Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place Book 6)

by Natalie Ann

  “He wanted to run the business. You know it,” her mother argued. “He loves the power.”

  “He does. And that isn’t what I meant. It doesn’t matter. I hadn’t seen Brian since the divorce. And when I bought this house I needed a lawyer. I figured why not? He treated me well. He knows the history. I wouldn’t have to give too much information on where the cash was coming from, etc.”

  “And you talked about Brian nonstop when you were going through the divorce.”

  “I did?” she asked, filling her mother’s coffee cup up again. The puppies were taking a nap for the moment after having gone for a walk earlier and then running around when her mother arrived. Thankfully they tired out quickly.

  “You had more nice things to say about your lawyer in that short period of time than you did your husband during your dating period and then marriage.”

  Robin thought back and realized that might be the case. Hadn’t she said that she’d been taken with Brian all along?

  Was it possible that she was looking at him as her savior? No, that was icky. And there was nothing icky about what she felt for him.

  She was attracted. She enjoyed his company. She wanted to learn more about him.

  Yeah. No ick factor there!

  It was more like a hot factor.

  She had to resist the urge to put her hand to her face to stop a giggle when she thought that. It’d just raise more questions from her mother.

  “He’s a nice guy. And after the house closing I was trying to think of ways to see him again.”

  “So you asked him out?” her mother interrupted.

  “No. Yes. I’m not sure. Two days after the closing he came over with a housewarming gift. That plant over there next to the one my neighbors in the back gave me. Wine and chocolate.”

  “Wine and chocolate?” her mother asked. “Sounds more like a date than a housewarming gift.”

  “I’ve given people wine before for a housewarming gift,” she argued.

  “Fine. I’m just nervous for you. I’m worried about you. And Rick might fly home the minute he finds out.”

  “So don’t tell him,” she said. “I’m a grown woman. Give me a break. I bought this house and take care of it. I’ve got two puppies in my care now too. I’ve got a good job and if I can’t fix or handle something, I don’t call my parents or brother to do it for me. I can pay someone to do it if I can’t figure it out on my own.”

  As much as she went to her brother for advice or a shoulder, she was still going to take care of herself. Needing advice wasn’t the same as having someone grill you over the man you wanted to see naked.

  “You are all those things,” her mother said. “You’ve always been independent. That isn’t what this is about.”

  “Then what is it about?”

  “You’re soft. Gentle. Maybe he thinks you are easy pickings.”

  “Again, you’re being mean and there is no reason to be.” She decided to be a little bold and see if she could shock her mother. “He’s been here for dinner twice and we went out last night. We’ve shared a lot of hot kisses.”

  “Just kisses?” her mother asked, grinning at her.

  “Yes. And I wanted him to come in. I wanted him to take me to bed. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a man and it’d be nice to be with one that really wants me. Not just for sex. Not for an image. But me.”

  Her mother reached her hand over and laid it on hers. “I know, honey. It will happen. So what happened if that is what you wanted?”

  “I couldn’t ask him. I didn’t want to sound desperate. I was throwing hints out and didn’t think he was getting them. Then when he dropped me off he finally made a comment that he knew what I was asking but it wasn’t right yet. That I’d know when the time was right and it wasn’t last night. That’s not a guy that is after me because I’m easy picking.”

  “No. It’s not. I can already see you’re falling for him in a few short dates. Just don’t get ahead of yourself like last time.”

  “That’s the thing,” she said. “I wasn’t ahead of myself with Alex. He pursued me. He had to win me over.”

  “Because you didn’t think you were good enough,” her mother said, knowing one of the many talks the two of them had.

  “And I wasn’t when it came down to it. Not for what he wanted or was looking for. I was a means to an end for him. I fit the role he was looking for to get his parents off his back.”

  “What I’m worried about is your self-confidence. It’s been ten months since you’ve been with anyone. Since you walked out on Alex. Brian is your first.”

  “He’s not a rebound if that is what you are thinking. I’ve had relationships before Alex. Healthy ones. They didn’t work for a lot of reasons. Yes, Alex knocked me back several pegs. Any woman whose husband cheats on her will feel like she didn’t measure up. But this was different.”

  “Yes,” her mother said. “You’d never be what he wanted. We all know that. Which is why I don’t want you to not try again. This has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Alex and his choices.”

  “You’re confusing me. You want me to try and then you want me to be careful. Which is it?”

  Her mother smiled. “I’m not sure myself. I guess when it comes down to it, what I really want is for you to be happy.”

  “Then you’ve got that wish. Because I am happy right now. I love my job. I love the time at the animal shelter. And I’m enjoying a new relationship with a sexy man that cares about my feelings rather than what I can bring to him.”

  “I guess you told me,” her mother said.

  “Yes, I did.”

  And a few hours later she was on the phone with Brian. “You told her all of that?”

  She wondered if it was stupid on her part to confess the entire conversation she had with her mother to Brian. Well, not the entire one. She didn’t tell him how much she wanted him in her bed. None of those details.

