.

He’d always had a thing for Charlee, but this went way beyond anything he’d ever expected.

When they got everything set aside, they returned to the living room. Ever since he’d kissed her, a tension hung so heavy in the air he could just about cut it. He glanced at the tree, where he’d hung the mistletoe on one of the back branches to bring out another time.

Ace smiled as he thought of that amazing kiss beneath the mistletoe.

Charlee’s laugh drew him out of his thoughts. She pointed to the base of the tree, beneath the branches. “Ossie likes it.”

He grinned as his gaze rested on his Australian shepherd, who now lay beneath the tree like a big gift. The flash of the colored lights illuminated her black, tan, and white fur in different shades. He crouched to rub her behind her ears.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Charlee asked.

Sure.” He got back to his feet. “How about another Christmas flick?”

She went to a section of the huge wall unit and looked over her shoulder at him. “Classics or something more recent?”

He shrugged. “Surprise me.”

She dug out a couple of DVDs, turned and raised them for him to see.A Charlie Brown ChristmasandMiracle on 34th Street.

Ace laughed and settled back on the couch. “Definitely a girl after my own heart.”

“Let’s start with Charlie Brown.” Charlee slid a DVD into the player, then handed him the remote when she returned. “I know how you men like control of the remote.”

He grinned and took it from her. “Of course.”

“Hold on and I’ll grab more eggnog.” She turned away and he watched her as she disappeared into the kitchen. He loved watching her cute little butt as she walked away.

A little banging around, then she returned and handed him a mug. Eggnog smelled and tasted like Christmas.

She sat a foot or so away from him on the couch. She raised her mug. “Cheers.”

He tapped his mug to hers. “Cheers.”

Not only cold eggnog rolled down his throat, but a healthy dose of whiskey warmed him at the same time. He lowered his mug as he swallowed. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Of course.” She settled back against the couch. “It probably seems like I drink too much.” She shifted, making herself more comfortable. “Pretty much the only time I drink is when I come to the cabin. Not a lot, actually a lot less than we have today. But special times call for special bonuses in drinks.”

She raised her mug to her lips, sipped and smiled. “I’ve really needed to relax after the week I’ve had.”

“Today is a time to forget all that, sunshine.” Ace took another swallow and lowered his mug. “This is a Christmas Eve to remember.”

She sighed and shimmied a little, like she was trying to find the most comfortable position. “It is.”

WhenA Charlie Brown Christmaswas over, Ace popped up a batch of popcorn, and Charlee put inMiracle on 34th Street.She returned to the couch and breathed in the buttery, salty scent of the popcorn.

When he returned with a big bowl, Ace sat on the couch and tossed popcorn to Ossie. She caught every piece he threw.

Charlee used a remote to dim the lighting, and then the colorful flashing Christmas lights caused patterns to change across the floor.

When Ossie had enjoyed enough popcorn, Ace moved closer to Charlee and he started the next movie with the remote. As they began to watch it, she realized he was much closer to her than before.

That hard, muscled body was now plastered to her side, and she almost couldn’t think straight.

Did he know how he affected her? Did he know that she was starting to want him in a way that scared her at the same time it exhilarated her?

She stared at the screen of the ninety-six-inch television and tried to focus on the movie, but the words became nothing but white noise behind her thoughts that wouldn’t leave Ace.

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