Page 5 of Jingle Devil

Lincoln holds up his hands and grins. “No judgement here.” He wraps his arms around Jazz’s shoulders and tugs her to his chest. “I spend a fair amount of time sleeping with the boss.”

Jazz rolls her eyes before pulling me in for another hug, saying her goodbyes, and pulling Lincoln to the other side of the room. I glance at Mick as an awkward silence settles between us.

“Shall we?” He extends his arm which I loop with mine and let him lead us around the room to find our table. A few couples sit down to join us for a fancy looking roasted chicken. There’s no one I recognize at the table, and I relax, sinking down in my chair. We make small talk until dinner is over, and Mick pulls me on the dance floor.

“I almost didn’t think I’d get you alone.” Mick holds my hand in his and snakes the other around my waist to rest on my back as he sways us around.

“I don’t know if I’d say we’re fully alone.” I make a point to glance around at the other couples on the dance floor. “There are plenty of people out here with us.”

He pulls me closer to him and strokes his hand up and down the zipper line on the back of my dress. “Yeah, but I can be closer to you out here and don’t have to share you with anyone else. And now that I’m thinking about it, why are you free on Christmas Eve? Shouldn’t you have family you’re hanging out with? Not that I’m complaining.”

“I’m a casualty of divorce.” I shrug and lay my head on his shoulder. “My parents separated when I was in high school and do not get along. Like at all. And because I’m an only child, holidays became a tug-o-war. They wanted me to spend Christmas and birthdays with them, not to make it special for me, but to use it as ammo against each other. Two years of that and I decided I was done with the holidays and started spending them by myself. Plus, they’re both still in Florida. I only moved up here after Jazz practically begged me to take this job.”

Mick remains silent for several seconds, his hand still circling my back. “Begged, huh?”

“Absolutely. Something about the new coach being super high maintenance. Couldn’t keep an assistant to save his life.”

“Not my fault they were only there to ogle the players.”

“You did hire them. Sooooo.”

“Touché,” he says with a low chuckle.

“By the way...” I trail off when my gaze lands on the one person I absolutely never wanted to run into again. Winston Wells, a friend of a friend who does something for the Nashville Aces, our kick-ass football team. He was a blind date turned stage four clinger. We were one conversation away from upping that to a stage five. We went on three dates last month and there was zero chemistry. Absolutely nothing. So, I cut things off like any normal person would do. But he’s been calling and texting me ever since. He even stopped by my apartment on Monday to beg me for another date.

Mick places his index finger beneath my chin and turns my head to face him. “What’s wrong? Where did you go just now?”

“You see that guy to my right? Blue tux, curly blonde hair?”

“Justin Timberlake looking guy. I see him.”

“We went on a couple dates, and he won’t give up. I’ve made it clear I’m not interested but he keeps calling and texting. The man doesn’t take no for an answer.” I sigh as Winston steps onto the dancefloor and navigates around the couples, his gaze intent on me. “Dammit.”

“Well, I can fix that.” Mick’s eyes twinkle with mischief and before I can question him, he winds his hand around my neck, just below my pinned messy bun, and lowers his lips to mine.

Heat courses through my veins as I wrap my arms around his neck and open beneath him. I whimper as his tongue slips past my lips and dances with mine. He tastes like red wine and is just as intoxicating. His stubble is rough against my chin, and I want more. I want it rougher, harder. I want him to drag that stubble all over my body and mark me as his. But he kisses me at a lazy pace, exploring my mouth like he has all the time in the world, sipping at my lips like I’m a rare vintage he wants to savor.

My hands trail over his shoulders and down the front of his tuxedo jacket. His muscles flex under my touch, and he groans, pulling our hips together. Lord have mercy. This man and his erections are going to be the death of me.

I’d say we just crossed that line.

And I damn sure know it.

FOUR

Mick

Tessa has the sweetest mouth I’ve ever tasted, and I can’t wait to taste her everywhere.

I wasn’t going to cross the line. I really wasn’t. But one look at that asshole’s face and how focused he was on Tessa, and I couldn’t hold back. Jealousy had me gripped by the balls and even though I knew she wasn’t interested in him, I needed him to know he couldn’t have her. Stupid? Maybe. Irrational? Sure. Do I care? Not in the slightest.

The second my lips touched hers, the world fell away around me, and it was just the two of us. Tessa with her hands skimming down my torso and moaning into my mouth. And me, gripping her hips as I absolutely pillage her mouth. She’s so responsive to my touch and I’ve barely gotten started.

With a groan, I pull away, putting some much-needed distance between us. If I don’t, I’m likely to start undressing her right here. Since this fundraiser is for the children’s hospital, they may frown on public fornication on the dance floor.

Tessa blinks after staring at me for several seconds. “I, uh, I—?”

At some point during our kiss, Mr. NSync had gotten closer. He sure is persistent. If the sight of my tongue in her mouth didn’t convince she was otherwise engaged, I’m not sure what would.

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