Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Putting my hands behind my back, I cross my fingers that Luke will eventually get there, even if it takes him a little time. I have to let him do this on his own. I sense he needs that, that he needs to prove to himself, he has what it takes to be the vulnerable kind of brave.
Luke swallows hard and stares intently at me. “I don’t want it be one night. I know I live in the city, and you love this town, but you are extraordinary. You’re witty and smart and generous and optimistic and you make me laugh the way no one ever has. Even when you were a little girl, you were something special. You always have been, and I…”
My heart is expanding and I’m nodding along, not because I’m an egomaniac agreeing with his compliments, but because I know where he’s going and I wholeheartedly approve.
This is it, my sweetest, most outrageous dream come true, and it has me nearly breathless. Not only is Luke Lawrence Ratcliffe, my one and only crush and true love, about to declare that he loves me back and wants to sweep me off on a sleigh into the sunset, we’re surrounded by Christmas happiness as far as the eye can see.
It’s perfection.
He continues with a gulp, “When I’m with you, I forget how much I hate everything and everyone around me.”
I blink. I didn’t exactly see that line coming. “Um, well that’s good. Not hating things is always good. Especially when it comes to people.”
He curses softly. “I’m doing this all wrong again.” His grip tightens on my shoulder. “What I meant to say, is that I’m a better man when I’m with you, Holly Jo Hadley. And I want to be with you as much as possible. I want to take you to dinner and a show in the city. I want to go sledding here in town and help you stock your cleavage nuts and hold your camera while you pose pets. Whatever you need, whatever you want.” He’s almost shaking me now. He’s earnest and intense and handsome as heck.
He continues in a softer, but no less intense voice. “I want to make love to you every night and sleep in late and snuggle with you every morning and drink coffee with whipped cream I will absolutely lick off your nipples at every opportunity.”
A grin splits my face, and my skin begins to tingle for reasons that have nothing to do with the twenty-five-degree temperature.
A cautious smile curves Luke’s lips, too. “I want to take you to France and feed you brie and baguettes in front of the Eiffel Tower and whisper all my dirtiest French phrases into your ear.”
It just gets better and better. Sex every night followed by cuddles and cheese and dirty French? Yes, please. I could listen to him making my dreams come true for hours but it’s time to put the man I love out of his misery.
Because I do love him. So damned much.
I twine my arms around his neck, go on my tiptoes, and tilt my head back, letting my love for him shine. “I will happily do every single one of those things with you. Times one thousand. And never forget how lucky I am to call you mine. Now, kiss me, you sexy reindeer-wearing beast.”
Luke doesn’t hesitate. He sweeps his hand into the hair at the back of my neck and draws me into him. Then he takes my lips in a toe-curling kiss.
And the crowd goes wild.
Chapter Thirteen
Luke
Breaking for air and to shoot Holly a grin, I let my gaze drift down over her costume. It’s heavy on the cleavage again. “You are one sexy elf, Holly Jo.”
Then I can’t resist taking her lips again. Kissing her is even sweeter now that I know I might never have to stop.
Please, don’t let me ever have to stop…
“Luke,” she whispers.
“Hmm?”
“Everyone is watching.”
“What?” I’m so busy kissing Holly with zealous fervor that it takes me a second to hear the ruckus from the rest of the square. I turn to see all of Jingle Bell Junction gathered around the gazebo, applauding our make-up session like a sports event.
“Get a room!” someone yells with glee.
If I’m not mistaken, it’s my brother, Bran.
“Yes, please, get a room,” Mayor Misty says, shaking a plastic peppermint at us. But she’s smiling. Almost everyone is.
Aside from a few moms covering the delicate eyes of their children, most of the crowd appears amused and supportive. There’s lot of fist pumps and catcalling going on, with Santa Claus himself giving a sexy whistle. His mother, Misty, smacks him with the plastic peppermint.
“Knock it off, buster,” she hisses.
Bill looks unrepentant in his Santa suit. He gives me two thumbs up. “You got yourself a good one there, Luke.”