Holiday Kisses: A Rare GiftMistletoe and MargaritasIt's Not Christmas Without YouThis Time Next Year

by Alison Kent

  He’d been gone yesterday by the time she woke. Normally a light sleeper, she must have been half-dead not to hear him dress and leave her house. Then again, they’d stayed up almost all night, and it wasn’t like they’d been leisurely playing cards. She blushed as she remembered exactly what they’d been doing all night long.

  He’d greeted her with a nod this morning, back to his usual gruff demeanor.

  Yeah, that wasn’t going to fly. She had a few things to say to him at the end of the day today. She was no mouse or doormat who would stand idly by and be treated this way.

  She counted down the hours until the final child and the last of her employees left. Wyatt stayed behind after his two men headed out the door. She smiled at both of them, wished them a good-night, then locked the door behind them and headed into the new addition, determined to have a serious conversation about how you treat a woman after you’ve spent a night worshipping her body.

  The existing playroom door was closed so none of the kids would wander in there. She opened the door at the same time Wyatt did.

  He looked down at her. Frowned.

  “Everyone gone?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “About time.” He moved her out of the room, away from the wind coming in from the addition, and closed the door. He backed her against the hallway wall and pressed his body to hers. “I’ve been waiting all damn day for this.”

  He slammed his mouth down on hers, obliterating all the righteous anger she’d worked up since he’d left her house yesterday. The kiss was dark and passionate and needy and made heat coil low in her belly. She melted against him, but then laid her palms on his chest and gave him a gentle push.

  He drew back, his lips moist from their kiss. She wanted to grab his hair and pull him back, but she resisted.

  “What was that all about?” she asked.

  “The kiss?”

  “Yes.”

  His gaze drifted to her mouth. “I’ve been thinking about it all day. Yesterday, too.”

  “You could have been with me yesterday, instead of sneaking out of my house while I was still asleep.”

  “Yeah, about that. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left like that. It was stupid and inconsiderate. And I should have called, but once I left I felt like an ass, so I just…didn’t.”

  This was new. An apology? “Okay.”

  He palmed the wall next to her head. “Look, Calliope. I’m not very good at this.”

  “This?”

  “Relationships. Women. Dealing with them. I’ll try to do better, but I’m probably not going to be good at it. You should know that going in, so you can change your mind if you want.”

  Her lips curved. As an apology, it kind of sucked, but it was honest. She couldn’t ask for more. “It’s okay, Wyatt. I understand.”

  He cocked a brow. “That’s it? I’m forgiven?”

  “That’s it.”

  “You’re too easy.”

  She laughed. “Not the best thing to say to a woman.”

  He laid his forehead against hers. “Shit. I told you I wasn’t good at this.”

  She framed his face with her hands. “No, you aren’t, but if you’re honest with me, I can deal with everything else. Besides, you’re a great kisser, and that forgives a lot of sins.”

  “Yeah?” He leaned in closer, grabbed the loops on her jeans and directed her toward her office.

  When they got in there, he pushed her against the wall again, pulled off her glasses and tucked them in his pocket.

  She might be old-fashioned, but she had to admit she dug his caveman moves.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  He brushed his lips across hers, his breath a warm caress as he teased his tongue along her bottom lip, then went in for the kill, sliding his arm around her to draw her against him. He brought his mouth full force against hers, and kissed her until she forgot all about yesterday. All she thought of was right now, and the fact they were alone and the door was firmly locked.

  And when he dropped to the floor, pulling her on top of him, she went willingly, eager to pick up where they’d left off the night before.

  “This is kind of wicked,” she said as he swept her hair away from her face.

  “Never done it at work before?”

  She snorted. “I work at a day care center. I don’t get many hot guys hitting on me here.”

  He popped the button on her jeans and drew the zipper down. “That’s too bad. They should be lining up at the door.”

