THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family Book 6)

by Brenda Jackson

  “Seems like it,” she said, when another song was played. “Lucky for me, my cousins made sure I know how to dance to anything.”

  He chuckled. “And I have parents who did the same thing.”

  Her eyes widened and he thought the surprised expression was rather cute. “Your parents?”

  “Yes. My parents love to dance, and since retirement, they’ve given dance classes—for line-dancing too—at one of the senior citizens facilities twice a week.” Now and then, when I have time, I’d join in.”

  “Well, then, Mr. Chestnut,” Monica said, standing. “Why don’t you show me what you can do.”

  He stood. “I’d love to.”

  They joined others on the dance floor. He could tell she was impressed by how light he was on his feet.

  “Having fun?” he asked a few minutes later, when they returned to their table.

  “Yes, even though your friend tried to cut in.”

  He shook his head, a little annoyed. The same woman who had approached him at dinner had been determined to have a dance, if not with him, then by him. Somehow, she had eased in between him and Monica. Landon had had no problem easing her right back out.

  It happened again when another woman moved in and grabbed his hand. He had pulled away from the woman, then took Monica’s hand and led her to another part of the dance floor. Some people needed to be schooled on decent social behavior, he thought, shaking his head. He was far too old for their foolishness.

  The moment they sat down the waitress was back to see if they wanted something to drink, but before they could turn her down, another line dance started up and Landon grabbed Monica’s hand to get in on the Electric Slide.

  By the time he walked her back to her cabin, it was close to midnight. It had definitely been a fun night—especially once the others had realized he was off-limits and left him alone.

  “I had a good time tonight,” Monica said, when they stepped off the elevator.

  He looked over at her. “So did I. Still, I wanted to slow dance with you at least once.”

  She tilted her head to glance over at him. “You did?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Maybe next time, there’ll be more than line-dancing.”

  He definitely hoped so. In fact, he was counting on it. “What time do you want to get off the ship tomorrow?” She’d mentioned earlier that she’d decided against joining any of the private tours and excursions. She’d been planning on checking out the city by herself, but when he mentioned the port, she suggested he join her. He’d been all for it.

  “Nine o’clock will work for me. I’ll order room service for breakfast and be ready by then.”

  “Won’t you need to work on your report in the morning?”

  “I thought I’d spend some time on my article when I return to the ship tomorrow. But I’ll probably have to skip dinner.”

  He lifted a brow. “Skip it all together?”

  “If I get hungry, I’ll order room service. I’m glad we’ll have two days in Brisbane.”

  He was, too. “Since you’re putting together tomorrow’s agenda, why don’t I plan things for our second day in Brisbane?”

  She smiled over at him. “That would be great.”

  “And since we’ll be mainly sightseeing tomorrow, I have a great idea for the next day. What do you think about dinner and dancing in Brisbane?” he suggested. “That way we won’t have to leave the ship until that evening.”

  “That sounds great, as long as we make it back before midnight.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I take it you don’t want the ship to sail without you.”

  “You got that right. Do you have any places in mind?”

  “Not yet. Earlier today my sister texted me the names of several nice eating places.”

  “She’s visited Brisbane before?” Monica asked.

  “No. She’s just making sure I’m not bored.” There was no need to add that Zoe had added that he should find a woman to take with him. Little did she guess that he already had that covered.

  When they reached Monica’s cabin door, she said, “Here I am.”

  He gazed down at her. “Thanks for tonight, Monica. It’s been a while since I’ve had that much fun.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “And thanks again for agreeing to spend time with me on this cruise.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, Landon. I’m looking forward to it.”

  He certainly hoped she meant that. “So, do you have an itinerary for our day-trip tomorrow?”

  “I do, in fact. And I believe you’ll enjoy seeing all the places I have in mind. On the list are places like the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, South Bank Parklands, Mount Coot, The Summit Lookout and the Brisbane Botanical Gardens.”

  “Sounds like it will be a busy day.”

  She smiled up at him and nodded. “Make sure you wear good walking shoes. There will be some hiking involved.”

  “Before I go to bed, I’ll go online and check out the restaurants Zoe suggested. Tomorrow, I’ll let you know where we’ll be going.”

  “Great,” she said. “That way I’ll know how to dress.”

  “And our night in Brisbane will be my treat.”

  “Thanks. That’s very generous of you.”

  Neither said anything for a minute as their eyes held and he knew—and figured she did as well—that something very elemental was taking place between them, something neither of them could deny. However, he was determined that whatever this was, it would not be rushed. He refused to treat this thing with Monica like any other affair because he had a feeling it wouldn’t be. This was different. Monica was different. And he needed to understand that difference and the reason for it. She needed to understand it as well.

  “Well, I don’t want to take up any more of your time,” he finally said, taking a step back. He doubted she had any idea of her effect on him. Or on men, period. He had seen several watching her, checking out the curve-hugging dress she was wearing—the kind that sent a surge of heat through him whenever he looked at her. However, unlike the women who’d forced their way into his space tonight, the men had kept their distance. That had been a smart move on their part—tonight, he’d felt more than a little territorial where Monica was concerned.

