She cleared her throat and started again. “I’m dressed like this because I know your favorite holiday is Christmas and you know how much I hate it. I thought if I showed you how dedicated I was to embarrassing myself that maybe you’d at least hear what I have to say.”
He thrust out his chin. “I’m listening.”
“I’ve never been in love before. The entire idea of anyone loving me, after growing up the way I did… I didn’t think it was possible. I threw myself into school, work and other things that made me feel accomplished. I think I was just trying to make up for the attention I never got. What I’m trying to say, is that I panicked when you told me you loved me. Again. Things were spiraling out of my control and I just needed to control something.”
“So you fucked me over?” he snapped at her.
Her heart plummeted. “I didn’t mean to but yeah. That’s what happened. You are such an incredible person.”
She took a step towards him, he didn’t back away.
“And I don’t think I could ever deserve you. You’re so considerate and sweet that you give me a toothache.” That line got her a chuckle.
She took one more step towards him. He still didn’t back away.
“I love that you’re so gung-ho about the holidays. I love that you feed me whenever my stomach decides to eat itself. And I love how tremendously you love me.”
One more step, but this time, a giant one.
“I’m so sorry that I rejected you. Twice. But if you let me make it up to you, I’ll protect your heart more fiercely than my own. I need you. Desperately. Hopelessly. And I…” the tears started flowing.
Damn it. She wasn’t even done yet.
The sobs came. Followed by the hiccups. Her words were probably all gibberish by this point. “My heart is breaking so much. And what hurts the most is that I did this to myself. To you. Please give me another chance. Please Luke–”
She was right in front of him now and he still hadn’t moved. Kennedy dropped to her knees, hoping that he’d show some mercy. A little sympathy.
“Stop talking,” he said.
Her mascara ran into her eye making it difficult to see his facial expression. “But I’m not done yet. I have another fifteen minutes of groveling that I prepared. Just let me finish and-
“You’re done groveling, Kennedy.”
She was desperate and crying. Elfs didn’t cry, did they? “If you would just listen to me–“
Luke cute her off and she crumpled. But then he smiled. Just a little bit. And she thought maybe she had a chance.
Right there, shining in his electric blue eyes, was the glimmer of an emotion she dared not name before. He still loved her. Luke Simon was desperately in love with her.
He picked her up off the ground and stood her upright. “I love you, Kenn. But you have to tell me, right here, right now, how you feel. Or I walk for good this time.”
He held out his hand. All she had to do was grab it and say three tiny little words.
So she did. And in true Kennedy fashion she added a few more words.
“I fucking love you Luke Simon.” Grabbing his hand like a life-line, she wrapped herself in his body. First, because she did indeed miss him. Second, because this damn costume had not one damn stitch of insulation.
“Glad to finally hear it, bombon.” He cupped her cheeks and brought his nose to hers. Eskimoo kisses look so stupid in the movies, but with love of her life holding her like she was a delicate piece of china, Kennedy ate that shit up.
Her heart overflowed with love, both his and hers.
And she knew that he loved her in return.
Although, they’d only been together for a couple of days, she knew that their relationship was the serious kind. The kind that led assuredly, and quickly, down the aisle. The details could be worked out but she knew ultimately that she’d soon be wearing a nice rock on her finger and hyphenating her name to Notyce-Simon.
She was completely his.
He tugged on her elf costume and pulled her hair. “Please tell me I get to have you all night in your elf costume?”
She laughed, genuinely, and it felt so damn good. “Anything you want, Lu. Anything you want.”
He bumped his pelvis against hers. “Perfect because I have a very particular toy I’d like to show you in my workshop.”
Laughing like a madwoman, she let him feel her up in her horrible get-up and kiss her cherry red lips.
And that was how she came to hate Christmas, just a little bit less.
Chapter 28
Christmas was still for children and chumps.
And for sappy, hopeless romantics like her boyfriend. She smiled at that. Boyfriend. She hadn’t had one of those in such a long time.
She’d put up a good fight to remain a Grinch. In many ways, Kennedy still was. She hated the over-the-top fanfare in New York City for a stupid holiday about a creepy man sneaking down people’s chimneys to deliver poorly-wrapped gifts.
Of course, fate would pair her with Luke who was practically a Christmas elf.
Kennedy woke up to the smell of sugar cookies tickling her nose. She inhaled deeply before throwing the covers off her body. She was at Luke’s apartment, starving to death.
Not sugar cookies. Definitely snickerdoodles.
Grinning, her nose led her through bedroom, into the hallway towards the kitchen. As she took in the sight before her, she whimpered. Only a little.
She crept up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. Lusty as she was, her hands sought out the ridge of his erection over the top of the apron’s material, slowly working his bulge like they had all the time in the world.
Pity. He still had on his boxers Not approving of his choice to wear underwear with his apron, Kennedy pumped him faster.