  Now he was making up for fumbling his words earlier. She felt warm all over, though maybe that was due to him rolling her over and touching her. He took off her tennis shoes and slid her jeans and panties down her legs.

  By the time he’d removed her sweatshirt and bra, and gotten rid of his own clothes, she started to giggle. He frowned at her.

  “This is no laughing matter,” he said.

  “I’ve never been naked at work before.”

  He grabbed a condom from the pocket of his jeans. “You should try it more often.”

  She rolled over on her side. “Oh? You make a habit of it?”

  “Yeah. I wander around jobsites naked all the time. You haven’t seen me on the news?”

  She grabbed his shoulder. “Careful, Wyatt, or I might think you have a sense of humor.”

  “Don’t worry. It doesn’t come around all that often.” He pulled her back on top of him and reached for her breasts, and all humor fled as she tilted her head back and lost herself in the magic of his hands.

  Wyatt hadn’t meant to start this. All he’d wanted to do was talk to Calliope tonight, to get her alone so he could apologize for acting like an ass and running out on her yesterday. But seeing her as she opened the door, fury and irritation instead of hurt in her eyes, had primed the pump and made him forget everything he intended to say to her.

  Anger had lit up her face, put a bright spot of color on her cheeks and made her eyes come to life. The only thing he’d thought about then was kissing her and getting his hands on her.

  Okay, so maybe those were the only things he’d thought about since he left her house yesterday.

  But now she sat on top of him naked. He didn’t know if he’d ever seen anything more beautiful than her body, lush and flushed pink with arousal as she tilted her head back while he thumbed and teased her nipples.

  She rolled against him, causing him no end of agony—the pleasurable kind. Buried inside her, he connected with her in the most primal way, reaching up to pull her against him, to take a nipple into his mouth, to touch her on a basic level so she’d feel what he felt.

  He loved the way she responded, the way she looked at him so he knew she was as connected as he was. She gripped his shoulders as she rode him, as she raised and lowered on him, and when she climaxed, she kept that connection, digging her nails into him, her eyes widening as she tightened around him. He cupped his hand around the nape of her neck and flew with her, losing himself in her depths.

  A part of him wasn’t ready for this—this bond he felt with her. The last time he’d felt this attached to a woman had been Cassandra. And that hadn’t ended well.

  Calliope was like a hurricane—wild and turbulent. He wasn’t sure he could handle her, but he wanted to see what she threw at him, and right now he just couldn’t resist her. She was beautiful, a little scary, and he couldn’t walk away.

  “I’m hungry,” she said, pushing up to look down at him. “You like pizza?”

  He grinned up at her. “Sounds good.”

  “How about Rizzoni’s?”

  “How about we go to your place and order delivery? Fewer clothes involved that way.”

  She arched a brow. “Naked pizza eating could be dangerous.”

  “I live on the edge.”

  She climbed off him and started grabbing her clothes. “You’re on, but hurry. Sex makes me hungry.”

  He grabbed his jeans. “I’ll be sure to order an extra large pizza, then. You’re going to need it.”
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  Chapter Eight

  “The party is scheduled for the sixteenth,” Tori said, handing out the information sheet along with the menu.

  Staff meetings at Kent Construction were his least favorite thing, but business had to be conducted. Discussing the annual holiday party was something he’d rather Tori handle. As the office manager, she dealt with the day-to-day running of the business, as well as all the financials. He’d much rather just get out there and work with his hands.

  Unfortunately, when Tori called a meeting, you showed up. She might be only in her twenties, but she was formidable. When she bellowed, you came running or you’d never hear the end of it.

  Wyatt took the information sheet and scanned it. “I assume there’ll be meat at this party.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “No. We’re serving celery and carrots. Our clients like rabbit food.”

  “Har.”

  “We’re having roast beef, chicken and pasta. There’ll be hors d’oeuvres and an open bar, though I twitched at the open bar thing.”

  “We can handle it,” Brody said.

  “You say that now. Wait until you have to write the check. It’s the holiday season. People like to drink.”

