Page 12 of Mr. Valentine's Christmas

Lucas’ lips silently moved as he spoke to the other man. I gaped at him with a mix of lust and way too much hope.What if we hit it off tonight?

The tech CEO had an energy about him. He seemed very down to earth in that Covington Falls way. It was impossible not to admire the success of the life he and his brother made. He gestured widely with his hands, his green eyes alight with excitement. It was clear he was passionate about the project. His enthusiasm so infectious, I felt drawn to him.

I let out a thin breath, conscious of the rise in my heartbeat and the tiny pulses occurring between my thighs. Biting my lip, I thought about reaching my hand under the blanket and slipping my fingers beneath the stretchy waistband in my pajama shorts. Masturbating to TV Lucas might wipe the fog from my head, I reasoned.

Yeah, playing with myself until those waves of pleasure overwhelmed me might just do the trick.

The idea got as far as letting go of the remote. Lydia knocked and barged into the room before I got any further. “Coffee’s a-brewing,” she said with all the Christmas cheer anyone would muster.

I groaned. “Lyd, I have a serious hangover. Coffee won’t cut it this morning.”

“Girl, are you stalking this man?” she said as she eyed the television on her way over to the bed. She climbed in beside me, grabbed the remote, and turned up the volume.

Lucas’ voice explaining his vision for the new V-Sparks complex blasted inside the tiny room.

“He’s gorgeous. I can’t believe while I’m sitting on the beach drinking tequila you’ll be sitting across a table from that face.”

I chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind being on that beach next to you.”

Lydia adjusted the volume again and settled into my side. “I’m not saying this is going to happen tonight, but,” she paused. “If you have sex with him after dinner, call me the moment you are done and tell me every filthy detail. And I know you’re freaky, so don’t hold back.” She started laughing at herself before she could finish all the words.

I laughed with her and yanked the remote from her hand. “I’m not rushing into sex. And I don’t think he asked me out with much more intention than to make up for being so late yesterday.”

Lydia rolled her eyes. “Sure,” she said, leaning into me. “Every single dirty detail. I want to know all of it.”

We shared another round of laughs and my head pounded even more because of it. I rested my shoulder onto Lydia’s side, listening to the interview. When I was almost over, I heard myself sigh.

“You should have seen him last night, Lydia. When I told him about Maggie’s condition, he was so tender and loving with her. I mean the man was vulnerable, but still so fucking sexy. And strong. If I hadn’t entered doctor mode before that happened I swear I might’ve—“

“You might’ve entered slut mode.”

“Yeah, I would’ve,” I said, nodding, giggling, and then wincing in pain.

“Aww, look at you. You’re a mess. Come on,” Lydia said, exiting the bed. “I have a surefire cure for that hangover.”

“It isn’t a coffee-based solution, is it?”

“Nope. Better.”

“Oh God, don’t tell me it’s more wine.”

She cackled. “Just bring that sexy ass of yours out here,” she said, disappearing into the living room.

Gingerly, I pulled back the blanket. A wave of dizziness attacked me, and explosions went off inside my head. My stomach protested the sudden movement. I pressed a couple of fingers against my lips and had to sit down again. Taking a few deep breaths, I paused for a moment and waited for the uneasiness in my belly to subside. “Lydia. Whatever concoction you’re making better work. I can’t throw up in front of the hottest guy I’ll ever have dinner with.”

“This stuff works like magic, girl. This isn’t a green juice or some açaí smoothie you Californians like to rave about it. This is a good old-fashioned Covington Falls ‘solve all your problems’ elixir.”

“Will it pay our heating bill this month?”

“Oh, the elixir doesn’t work on money problems. I forgot to mention that.”

“Great,” I mumbled and stood again.

“Would I ever steer you wrong?” Lydia continued. “You trust me, don’t you?”

I trusted Lydia with everything. She was like a Division One point guard. She always seemed to know where to deliver the ball on the basketball court and which player would have the best chance of scoring points. “I trust you. It’s my body I don’t trust. Whenever I see this man, all of a sudden, I want to do very bad, very naughty things to him. Santa’s Nice List be damned.”

“Hallelujah!” Lydia shouted. “Wait ’til I tell Zeke about this.”

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