  She only told him the parts that worried her mother. Where she didn’t feel worthy. And that she was happy right now and why.

  “I did. Am I sharing too much with you?”

  “No,” he said. “I’m glad you felt like you can tell me. That you felt comfortable enough to.”

  “I’m glad I did too.” But now she was feeling a little self-conscious after airing everything out and thinking it was too much. “So, what did you do today?”

  “Not much. Just cleaned the house and did laundry. Nothing exciting or glamorous.”

  “But it’s all a part of life,” she said. “So many people want magic or wishes and dreams. They don’t think of the normal everyday chores and rituals we have. We are all human. We wake up with messy hair, bad breath, we use the bathroom, we burp, we laugh, we cry, we stub our toes and hop around like a fool hoping no one sees us while we do it.”

  Brian burst out laughing. “Did you bump into something this morning?”

  “I did. I tripped over Leia and then stubbed my toe and looked like a fool. But I’m betting you’ve done that a time or two in your life.”

  “Stubbed my toe and looked like a fool. Many times and not always at the same time.”

  “So my point is, you lived your life today. Nothing bad happened. Nothing good either. It was just a normal day. We all have plenty of them and many would be thankful for that.”

  “You’re amazing,” he said.

  “Why? Because I’m not looking for things that don’t exist?”

  She’d thought of all those fairytales for years, and when she became a real life Cinderella, her coach broke down in the middle of the road in the winter leaving her there with frozen tears on her face.

  “You’re a realist. I’m one too. Let’s say a lot of women didn’t like that about me.”

  “Because they saw you as their means to that dream they had?” she asked.

  “Yep. I don’t play those games. We’ve established that.”

  “We did. And I’m glad.” And she was going to be bold and sa
y what she wanted. “So, what if the time is right for me? Do I have to tell you that? What if I already know?”

  There was silence on the other end and he finally said, “You want to push my limits don’t you?”

  She’d heard him gulp and then humor in his voice. “I’m just trying to be upfront about this. We don’t like games, but do we need rules?”

  “If you know it’s right—truly in your gut—then you just let me know. I’m not pushing you. I don’t want you to think I’m after you for your money since I know what you’ve got.”

  Interesting. She didn’t tell him that part of the conversation she’d had with her mom either. Could it be he was doubting himself too and not coming out and saying it until now?

  “I don’t think that in the least.”

  “Then I’m glad I said it. It’s the truth.”

  “And I believe you.”

  “If you know what you want, then who am I to tell you differently.”

  “I know what I want,” she said.

  “And what is that?”

  He was going to make her say it. If it was truly right in her gut like he’d said, then she shouldn’t have a problem saying it. “You,” she said firmly.

  11

  Guiding Him Home

  She wanted him. Robin couldn’t get any clearer than that in Brian’s mind.

  So one week later he was on his way to her house with an overnight bag in his car. Just in case.

  It’d been a week since she’d said that one word. “You.” When he asked what she wanted.

  They hadn’t seen each other in the past week, but they’d talked daily at night.

  They flirted. They laughed. They teased.

  And now he wanted to do those things in person.

  He parked his car and decided to leave his bag there for now. No reason to rush it and put pressure on her. Maybe she changed her mind. Though he hoped the hell not.

  He didn’t even get a chance to ring the bell and she was opening the door for him, then grabbing his jacket front and yanking him in, her mouth going right to his. That was one hell of a welcome he’d like to get more often.

  “Well, hello there,” he said when she came up for air.

  “I missed you. Sorry. I shouldn’t be so grabby, but I couldn’t help it. I’ve been waiting for this night all week.”

  Sounded promising for him. “Same here. Where are the dogs?” Normally they came running, but the house seemed somewhat quiet.

  “In their crate sleeping. I didn’t want the doorbell to wake them and we are going to sneak upstairs right now without them knowing you are here.”

  “We are?” he asked, somewhat shocked. This was a side of her he hadn’t expected to see.

  “Unless you don’t want to,” she said, standing back. “Maybe I’m rushing things. I’m sorry. I should give you a choice.”

  He started to laugh. “You made it clear what you wanted. I won’t fight you off. I was just stunned to be attacked like that. Not that I’m complaining. You can do it every time I walk in the door if you want.”

  “I might do that. But in this case I’m nervous and I’m putting up this big bravado.”

  He reached for her and pulled her into his arms and just held her. “I want to say there is no reason to be nervous, but I think everyone is the first time. Just relax. No pressure here. We can sit and have a glass of wine if you want.”

  “Nope. That will only make me more nervous. Seriously. I just want to go upstairs and get my hands on you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had my hands on a man.”

  “Then I want to give you what you want,” he said back.

  “What every woman wants to hear.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up the stairs. He hadn’t been upstairs once yet and didn’t expect to get a tour.

  By the time they were at the back of the house, she was shutting her bedroom door and reaching for him again.