  “You like to drink, too, you lush,” Brody teased. “Will I have to throw you over my shoulder and drive you home again this year?”

  Tori glared at him. “That was one stinkin’ year. And I had just turned twenty-one. It’s never happened since so I’d appreciate it if you’d never mention it again.”

  Wyatt’s lips twitched.

  “I saw that, Wyatt,” Tori said, as if she had eyes in the back of her head. “Don’t you dare smile.”

  “I don’t smile. You know that. I’m the bad-tempered one.”

  Tori swiveled in her chair, narrowed her gaze at him. “You’re almost in a good mood. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Ethan rolled his chair closer to Wyatt, inspecting him like he had ticks or something. “There is something different about you. What’s up?”

  “I know what it is.” Brody leaned back and crossed his arms. “He’s getting laid.”

  “What?” Tori’s eyes widened. “How come I don’t know about this?”

  “You mean I know something you don’t? What the hell, Tor? You having an off week?”

  “Shut up, Brody.” Tori narrowed her gaze on Wyatt. “What’s going on?”

  Shit. He knew he should have gone straight to the day care center this morning and bugged out of this meeting. “Nothing’s going on, and if it was it would be none of your business.”

  “So he is getting laid.” Ethan grinned. “Who is it?”

  “Oh. I know who it is,” Tori said. “And why she hasn’t said anything to me is a subject I’ll be taking up with her very soon.”

  “Who is it?” Brody asked.

  Tori didn’t say anything, just gave Wyatt a knowing smile.

  “Oh,” Ethan said. “It’s Calliope Andrews.”

  Wyatt winced.

  “Wow. Keeping it in the family, aren’t you?” Brody asked.

  “Shut up, Brody,” Tori said. “This is none of our business. Let’s move on with the meeting.”

  “Hey, you started it. Now we’re going to take the ball and run like hell.” Ethan nudged him with an elbow. “So…is one sister—”

  Wyatt shot Ethan a look. “Don’t go there. I mean it, Ethan.”

  Ethan kicked his chair back and raised his hands. “Hey, I was joking with you.”

  Brody leaned toward Tori. “A little sensitive, isn’t he?”

  “I’m not fucking deaf, you idiot.”

  “I mean it, Brody,” Tori said. “You need to leave this alone. This is Wyatt and Calliope’s business. Not ours.”

  Ethan shrugged. “Who am I going to tell? Besides Riley, of course. And she’s out of town.”

  “It’s not a big deal.”

  “Do you like her?” Brody asked.

  Tori stared at him. He knew Tori and Calliope were friends. He’d have to be careful what he said. “Again, none of your business.”

  He knew this was going to be a problem, that once word got out he was seeing his ex-wife’s sister people would start talking. He could trust his brothers and Tori…but other people? He didn’t want to deal with the gossip. The talk after the divorce had been bad. And since he hadn’t bothered to say anything, people had made up their own minds about what had happened between him and Cassandra. None of it had been true.

  People could think whatever the hell they wanted to think, but he didn’t want them talking shit about Calliope. It was best they didn’t know about the two of them.

  If he was smart he’d put an end to it now before things got out of hand, before people found out.

  They finished the meeting and Wyatt grabbed his stuff.

  Brody stopped him.

  “Hey.”

  He turned to his brother. “What?”

  “You know we were teasing you in there. If you want to see Calliope, that’s your business.”

  Wyatt nodded.

  “If anyone’s entitled to a life and some fun, Wyatt, it’s you. And if that’s with Calliope, then go for it.”

  “It’s not that simple. She’s Cassandra’s sister.”

  “So? If she’s the one you want…”

  “Again, not that simple.”

  “Why? You worried about what people will think, what they’ll say?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  Brody frowned. “Screw that. We’re behind you. Family sticks together and we’ll kick anyone’s ass who has something to say about it. Calliope’s cool. And damn, man, you’re the most relaxed I’ve seen you in years. It’s about time you went out and had some fun. If she’s the reason behind it, then don’t let anyone stop you.”