He popped her hand lightly with his wooden spoon. “Behave or Santa won’t bring you any presents.”
She smiled into his back, her fingers refusing to let him go. She held him even tighter, while her fingers demonstrated how much she missed him. What was it about him that made her want to jump his bones 24/7 like a horned-up teenager?
“Is it my fault that you’re prancing around the kitchen practically naked? It’s pure catnip and mama wants to play,” she purred.
“Oh no, you’re the one who complained about not having any cookies and cupcakes to eat. Now stop distracting me woman.”
“I love it when you’re full-blown domestic,” she said, reaching on her tippy-toes to kiss the spot between his shoulder blades. The moment her lips met his skin, he shivered.
“Kenn, no tres leches cupcakes for you,” he warned.
“I have all the leche I need,” she moved her hand to fondle his ball sac, “right here.” She cooed into his back, twisting, kneading, plumping him.
He finally stopped rolling the balls of dough, wiping his hands on his apron. He turned around in her arms so that they faced each other. Like a heat-seeking missile her hands returned to his cock. Luke nibbled her jaw and down her neck.
“I want a pre-nup,” she whispered when she worked his erection through the hole of his boxers.
“I’ve never heard a sexier combination of four words.” His response was priceless.
Was he serious? She knew her handjobs were divine, but his response threw her for a loop.
“You don’t mind that I want a pre-nup?”
“Babe, you’re never getting rid of me, so feel free to make it ironclad. Hell, I help you write it.” As if she needed any more convincing that he was a sweetheart, the idiot offered to help write their own prenup. Where did men like him come from?
“You would do that for me?” He nodded, sucking the pulse at her neck. “Why?”
He sighed. “You worked hard for everything you have. Your career, your money, your retirement assets, everything you’ve saved–I would never want to jeopardize that. I want you to feel protected. We’re partners. Always”
She couldn’t resist injecting a little humor into
the mix. “So, what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Brat. Were you even listening to me?”
“Of course. Does that mean this is mine too?” she asked, tapping his naked chest where his heart beat under her fingertips.
“Always. I love you, Kennedy.” He meant every word. She could tell.
“And what about this?” she grabbed his thick cock and gave it a pump. Then one more as precum coated her fingers.
He groaned into her fingers, “All yours too.” She laughed as he buried his face in her neck. “I’ve been working on a new cookie recipe.”
“Yeah?” She asked, distracted by the hand crawling down her body.
“Mmhmm. Snickerdoodle with a honey glaze.” That sounded good. Forgetting that he was baking cookies and cupcakes for her, she wanted to try out the new recipe too.
“Oh? Do you have all the ingredients to make it work?” she asked.
“I only need jugo de cielo.”
The only thing hotter than her boyfriend baking in boxers and an apron was when he spoke Spanish. “De qué estás hablando?” she asked him, confused about why he’d need juice from heaven.
“Luckily, my favorite store is open. Even on Christmas Eve,” he said forcing her legs apart and running a finger down her slit. He rubbed her wetness around before dipping his finger into her pussy. Her walls sucked him in happily.
“Don’t stop,” she begged.
Now it was his turn to laugh. “I’m not. I just want to add a bit of jugo de cielo to my cookie. For the recipe, remember?”
She felt something warm brush against her sex. The apex of her thighs was sticky with her own syrup, so Luke scooped some up, using the soft, warm cookie as a spoon.
He popped the treat, coated in her honey, in to his mouth. “Just as I thought–perfect,” he said, his shiny mouth still full of snickerdoodle.
Ah. So that was the recipe. She arched into him, wanting more. “Breakfast of champions?”
“No doubt, love.” Luke grinned and gave her a slow wink.
She’d never think of Christmas cookies the same way again. She made a mental note to add this to their new holiday traditions as a couple.
“Speaking of love… I do.” Kennedy cut her glance to him. “I do love you. Hopelessly.”
And she knew that he loved her in return.
Although, they had only been reunited for a grand total of five-and-a-half days, she knew that their relationship was the serious kind. The kind that led assuredly, and quickly, down the aisle.
The fine print could be worked out, but she knew ultimately that she’d soon be wearing a nice rock on her finger and hyphenating her name to Notyce-Simon.
She was completely his.
Son of a sasquatch, this Grinch was getting soft.
Epilogue
Yelena Notyce passed away comfortably in her sleep a few weeks after Christmas.
In an unexpected turn of events, her memory was clear as a whistle up until the day she died. The lucidity made it easier for Kennedy to come to terms with the loss.
Kennedy had the chance to relive their good times. A chance to hear her grandmother say she loved her and was proud of her.
And also, Yelena had the opportunity to develop a mancrush on Luke. Their bond advanced quickly. Ultimately, he would be the man to give the many nietos and nietas she’d been longing for. Giving them her blessing, Kennedy felt nothing but peace when her grandmother departed this world.