  “I’ll come get you at nine in the morning,” he said, breaking the silence between them.

  “Sounds good.”

  Although he didn’t want to rush her into anything, he wanted to kiss her, so he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. He purposely held himself back. Had he kissed her the way that he’d wanted to, they might never make it to Brisbane. “Good night, Monica.”

  “Good night, Landon.”

  He waited until she’d gone into her cabin and closed the door, then crossed the hall to his.

  Monica leaned back against the closed door and drew in a deep breath. Landon’s lips had barely brushed hers, yet her sex was already throbbing. If a mere kiss could make her feel like this, she couldn’t help wondering how it would feel if he gave her a real kiss, one where he took total possession of her mouth, seducing her, body and soul, with hot, deep glides of his tongue.

  She smiled. Even though she hadn’t had that kiss yet, Landon still left her a little dizzy. But there was tomorrow. She was looking forward to their excursion in the morning. And whether he was ready or not, she intended to get that kiss before the ship left Brisbane.

  Monica was feeling like a kid in a candy store. She wanted to sample all the treats at one time, although she knew a little each day would be better for her. And Landon was the ultimate treat. Thanks to him, she’d finally experienced something new today, something she despaired of ever feeling. She was almost giddy with anticipation and relief—Victoria, Kennedy and Bree had been right all along. Nothing was wrong with her. She just hadn’t chosen her bedmates wisely.

  She undressed, showered, entered some notes about the nightclub’s ambience on her laptop then got under the covers. But
she couldn’t sleep. In fact, parts of her were suddenly very wide awake.

  Monica nearly jumped when her phone rang and recognizing the ring tone, she clicked on. “Why aren’t you in bed, Kelly?”

  “In bed?” her sister exclaimed. “Have you forgotten about the time difference? It’s daytime here, Monica.”

  “Sorry, I forgot.”

  “You’re forgiven. So, what did you do today?”

  Monica hadn’t told Kelly about Landon, so she sat up and brought her sister up to date.

  “You mean to tell me that the same guy you met a little over eight months ago is on the cruise with you?” Kelly asked.

  Months ago, she had told Kelly about Landon rescuing her from Dusty. “Yes. And believe it or not, we ran into each other in basically the same way. A guy was trying to force his attention on me, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, Landon was there, stepping in to save the day once again.”

  “Umm, that sounds almost like fate to me. What are the chances that on two separate occasions—and in different parts of the world—he’d be there for you? It’s almost as if the two of you were meant to be together. I can see a June wedding next year for another Bennett girl.”

  “Whoa, hold up, Kelly. This is Monica you’re talking to. You know that the last thing I want is to get serious with a man. I’ve got a lot to do before I think about settling down. I have plans. But…” She took a deep breath. “I will go on record to say that now that I finally experienced the power of sexual chemistry, I wouldn’t mind taking some time to learn more about it.” Monica couldn’t help grinning to herself.

  “Girl, I think you’re crazy to let a good man slip through your hands, whether you’re ready for him in your life or not. Trust me, good guys are hard to find. You might not be looking for love yet, but I am. So is every other woman out there,” Kelly admonished her.

  “And what makes you think Landon is such a good guy, Kelly? You don’t even know him.”

  “I’m just going by what you’ve told me, Monica. He sounds like a keeper. And you know it.”

  “Well, I’m not looking for a keeper. Besides, we’re only pretending to be a couple to keep all the women throwing themselves at him at bay.”

  “That many? Must be nice to be him.”

  They both laughed at that. Moments later, Kelly added, “But seriously, Monica, I hope you don’t think all men are like Mr. Perkins.”

  Monica had to admit that at one time, maybe she’d thought that way. But that was before Michael had come into their lives and she’d seen how happy he and her mother were together. He treated her mom like a queen. And then there were the guys Kennedy and Victoria had married. Haddison and Cortez were good men who adored their wives. So Monica knew there were some good ones out there. She just wasn’t ready to find hers yet.

  “I’ll admit that knowing what a jerk Mr. Perkins is has made me cautious. But then, I think any woman should be careful before giving her undying love to a man, don’t you?”

  “Yes—and you can call me a die-hard romantic all you want—but a part of me wants to believe everybody has a soulmate. And I think you might have found yours.”

  They talked for a while longer, before Monica ended the call. Unfortunately, she was still wide awake. And she couldn’t help considering her sister’s words. Kelly, the ‘have-all-the-fun-you-want’ girl and confirmed bachelorette, thought Landon might have been put in her life for a purpose.

  She hadn’t mentioned anything to Kelly about Landon’s fiancée getting killed just days before their wedding. Monica had seen the deep pain in his eyes when he’d told her. It was apparent that even six years later, he was still in love with his Simone. She had a feeling he was even more reluctant to get into a serious relationship than she was.

  Still, as she shifted to a more comfortable position, she admitted that it was rather nice that he had asked her to spend time with him while they were on the cruise. And she couldn’t think of anyone she would rather hang out with. Regardless of what she’d told her sister, she knew that Landon was a really nice guy, and if she had been in the market for a serious relationship, he would be at the top of her list. Unfortunately, she wasn’t looking for that right now. But that did not mean she couldn’t enjoy the time she spent with him, and if it turned into a holiday fling, well, that was okay too. More than okay, in fact.

