My Only Christmas Wish

by J. M. Jeffries

  “Please sit down.” She hated when he towered over her. She pushed the glass of scotch toward him. “You look like a single-malt man.”

  He took his coat off, folded it neatly and put it down on the bench. As he slid in to sit, he wrapped his fingers around the glass, fingertips touching hers and she pulled her hand back, fingers scorched by his touch.

  He took a sip, sighed and took another one. “Glenfiddich. Nice. Good choice. Thank you.”

  “Thank you for coming.” She squirmed a little. “How is Sophia after her great adventure?”

  “She’s fine and a little put out with me for barging in on her fun.”

  “I know Bennett’s seems chaotic, but it is a very safe place to shop.” Darcy had sent her security people to the police academy for a special series of classes designed just for large-store security. She had implicit trust in their ability to do the job.

  He took another sip of his scotch. “I’m not questioning the safety of Bennett’s, but the fact that Roo walked out of the day care center without anyone questioning her.”

  “Jill says she’s a very well-behaved child and nobody expects well-behaved children to wander away like she did. I’m also at fault, because I promised her I would introduce her to Chef Mario. She’s very curious about every aspect of the store, and I wanted to encourage her. I’m very sorry I didn’t come to you first.” If she were being honest with herself, she’d never even thought to consult with Eli on anything. She was so used to making her own decisions, doing things her way, that having to check with him galled her.

  He studied her. “So why ask me to come here? You could have apologized on the phone.”

  “Apologizing on the phone didn’t seem like enough and felt a little rude.” She lifted her chin. “My mother raised me to be better than that.” Besides, apologizing on the phone was the coward’s way out. She needed to face him and she needed to know if the feelings he’d sparked in her with his kiss were genuine or just the emotion of the moment because so much had gone well during the day.

  “Thank you. Apology accepted.” He reached out and placed his hand over hers.

  She felt a thrill run through her as she gazed at his hand covering hers. She wondered what it would be like to have his hands on her body, caressing her…not a good place to go. He didn’t agree with her on much of anything and she didn’t want to complicate what they already had. Yet… She tried to bring her thoughts back to the present. “If you wanted to end up a teacher, how come you didn’t? It has to be more than a sense of duty and obligation.”

  He hesitated, his brow furrowed. “I loved my dad, but he’d accrued so much debt that if I hadn’t stepped up and taken charge, he and my mother would have lost their home. I didn’t want my mother to be humiliated.”

  “I know your mother. She’s a strong woman.” Darcy and Barbara Austin had crossed paths a number of times over the years, sitting on various charity committees and boards. Barbara was not a woman who would have worried about being humiliated. Eli was the one who didn’t want to be humiliated. She also felt though he loved his dad, she didn’t think he liked him very much. “What are you trying to prove?”

  “Prove!” He looked startled. “Nothing.”

  “I don’t believe you. I think you needed to prove that you are a better father, better businessman, better husband.” She thought about how he’d spoken about the marriage being over but staying together for Sophia’s sake.

  “Where did you get your psych degree?” He took another sip of his scotch and half closed his eyes.

  She watched as his long fingers seemed to caress the glass and she had another flash of his hands on her body. She blinked the thought away and chuckled. “I work in retail. I have five seconds to size up a potential customer, figure out what they want, provide it and get every penny out of their pocket I can—legitimately.”

  “Luxury items already have a huge markup.”

  She tossed her Gucci alligator tote on the table. “Do you know what this goes for retail?”

  His eyes narrowed as he studied the tote. “Gucci. Alligator. Three thousand bucks?”

  “Forty-two hundred and change,” she said. “I sold so many of these I received a free one. I talked a whole lot of women into plunking down forty-two hundred for this tote and I never had to put it on sale. Does anybody really need a bag that costs that much? No. Do they want one? Do they covet one? Yessiree. And I know the secret of talking them into purchasing one. The same way I can look at someone and know when they want something, need something or can afford something.” Darcy heard the smug pride in her voice. She should probably pull back on the boasting, but she worked hard, and he didn’t seem to appreciate her abilities.

  “I will grant that you’re good at what you do.”

  “No,” she said. “I’m more than good, I’m great. I love what I do and my customers know that. I don’t think you could sell heaters in the Arctic, because you don’t love it.” She almost clapped her hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say that. Why couldn’t she just be quiet and go with the flow? She’d asked him to meet her for a drink so she could apologize and here she was antagonizing him again.

  He looked taken aback, and then his lips tightened. “Are you insulting my business acumen?” His voice came out strained.

  Darcy bit the inside of her lip trying to figure out how to answer that. He was good, but being good went only so far. At some point instinct needed to take over. “You’re good because you want to be,” she said, pleased at the level of diplomacy she could manage. “Not because you want to sell purses, but because you want to win.”

  He stared at her. Then his lips quirked and a look of amusement filled his eyes. “What’s the difference?” he asked, sitting back in his chair and taking another sip of scotch as he waited for her to dig herself in deeper.

