Coming toward him, she cupped his face, her eyes searching his. “Because when said I could love you, I knew I would if I ever saw you again.”
That powerful statement sealed their fate. He knew it. She knew it.
He rose, zipped up, put on his jacket, and held out his hand. With a smile, she accepted it, and together they walked back through the garden maze to the main house.
“Will you spend Christmas with me?” she asked as they wound their way through.
“With you and no one else.” He brushed a kiss atop her head. “I have to work on Christmas Eve until six or so, but that night and Christmas Day I’m all yours.”
“And where do you work, by the way?”
“For a sports medicine center. Orthopedic surgery.”
“Surgeon?” She smiled at his single nod. “No wonder you’re so intense.”
A smile tugged at his mouth. “I’ve been told that once or twice. I’ll try not to project too much intensity your way if I can.”
“Don’t you dare hold back, Kenner Sutton. I want to get to know you just as you are.”
With a grin, he squeezed her hand to show his appreciation. Was it possible to be in love with her already?
She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, looking down at the ground. “Should we really go back in there?”
“For a little bit. Why? Do you think it’s obvious what we’ve done?”
“Yes,” she answered, and he chuckled. “Someone could’ve easily seen us walk out to the garden and now we’re returning less…polished.”
“You’re even more beautiful with that after-glow. And it’d be even more suspicious if we don’t return. Besides, there are hundreds of people in that mansion. I’m sure the majority of them are more concerned with gossip and their next cocktail than what we were doing.” He led her up the stairs to the veranda. “And there are a few things I want to do with you in there.”
She laughed. “Such as?”
Once they were outside the door, he took hold of both her hands and gazed into her pretty gray eyes. “I want to dance with you. Eat with you. Drink with you. I’m going to show everyone in there I’m crazy about you, Thea. How does that sound?”
She smiled, raised her face, and brushed her lips on his chin. “Sounds like the perfect beginning to my Christmas with you.”
***
Thea remembered the last time she was happy. Years ago, with Ben, on the beach. That was a different time, a different connection.
Now she didn’t have to say the last time was over two years ago with a man she lost, now she could say it was the night she found Kenner again, when she wasn’t even looking for him. She was going to love a second time, she just knew it. After freshening herself in the bathroom, she rejoined him in the party, and Kenner wasted no time grasping her hand, claiming her as his.
A sense of peace came over her when he pulled her in arms in the ballroom to dance. She rested her chin on his shoulder while they swayed to the romantic holiday tune. He held her close, and she knew people were wondering what was going on between them, but if he didn’t care, neither did she.
“Kenner,” said Meryl as she and Bob waltzed up next to them. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re quite smitten with my interior decorator! Give the girl room to breathe, please. This isn’t a bump and grind club.”
Thea stifled laughter as Kenner granted his hostess’s request and placed several inches between their bodies. “Thea and I were acquainted before you introduced us, Meryl.”
“Why on earth didn’t you say anything?” she asked, looking at Thea.
“I barely recognized him,” Thea lied, much to Kenner’s amusement.
Meryl, ignoring her husband’s soft plea to leave them alone, responded with an understanding, “Oh, I see. Women usually have a hard time forgetting our Kenner. I’m sure he’ll spend the rest of the night making sure you don’t do it again,” she teased.
They both chuckled, and the Mallorys waltzed past them to speak to another couple.
“Regardless of the night at The Dame & Dapper, you and I were meant to meet,” she said, musing out loud. “Meryl was going to introduce us tonight.”
“True.” His mouth skimmed her ear. “But I would’ve been on my best behavior in here, and that incredible night might’ve never happened.”
Then she was forever grateful she’d forced herself out of her apartment and gone to the lounge. “You’re wrong.”
“I am? I hate when that happens.” He kissed her cheek.
She giggled, meeting his gaze. “It would’ve happened. Tonight.”
He smiled, moving her in a turn, and bringing her back in, close, with no space between them.
“Remember Meryl’s warning. This isn’t The Dame & Dapper,” she joked, but loved that he didn’t care.
“Meryl was right, you know.”
She arched a brow. “About you making sure I don’t forget you or that women have a hard time doing so?”
He smiled into her eyes. “The former. The latter I wouldn’t know. You’d have to ask those women.”
“Speaking from personal experience, I can attest to it.” She swung her hair back from her shoulder. “Don’t let it go to your head, though. I know doctors—particularly surgeons—can have gigantic egos as it is.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I’m a man. I let any compliment about my prowess go to my head.”
“Indeed. Anyway, I can’t wait to get inside there and poke around.”
“My head?”
She giggled. “Your apartment. I do think you should hire me to decorate it. I have a portfolio if you need it, and references.”
“You’re hired.”
She grinned as he turned her under his arm. “Just like that? How do you know you’re going to love my style?”
Pulling her hard against his body, he dipped her, and as she came up, said, “Because I already do.”
***
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About the Author
Angelita has an obsession with romance stories and feeds it on the daily. She writes contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy romance, and loves to read historical. If she could travel back in time, she’d attend a ball in Regency England in a fabulously wicked red gown, dancing with the most handsome rogue in the room. This shameless romantic adores a good scandal, chocolate martinis, PinUp couture, true crime documentaries, and ballet. To her, reading romance is and should be a sensational escape, with visceral emotion, a dash of drama, and the coveted Happily Ever After. She loves to hear from readers and vows to keep on writing…even if there’s a zombie apocalypse.
Lovers by Christmas
Copyright © by Angelita Gill
Cover Art by Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, or businesses are either the product of the author’s imagination or used for fictitious purposes. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without express written permission of the author.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
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br /> CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
Lovers by Christmas: Page 6