  Monica sighed. Right across the hall, Landon was probably in bed, too. Was he asleep or awake like her, thinking about their evening together? Had he enjoyed it as much as she had?

  And was he looking forward to spending more time with her as a supposed couple for the remainder of the cruise?

  She was definitely looking forward to it.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sebrina

  SEBRINA HAD JUST FINISHED rinsing out the coffee cup to place in the dishwasher when she heard the doorbell. Moving toward the door, she called out, “Who is it?”

  “Parker. Parker Stanhope.”

  Whoa, Sebrina thought, stopping in her tracks. She had to see the man who owned a voice like that. It was deep, husky and rich. The sound spread across her body, and she could actually feel her pores opening up and soaking it in.

  Looking through the peephole, she got her first look at him—Dr. Parker Fitzgerald Stanhope, the new neurosurgeon at St. Paul General Hospital. The boy-wonder who was on a professional trajectory that few doctors could even dream about. But then, all one had to do was look at his resume to see why everyone was talking about him. She’d heard it was downright remarkable, especially for someone his age.

  The fact that he had been part of the President’s Goodwill Medical Team at twenty-five—where he’d performed emergency brain surgery when an aneurysm nearly took the life of the crown prince of Belgium—was just one of the extraordinary things he’d accomplished so far. But those in the know said that was only the beginning.

  Still, Rae’jean had stressed that even with all the acclaim, Parker Stanhope was a down-to-earth, all-around great guy. Knowing how protective Rae’jean was of her family, Sebrina believed her. Her cousin would not have recommended Parker as a housemate for her and Monica if she hadn’t thought he would fit right in.

  As she continued to watch him through the peephole, a part of her wondered if maybe he would fit in too much. Because at that moment, she wouldn’t have been surprised if he was the sexiest man she’d ever met. Whether he knew it or not, his facial features filled her vision, and she was taking in every angle and curve.

  He had blue eyes, a shade she was certain she’d never seen before, a mixture of the ocean and the sky, and a mass of sandy brown hair that nearly touched his shoulders. His nose was hawkish, and he had a set of lips that made a girl want to kiss them. And the worst thing? He had dimples. She could never resist a guy with dimples.

  He was smiling while waiting for her to open the door. Did that mean he suspected she was on the other side checking him out?

  Probably. Crap. In as normal a voice as she could muster, given that her heart rate had increased, she said, “Excuse me, who did you say you were again?”

  “Parker Stanhope.”

  Unable to delay any longer, she smiled and opened the door. And there he was. Now she could see every inch of him as he stood there in a pair of jeans and sweatshirt. Not only was he handsome, but he was also built. His muscles were so defined, she had to resist reaching out and touching them to see if they were real.

  And he was their new housemate.

  “Sebrina, right?”

  That sexy, intoxicating voice startled her and she realized she had been standing there staring at him, not saying a word. “Yes,” she said quickly. “Come in.”

  “Thanks.”

  Sebrina moved aside as he entered, pulling a huge piece of luggage behind him. She took a whiff of his cologne. Great. On top of everything else, did he have to smell good, too? “Welcome to St. Paul, Parker,” she said, closing the door behind him and leaning against it, fearful if she took a step, she might faint.

/>   What in the heck was wrong with her? She saw good looking men all the time. And the majority of them were doctors, too, since the hospital was where she spent most of her time these days.

  “Thanks. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said, offering her his hand.

  She took it and immediately felt a rush of something she’d never experienced before. “It’s nice to finally meet you, too,” she said, quickly pulling her hand back.

  He smiled as if he knew the effect that he was having on her. God, she hoped not. He glanced around. “Nice place.”

  “Thanks. I’ll show you to your room. After you’re settled, I’ll show you around the rest of the house.” She forced her feet to move as she walked away from the door.

  “My sister Monica and I decided you’d prefer the downstairs bedroom, which happens to be the master-suite. It’s bigger than all the others.”

  “That’s thoughtful of you.”

  She chuckled. “We figured you’d want your own space. And if you’re downstairs, we won’t be getting in each other’s way. I think you’ll like it. The master-suite has a huge bath and a good-sized closet.”

  There was no need to tell him that she and Monica had joked about using him for protection, as well. If someone broke into the house, he would be downstairs, and could deal with the intruder first. But now that she’d had a good look at him, she had no doubt he’d be able to handle anything that came his way.

  Sebrina certainly hoped that was the case. Because she was already imagining the reactions of all the single female doctors and nurses once they saw him. He was definitely a hottie. But then, she figured he knew it. A man who looked like he did didn’t go through life not knowing just how attractive he was.

  When they reached the bedroom, she stepped aside. “Here you are”.

  He walked past her, and she inhaled his masculine scent. Like the rest of him, it was arousing as sin. She was a woman who could appreciate a good-looking man, but there was no reason to start acting crazy—even if he would be alone in the house with her. While he checked out the room, she checked him out. He was tall, about 6’3, she’d guess. His jeans fit him like a glove and showcased his magnificent backside.