  She patted his hand and took a deep breath. “The difference is I get up every morning and run to Bennett’s with joy, looking eagerly forward to my day. Because I’m going to do what I love—sell jewelry and shoes and clothing. And see the look in my customers’ eyes when they find exactly what they’re looking for even though they didn’t know what they were looking for. I get to see the people I love and I get to interact with my customers.” She thought about her next words as she took another sip of wine; she grinned at the waiter when he refilled her glass with the last of the wine in the bottle. She probably shouldn’t have this last glass. She’d have to call a taxi to take her home. “And you go to work to pay your mortgage, your fancy car loan and purchase your Savile Row suits. I’m helping put people through college and making dreams come true. Granted, selling a pair of shoes isn’t going to save the world, but it makes a lot of people happy. Including me.” She’d done it again, insulted him.

  His eyes narrowed as he studied her, a small smile playing along the corners of his lips. “You’re beautiful when you’re on a crusade.”

  She stared at him. “Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about?”

  He took another sip of his scotch, finishing it. “Your eyes light up. You get this flush on your cheeks and you look so determined.” He eyed her for a second. “I think I’m jealous.”

  Her heart simply melted even as she squirmed uncomfortably. She didn’t like the direction of this conversation. If only they could put their differences aside for a couple hours. “Listen, as nice as this conversation is, I think I need to be getting home.”

  “You’ve had two glasses of wine.”

  Actually three and a half, but who was counting? “I’ll call a taxi.”

  “I’ll take you home,” he said.

  She gazed at him solemnly. Did she dare let him take her home? After that kiss, which still seemed to linger on her lips, she wasn’t certain she could trust him. Or herself.

  * * *

  The drive home was quiet. She w
atched the passing scenery while Eli navigated the streets. The scent of her perfume wafted over him and he clenched his hands on the steering wheel at the memory of their kiss, resisting the desire to reach out and touch her cheek. His heart raced.

  What the hell was wrong with him? She confused and infuriated him. Yet every curve of her luscious body seemed to be sending messages, begging him to do more than kiss.

  Damn! He wanted her. He couldn’t deny that to himself. And he sensed she wanted him, too. So many obstacles stood in their way, the store being the biggest hurdle. Yet the little insistent whispers in the back of his mind told him he was being a fool.

  He parked in front of her building. Her floor was dark, but the one above was ablaze with light. He got out and walked around the car to open her door. She sat with her eyes closed and a dreamy expression on her face. He wondered what she was thinking about.

  He tugged her out of the car and she flowed into his arms in a lithe catlike maneuver.

  Eli walked her to the door. She stood in the circle of his arms making no movement to open the door.

  “Where are your keys?” he asked.

  She searched inside her Gucci tote and finally found them. She handed him the keys and he realized he was going to have to take her all the way up to her apartment if he wanted to be certain she was safe.

  He opened the door, and it swung open soundlessly.

  She stood on the small stoop. “Kiss me. Kiss me, again,” she ordered.

  “Come on, Darcy. Let’s get you to bed.” He slid an arm around her and walked her up the stairs to her apartment, the door closed quietly behind them. He fumbled with the keys to her apartment, opened the door and eased her inside.

  “Kiss me,” she said again.

  “Darcy,” he said helplessly, fighting with himself. If he kissed her now, there would be no stopping tonight.

  She twined her arms around his neck and nuzzled his chin. “Darcy, don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” she asked wearily. “Don’t kiss me, don’t look at me, don’t argue with me, don’t what?” She slid a hand around his neck and kissed him.

  Eli stood completely still studying her. Her eyes were clear and he could see she knew exactly what she was doing.

  “I’m tired of fighting with you,” she said. “I want to kiss you instead. I want…I want…more.”

  “And what about tomorrow?”

  “We’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.” She kissed him again and again, her lips warm and sultry against his, her breath flavored with something subtle he couldn’t quite recognize.

  The second his lips touched hers he knew he wasn’t going to stop with just a kiss. He didn’t care if it was wrong or stupid, he had to have her. He kept waiting for her to pull away but she didn’t. He slid his mouth down her exposed neck and felt her shiver.

  She pressed tight against him, her hands gripping the lapels of his coat. Hunger for her roared up in him. Despite the skirmishes, the out-and-out battles, he desired her more than he’d ever desired a woman.

  He unbuttoned her coat and slid his hands inside, thumbs brushing her nipples. He knew he was making a mistake, but he couldn’t stop and she wasn’t protesting.

  She moaned and suddenly stepped backward into the foyer. He followed and closed the door behind him as she walked up the stairs, turning her head to look back at him as if asking if he would follow. He was certainly coming.

  Her apartment was warm and not at all what he expected. The living room was elegantly comfortable with a plush leather sofa and chairs facing a marble fireplace and white mantel.

  He shed his coat and tossed it over a chair. And she stood looking at him, something in her eyes that told him she wanted more. Hell, he wanted more. And he wasn’t stopping with a kiss.

  “Where is your bedroom?” His voice came out hoarse as he tugged at his tie.

  “We shouldn’t…” she said even as she held her hand out to him.

  He took her warm fingers in his. She looked seductive and almost teasing with her eyes half closed and a look of pure desire on her face.