  “I think we might need to slow down,” he said. Here he planned on being tender and treasuring her. He had no idea of her relationship with her ex and would never ask, but he had a feeling their time in the bedroom wasn’t spent making her feel like a woman who was being cherished.

  “Maybe later,” she said. “I hoped you’d stay tonight, but if you don’t want to I understand that too.”

  Guess they were thinking the same and that made him feel better about things.

  He cupped her cheeks with his hands, his mouth lowering. Anything to slow her the hell down because the way her eyes were staring at his crotch made him think she was going to drop to her knees, free him, and then have a feast.

  And damn, he wished he didn’t think that because now he was throbbing in his jeans and extremely uncomfortable.

  He pulled her closer, let her feel the heat and need he had for her.

  Just like he figured, her hand went down and cupped him, then squeezed. “Oh God,” she said. “I need to feel this inside of me. I even bought condoms.”

  “I always wear them and have them with me too.” He wanted her to know that he wasn’t careless with sex like her ex had been.

  “Good,” she said and then stepped back. She opened a drawer and pulled a box out that wasn’t even opened. He wasn’t going to waste time opening it when the time came and just removed the one from his pocket for now and set it down.

  When he turned around she was pulling her shirt over her head.

  “I guess there isn’t any slowing you down, is there?”

  “No. Sorry. Later,” she said, but she had this shy look on her face that was eating a hole in him with a need so great he was afraid it might swallow him up.

  He pulled his shirt over his head and realized her jeans were already down around her ankles and she was hopping around trying to get them off. He wanted to laugh but wouldn’t dare.

  He was actually happy she felt comfortable enough to just let loose like this even though she said she was nervous.

  When he was down to his boxers and Robin her matching white lace bra and panties, they just both reached for each other simultaneously, then tumbled on the bed. There was no use trying to tell her to slow down. He didn’t think he could if he wanted to.

  He flipped her on her back, then came down over her, his mouth going to her nipple pushing through the lace. No reason to remove the bra; he could taste her through it and did.

  Her back arched up, her hands going to his head and holding him there while he paid more attention to that hard little piece of skin than he ever did on another woman. Maybe it was the way she was moaning and holding him in place when others didn’t.

  He moved his head to the other side and gave it equal attention. But by now her body was almost shaking under him and he feared she was going to come with the slightest touch.

  Not a bad idea, he was thinking, because he knew the minute he sunk into her warm and wet flesh he might be done.

  He slithered down her body, his tongue leaving a trail of kisses, licks, and nips in its wake. When he got to her panties, he just yanked them down and off.

  She was nice and neat and trim and it was calling him in like a lighthouse beckoning from the sea and guiding him home.

  Yep, that’s what this was. Home.

  His hands spread her legs wider, his mouth dropping down and licking at the dew gathering.

  Just like with her nipples, her hands were in his hair and holding him in place while he tried to spend time there.

  Only she wasn’t letting him anymore. “Stop teasing me.”

  It was time to send her over so he put his mouth on her swollen bud of pleasure, pulled it in between his lips and sucked, then slid two fingers inside of her.

  Damn, she was tight, but her hips came up pumping faster than he thought possible until her body stilled and she dropped back down, the breath going in and out of her lungs as if she’d just sprinted a mile uphill.

  He moved to the side of the bed, stood up, dropped his boxers, grabbed the condom and covered himself.

  When he looke
d at Robin, her eyes were open and on his cock. “Oh. Now I’m going to say it again. Don’t tease me.”

  She was something else. A little pistol that he didn’t know was hidden in there. What man didn’t love that in the bedroom?

  He climbed back on the bed and over, nudged her legs apart, found her core, and slid in smoothly. She was still tight but in a good way. Like a wet fist that didn’t want to let go.

  Then she started to move her hips and squeeze him even tighter. “Shit,” he said.

  “Don’t you like that?”

  “Oh. I love that. But I’m not going to last long if you do it again.”

  “I don’t want you to. I want you to feel like I just did,” she said.

  “But I want you to come again.”

  “I’ve never done it twice in a night. Don’t worry about it.”

  Now that was a challenge if he’d ever been handed one. “You’re going to tonight,” he said. If it was the last thing he did he was going to make her come again...right now.

  He pulled within himself, every amount of control he had, and started to move in and out of her.

  “That feels so good,” she said. “I don’t have to come to enjoy it.”

  “But you’re going to,” he said. He leaned back and got on his knees, her legs wide, his body still in hers. His thumb went to her nub while he started to rub in circles. If he had to hold in place to get her there he would, but he wasn’t moving from this spot until he knew she was close.

  “Now that feels wonderful.”

  Good to know, so he kept it up and found that it wasn’t going to be long. She was squeezing him so hard inside of her that she was almost pushing him out. He moved back in and she squealed. “Do it again,” she said.

  So he did but knew he wouldn’t have a lot left in him either.