Page 83 of My eX-MAS Emergency

His hands took their liberties, touching every curve before landing on my thighs. He dug his fingers into my flesh, heat searing right through my tights.

Every time we kissed, I felt so at one with him. I could feel the beat of his heart as we embraced, and the sound of his ragged breaths soothed my soul. A feeling of safety and contentment wove through me, making me forget why I’d had any fears at all. His touch filled me with the courage to take on the town—and his parents—if we had to.

With every prod of his tongue, sparks of energy and resolve shot down my spine. The longer we kissed, the more my body came alive. Zings ran from my lips to my toes. His hands moved to my face, where he caressed my cheeks, making me feel even more adored and wanted.

A knock on the door broke us apart.

Breathing heavily, we smiled slyly at each other.

“Did that help?” he crooned.

“Oh yeah,” I barely managed to say as my heart raced.

“Good.” He wiped the lip gloss off his lips before calling out, “Come in.”

I stood by his side and straightened out my tiny skirt, waiting to see who was going to appear through the doorway.

Tristan took my hand.

Quinn bounced in, all smiles, wearing her Granger Outfitters long-sleeved polo shirt. “Guess what?” She paused and eyed us more carefully, an impish grin forming on her perfect face. “By the way, your hair is a mess. That goes for both of you. Looks like I’m going to get some cousins soon.”

“Quinny,” I spluttered.

“What?” She shrugged. “You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

I wasn’t embarrassed, but I also wasn’t going to discuss this with my fifteen-year-old niece. Besides, I wasn’t ready to take that step yet.

“What do you want, kiddo?” Tristan jumped in and changed the direction of the conversation.

She put her hands to her mouth, excited. “Oh. My. Gosh. My mom has been trying to call you, Aunt Calista, but you weren’t answering. I guess we know why now.” She laughed. “Anyway, you’re all over the news.”

I pointed at my chest. “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“What news?” I was both intrigued and terrified. The last time I made the news around here was for throwing a bonfire at the lake to protest the prom rules. The school was none too happy about it. Oh, and the things with the watermelons and the slip and slide in the hall had both made the news too. Oops. Had those all come back to light? I bet it was Tristan’s parents.

I was about to get irate when Quinn said, “All the news stations are reporting how you saved that famous author’s baby last night.”

“When you say all the stations, do you mean like national coverage?”

“Yes!” she shouted. “Isn’t that awesome? They’re calling you a hero.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I was just doing my job.” This kind of attention made me uncomfortable. On the flip side, maybe this town would finally know me for more than all my high school antics and for getting the duke and duchess’s son arrested. Perhaps this would give me and Deidra the job security we both needed right now.

Tristan squeezed my hand. “You are a hero. Your aunt was amazing last night,” he said to Quinn.

“This is such goals. I can’t wait to tell all my friends at school.” She ran back out, her phone out and her fingers flying over the keyboard.

I looked at Tristan to get his take. “This is unexpected.” Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to make of it at all.

“The world just knows now what I’ve always known. Even if I forgot for a while,” he said abashedly.

I held our clasped hands up and pressed them against my chest. “If you ever need a reminder, just let me know.” That was my way of saying, Please don’t let me go again and make a fool out of me.

“I don’t need a reminder. All I need is you. Did that sound too cheesy?” He grinned.

I held up my forefinger and thumb. “Maybe just a little. But I’ll take it.”

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