  “I think we do.” He pulled her to him and kissed her again. She molded to him, her breasts pressed tight against him.

  She sighed and relaxed. “Second door on the right.”

  Her bedroom was another surprise. Elegant yet feminine with lace curtains on the windows and a gray-and-blue comforter on the bed.

  This was all so wrong, he thought as he unbuttoned her skirt. Yet he couldn’t stop.

  In the haze of passion, he undressed her, and then himself. She stood in front of him completely naked and he found himself admiring the smooth curve of her hips and the way her breasts were perfectly round.

  He kissed her neck, glorying in the supple feel of her satin skin. He loved the way her body molded to his, warming him to an inferno. He loved the kittenish sounds she made as he touched her.

  Darcy was a lethal combination of seductress and her special brand of magic. He was caught by her spell and lost to her touch.

  Her skin quivered under his mouth, she smelled of flowers and desire. Her hands moved across the expanse of his back, pulling him closer to her. “Eli, what are we doing?”

  “We’re…” He didn’t know. He eased her back on the bed. “You’re a highly desirable woman, Darcy.” God, he was confused, but he couldn’t pull his hands away as they stroked her body almost of their own volition.

  “Damn,” he muttered and reluctantly tore himself away to search for his pants. He needed to get a condom quickly. Even as he felt like a high school kid looking to get lucky, he found his wallet and removed the condom.

  He rubbed her erect nipples as he settled back on the bed. Eli kissed her again, tasting her sweetness. His fingers slid down her stomach as he slid over her and pushed inside.

  She moaned, her fingers digging into his skin as her legs wrapped around him.

  Eli couldn’t ever remember feeling such pleasure before. She was perfect for him. This couldn’t be real.

  “You’re so beautiful. Perfect.” He thrust deeply into her again and she arched her back. Eli gritted his teeth, fighting to keep control of himself.

  He angled his body to stroke inside of her. Her internal muscles suddenly gripped his penis and she screamed, her climax overtaking her.

  He slid his hands down to cup her butt lifting against him as he moved deeper into her. Pleasure overwhelmed him, Eli took her mouth again and she kissed him.

  The tight contractions inside her ignited his climax. He stiffened and slumped against her. When he could breathe again, he rolled to the side and tucked her tight against him.

  “We shouldn’t have done this,” she murmured sleepily.

  “Maybe not, but it was fun.” He closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him, wondering how long the unexpected truce would last.

  Chapter 10

  Darcy woke up the next morning alone. Eli had left some time during the night, telling her he had to get home to Sophia and giving her a warm kiss goodbye. She gazed at the pillow that still contained a depression from his head and smiled. Making love with Eli may have been a mistake, but her body felt alive in a way it had never felt with her ex-husband.

  She sat up. The sun streamed through her bedroom window and she could hear the muted sound of traffic on the street below. She went over the events of the night with a clear head and a mounting sense of dismay.

  What the hell had she done? Are you insane, Darcy Bennett? She pulled the blankets around her and hugged her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them. How could she be so stupid? What the hell had she been thinking?

  And yet…she remembered his infinite tenderness and the way his hands had felt on her skin. Maybe she was a fool, but she was never going to forget even as she vowed it would never happen again.

&
nbsp; With a sigh, she slid out of bed, reaching for her robe. Time to get to work.

  After a shower, she dressed and headed to the kitchen. She brewed coffee and leaned against the counter, sipping her cup as she considered what to do. She could call in sick—that would avoid having to deal with Eli. Though as she thought about it, she half laughed. Maybe he would call in sick.

  As she dithered back and forth, her mother opened the front door and walked into the apartment.

  “Good morning, Darcy,” she said as she set her purse down on the island, unbuttoned her coat and folded it over the back of a chair.

  Marilyn wore a black, one-shoulder cocktail dress that swirled delicate pleats around her calves. A diamond heart dangled on a chain at the base of her throat. She was perfectly made up except for a small smudge of lipstick at the corner of her mouth.

  “Mother, where have you been?” Darcy figured if she were on the offensive, Marilyn wouldn’t notice anything.

  “I met with someone I knew in high school and we ended up talking all night. He’s a lawyer and is going to be drawing up the divorce papers. Not that it’s any of your business,” Marilyn said with a sharp tone.

  Darcy drew back, startled. Her mother never talked to her in so prickly a manner. But then again, who was she to throw stones? She’d let Eli Austin into her house and into her bed without any thought for the consequences.

  She tried to turn her thoughts away from Eli but the memory of his fingers dancing layers of exquisite pleasure on her skin almost made her blush. He was fabulous, and what they had done was so wrong on so many levels. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Though she had to admit to being glad her mother had stayed out all night.

  Again she considered calling in sick, but Darcy knew she wouldn’t. She’d go to the store head held high and stare him down.

  She could avoid him. Bennett’s was a big store. She could just hang out in lingerie all day. Men never went into lingerie alone. She’d send Tabitha home. Tabitha would probably like a day off. Her baby was due the middle of January and she’d been complaining about her back. She didn’t plan to go out on maternity leave until after Christmas.