  He nodded. “I’ll think about it. Thanks.”

  He headed out the door and climbed in his truck, tossed his gear to the passenger seat.

  Maybe Brody was right. Maybe he was worried too much.

  Then again, he knew what small-town gossip was like. He knew his family would rally around him. It wasn’t himself he was worried about. Anything people had to say, any whispers and innuendos were water off a duck’s back to him. He’d heard it all after his divorce.

  But Calliope was building a business. She dealt with families with small children. Rumors and gossip could hurt her and her business.

  And that he wouldn’t tolerate.

  Calliope stood and laid her hands at the small of her back, stretching out her tight muscles.

  What an interminably long day. She was glad it was Friday and the week was over. All she wanted was a hot bath, a good meal and her man. And a massage by said man. She wondered if she could convince Wyatt to give her a back rub. Maybe she could use her feminine wiles to wrangle a back rub out of him.

  Or, she could just get naked. That should convince him.

  Then again, they hadn’t made official plans for tonight, or for the weekend. She’d assumed they’d see each other. He’d come over to her place or she’d gone to his after work almost every night for the past two weeks.

  He and the other guys had left the addition about an hour ago, so she assumed she’d find him in the trailer doing some paperwork. She locked up the center and headed that way, frowning when she saw all the lights out in the trailer. She pulled on the door. It was locked.

  Huh. She walked around to the front of the trailer and didn’t see his truck.

  He’d left. Without saying anything to her.

  Okay, so maybe he’d had an emergency and didn’t have time to tell her about it. She hoped everything was okay.

  She drove home, tossed her coat and purse on the sofa and grabbed her phone, dialing his number as she kicked her shoes off.

  He answered on the third ring.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “I looked for you after I closed for the day. I
thought you might be in the trailer but you had already left.”

  “Yeah. Cut out on time for a change. Had to head back to the office.”

  “Oh, okay.” She took a seat at the kitchen table. “So what are your plans for tonight?”

  “I thought I’d work on the car.”

  “Oh.” She heard the definite brush-off signals in his tone of voice. “What about tomorrow? There’s a new movie out I’m dying to see.”

  “I don’t think so. I have a few things I need to catch up on.”

  Pain and irritation swirled around in her empty stomach, making her nauseous.

  “Sure. I understand. I’ll see you on Monday, then.”

  “Okay. See you.”

  She clicked off the phone and slid it across the table, angry with Wyatt, and with herself.

  No. Not with herself. Definitely with him. They had a relationship. They’d been together every day for three weeks. That allowed her to make assumptions. He’d been happy, dammit. He couldn’t just make an about turn and suddenly blow her off without an explanation.

  An explanation she deserved.

  She went into the bathroom and took a shower, washing off the day and some of her annoyance with it. By the time she’d dried her hair, she had the phone to her ear and Tori on the line.

  “Are you busy tonight?” she asked.

  “I was going to do a home pedicure. It doesn’t get more exciting than that.”

  Calliope laughed, which was exactly what she needed. “How about a girl’s night out?”

  “Sounds fabulous,” Tori said. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Food and lots of margaritas.”

  “Bingo. I’m so game for that.”

  They made plans to meet at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants in town. She put on makeup, dressed in a pair of her tightest jeans, put on high-heeled boots, then slid into a sexy silk top instead of her day care center sweatshirts.

  Tonight, she intended to party.

  El Partido was a popular restaurant, especially on the weekends. In a small town, entertainment was limited. You went out to eat, you hit a bar, or you went to the movies. Though there was also bowling and ice-skating if you were in the mood for those activities.

  Calliope was in the mood to drink, and she knew Tori was always game for a fun night on the town. They started out with a top-shelf margarita, settled in at the bar and waited for their name to be called for their table. Judging by the long line out front, it could be a while.