Kennedy was lucky, she recognized that.
Most people didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to their loved ones before Alzheimer’s robbed them of their memories.
To honor her abuelita’s life, Kennedy kept her BOB drawer fully stocked and loaded. It was an odd way to remember her, but she didn’t care. And whenever she felt lonely, she drank an ice-cold beer. In a glass bottle with a lime.
Exactly how Yelena liked hers.
It took some time, but Kennedy and Luke found their footing with a solid dose of compromise. She learned to give more, and Luke learned when to say no.
The couple quickly moved in together, desperate to make up for lost time. They even bought a winter cabin to recreate their almost-week together.
Personal lives sorted, they tackled their legal careers. Kennedy quit Briggs and Bancroft, opting to strike out on her own. As for Luke, he decreased his hours at the firm. Seeing as how he owned the firm, it was an easy transition.
In fact, with some of Kennedy’s prodding, Luke realized that his love of culinary pursuits rivaled his love of representing clients in fair, equitable divorces. What better way to meld the two worlds than by opening a boutique bakery specializing in divorce pastries?
His top-sellers included: We Split the Cheesecake, Lemon Joint Custardy, Regrettabeau Cookies, Barbed Wire Heart Mini-Cakes, and Chocolate Sue-fflé.
As Luke always said: if you can’t beat ‘em, eat em.
Sometimes, late at night, when the kitchen had closed, and the staff were long gone, Kennedy stopped by the bakery for a nightcap.
Luke would open up the kitchenette for a private tasting for one. Most of the time he was doing the eating. Feasting between her sweet thighs was his preferred confection.
“This feels like déjà vu,” Kennedy said, clinging to his arm.
“Never thought we’d have to face-off against each other in a round of negotiations after the Jones’.” Luke shuddered at the thought of their most confusing clients.
Madeleine and Rex had reconciled after New Year’s. They used that time after the initial negotiations wisely to do some soul-searching.
The likelier option was that no one else would tolerate them so they stuck it out with each other. At least, Shrimp Daddy Longlegs had two loving parents again.
“You ready?” she asked him as they stepped off the elevator.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment my entire life, bombon.” Grinning, he grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips.
Kennedy laughed as they entered into the same conference room that they had reunited in just six months ago. That was laugh number 200. Without fail, Luke still counted every single one of her laughs. Two attorneys were already seated in the room, surrounded by a substantial amount of paperwork on the table.
She glanced at her fiancé, smoothing a wayward lock off his forehead. She had to admit that his new lawyer-baker hybrid persona was hot as hell. However, she quickly learned once a Div law nerd, always a Div law nerd.
She interlocked her fingers with his. “Only you would fantasize about a prenup.”
Luke kissed her forehead. “What can I say, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to marry you and start our life together. What’s a little piece of paper?”
“Even though we’re getting married, I won’t be supporting your out-of-control Christmas decorating habits.” She rubbed her thumb across his lips. “No dead trees, only fake ones.”
Luke was fine with that concession. He wasn’t compromising on the ugly Christmas sweaters though. She’d learn to deal with it. Truthfully, it
“I’ll put that in the prenup. Anything else you’d like to include, soon-to-be wife?” He kissed her senseless, working himself up as he did.
Kennedy nudged him with her briefcase seeing right through his attempts to sidetrack her. “Don’t think I’ll take it easy on you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, babe.”
“Love you, Lu.”
“Love you, Kenn.”
Coming Next:
Stay tuned for a spin-off series about a woman-owned matchmaking boutique catering to the country’s most stubborn and deliciously sizzling millionaires. That’s right, Kai Alexander’s story is up next in book one of a new series scheduled to be released early 2019.
Want exclusive teasers? Sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook Group.
About the Author
Evelyn Moreau is a penname used by a newbie romance author hellbent on serving up diverse characters across
the romance genre, including paranormal, contemporary, urban, LGBTQIA+.
After living in rural South Korea for 3 years, Evelyn lives in Northern Virginia and works in Washington, DC. She speaks three languages and has travelled to over 25 countries. Her two furbabes include a rambunctious Goldendoodle puppy and a grumpy Miniature Schnauzer.
A couple of fun tidbits: Donuts are her love language. Travel is an obsession. Adulthood is not how it was portrayed in The Hills. Books are home. And bacon is always the solution. Evelyn plans on writing a few different flavors of romance but the sinfully, naughty bits will always be included. Always. Enjoy the many flavors of romance, typed fresh from her sticky fingers.
Sign up for Ev’s Newsletter for exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming works and giveaways!
Interested in talking all things romance on Facebook?
Like Evelyn’s Facebook Page and become a Tasty Morsel in Evelyn’s Facebook Group.
[email protected]
Instagram
Twitter
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Snow and Seduction (A Holiday Romance) Page 19