Christmas Affair
Page 14
“Room key?”
“We can celebrate.” He narrowed his gaze. “Unless it didn’t go well with your mother, and you wanna book.” He rubbed a hand along her arm.
Tiny bolts of lightning ran up her skin. Her mind raced to all sorts of naughty places.
“How did you know I spoke to Mom?”
The grin returned. He ran a finger over her forehead. “You get this little crinkle right there”—he poked the spot between her eyes—“when you’ve had a conversation with her. It’s as if you can’t figure out what happened.” He chuckled.
Jo rubbed the bridge of her nose, smoothing the wrinkles. “Yeah, well, we just…” She waved a hand at the lounge door as her mom stepped into view. Jo stiffened, and Brett put an arm around her.
“I assume,” Erica said, her tone snotty, “that you still don’t intend to go through with the wedding. After our guests…”
Fire burned in Jo’s chest.
He leaned close to her ear. “You don’t have to listen to a word from her.”
She met his eyes. “She needs to understand, Brett.” He kissed her cheek and released her arm. “Mom. You’re a snowplow. You shove every obstacle out of my way. But that’s not what I need. Stop the over-protective nonsense.”
Her mother scoffed. “I kept you safe. And this is how you repay me.” She waved a hand at Brett and the fire of anger danced along Jo’s skin for a second time.
“I’m repaying your love and kindness by becoming a responsible adult. By growing up, being independent, and finding my own way.” She stepped toward her mother, angry that the woman insulted Brett.
“It’s time for me to live my own life, Mom. To earn my own money, to clean my own socks. To choose my own partner.”
The woman’s hand fluttered at her neck as if she wanted to reprimand more.
“I have a job and health benefits. I’ll be fine.” She grasped Brett’s hand. “We are going upstairs to my room to celebrate. Good-night, Mom.”
Jo walked by the gaping woman, electing to take the stairs rather than wait at the elevator.
As they passed her, Mom said, “I wanted the best for you, Josephine.”
“I know,” Jo called as they ducked into the stairwell. “You gave it to me, and I ran with it. Thanks, Ma.”
The heavy stair door clanged behind them as she and Brett climbed up.
***
Brett couldn’t help but smile. Jo handled it beautifully, better than he did with Ryan. He had to admire his girl.
His girl.
She was.
He liked her spirit and charm… and other assets. But most of all, he loved how she stood up for herself without tearing down her ma. Nice. He could use a few pointers for dealing with his dad.
Close behind her, he worked hard to keep his hands to himself. He desired nothing more than to smash her up against a wall and ravish her. Well, maybe nuzzle her and make out for a bit. He needed more info about her delicate health. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.
She opened the suite door and pounced on him before he had a chance to close it. Her mouth hot against his, keening sounds emanating from her lips, she wrapped her legs around his waist and ground against him. With a supreme effort, he tapped down his male ego and held back.
She ended the torturously feverish kiss with a pop. “What’s the matter?” Her eyes searched his face, and he hoped he didn’t disappoint her. “Don’t you want to?”
“I do.” His voice sounded deep and rough, “but the stuff with your ma… She understands you’re not some mail-order bride?”
Jo smiled. “Well, if she didn’t before, telling her about the game deal should have driven it home.” She grinned, wiggling against him, driving him toward a caveman brain.
“Great. But I’m no gold digger, woman. I have my own company to run.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Wait, your brother gave you the company?”
Brett shook his head. “Partnership. Kramer Brothers, now. We can find a way to work together. As equals.”
She squealed. “That’s amazing. We are both so awesome.”
Wrapping his hands around her butt, Brett adjusted her position. “And horny. Let’s celebrate.” He duck-walked over to the bed, careful not to jostle her too much.
“Wait,” she said as he lowered her. He could wait. He’d wait forever for his Jo.
“So, uh, you’re interested in more than a hookup?”
Brett smiled, restraining an eye roll. “Oh, hell yeah.”
“Good. I have the room until tomorrow. Let’s get to know each other.” She grinned, opening her arms. He fell into the embrace, feeling satisfied for the first time in his life.
The End
Check out these titles by Ginny Frost
Did you miss Stonewater Stories Book 1? Here it is!
Christmas Sparks— Kindergarten teacher, Margaret Porter, is looking forward to the best Christmas holiday in years. Without her irresponsible ex-husband causing chaos, she and her two children can finally have a fun, peaceful celebration. Everything looks picture perfect until her living room catches fire.
Volunteer firefighter, Ryan Kramer, never knew what hit him when he rescues a reluctant and quick-tempered Margaret from her burning home. But it’s more than sympathy for her situation that gets under his skin. Her sassy, no-nonsense attitude bowls him over.
Margaret finds her family rescued by Ryan again and again. Something about him speaks to her soul, and she discovers it hard to resist him. Unlike her careless and manipulative ex-husband, Ryan’s nothing but wonderful throughout the entire ordeal.
As Ryan investigates the damage to Margaret’s home, he discovers his family’s business, Kramer and Sons, worked on the fire-ravaged room. Did shoddy work by his family put a single mom and her two kids out in the cold at Christmas? Can Margaret see beyond his last name and fall for him too?
Want more Ginny Frost? Check out the Oakwood Tavern series. Book 3 Coming Winter 2021
The Bar Scene—Terese Brock manages the Oakwood Tavern with style and grace. Unfortunately, she's trying to avoid her employer’s IRS disaster and her own debts. She needs a new job—fast. Terese hopes to land an executive position at the new conference center, the perfect solution to all her money woes.
For months, Drew Drake has admired Terese from afar, but she doesn’t know he exists. He’s thrilled when his humor and persistence catch her eye. And when she takes him home, he discovers she’s everything he expected, and so much more.
Drew fails to mention he’s the heir to one of the most successful businesses in town, the force behind the new conference center. Rather than clue her in, he decides to let her get to know the real him. When she walks into her interview, ready to kick ass and take names, her universe shatters.
Behind the desk sits her boy-toy, Drew.
Swindled—For years, Marley Volkov's survival depended on conning people out of their life savings. One look into Alan Reid's pained eyes, with his soiled reputation and heap of financial problems, awakens a new empathy inside her. She renounces grifting forever and not just because every inch of her burns to be with him. But his association with her and her checkered past will drag him further into the gutter. To save herself, to save him, she must walk away. Walk away from the unbridled desire he inspires, from the passion and sympathy that feel like home.
Alan Reid is buried to the neck in money issues. The understanding and compassion he finds in Marley is the exact thing he needs at the completely wrong time. Everything about her makes his blood run hot. She's smart, irresistible, and a criminal. Why is the only person who's ever shown him sympathy have to be a con artist? He can't be with her, but he's compelled to save her from herself.
About the Author
Ginny Frost writes contemporary romance with a sexy, funny kick. In her downtime, she plays clerk at the local library— the perfect job to feed her reading addiction.
She lives in upstate NY with her very own kindhearted ogre, their two smart
and sassy daughters and an evil cat named Flash.
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