Page 21 of Mistle-Ho

“I’m going to take you up on that, because it’s going to be cutting it real freaking close.” She shifts on her feet a little bit, looking uncertain. “I guess I’ll see you soon.”

Before I know what I’m doing, I snag her by the front of the shirt, pulling her close. The second my mouth meets the plush softness of hers, I realize what a terrible mistake I’ve made.

Up to this point, we haven’t kissed. And maybe that was by design. Maybe I knew what would happen if we did.

My intended quick peck goodbye, quickly turns into something else. Something more. Something undeniable and unavoidable. For years, I refused to let myself see Alexis as anything besides Leo’s little sister. Refused to admit the anticipation I always felt at seeing her. But with her soft body pressed tight to mine, I can’t ignore the truth anymore.

There’s something there between us.

I palm the curve of her ass with one hand, tangling the other in her hair as I pull Al as close as I can get her, tilting my head so I can fully claim her mouth. Fuck morning breath. Fuck bad decisions.

Fuck the fallout.

I’m nowhere near ready to let her go when she pulls away, hands pressed to the center of my chest, breathing heavy. “I need to get ready.”

I should be grateful she did what I couldn’t, but all I want is for her to be against me again. Under me. To feel those lush thighs wrapped at my waist as I plunge into her body.

Alexis shoves at my chest, giving me a stern look. “And you need to go home and shower, because if you show up in jeans and a T-shirt, my mom’s going to be pissed.”

The mention of Babs sobers me, knocking the need and want coursing through my veins down a few notches.

Fuck. I keep making the same goddamn mistake. Keep pretending like what I’m doing won’t lead to losing so much of what matters to me.

The worst part is, I don’t see that changing. Not when that mistake is Alexis.

She pushes at me again, harder this time. “Go.”

I don’t think I’ve ever been shoved out of a woman’s house before, but it doesn’t surprise me that Alexis would be the first.

Giving her one last look as she disappears into the bathroom, I collect my clothes from the living room floor. After pulling on the discarded jeans and tying my shoes, I grab my keys and head for the door. Jerking it open, I come face-to-face with another guy. He’s carrying a bouquet of red roses with some sort of green ball things dispersed throughout. Deep green paper inlaid with gold plaid wraps around the stems, reminding me of the packaging on the scarf I gave Alexis.

It doesn’t take a genius to know who the flowers are for, and it has my teeth grinding together.

Al’s unexpected visitor doesn’t seem any happier to see me. His brows shoot up, lips flattening out as he looks me over.

Leaning against the doorframe, I tuck my keys into the back pocket of my jeans so he can’t see them and won’t deduce I was on my way out. “Can I help you?”

The guy is the polar opposite of me. He’s clean-shaven, with perfectly styled blonde hair. Where I prefer jeans and T-shirts, this guy is fully decked out in tailored slacks and a well-cut button up layered under a jacket. He’s not short, but he’s nowhere near as tall as I am. And while he looks like he works out, he sure as shit wouldn’t win a fight between us.

Not that there’s anything to fight about, because I was in Al’s bed last night and he wasn’t.

I tip my head at the flowers. “Those for Alexis?”

The guy doesn’t answer me, but his scowl tells me they are. “Who the fuck are you?”

“None of your business.” I grab the bouquet, yanking it from his grip. “Merry Christmas.” I slam the door in his face.

Then I stand there for a second, because what in the hell do I do now?

And what the fuck would’ve happened if I wasn’t here when that prick showed up? Would Alexis have jumped out of the shower and answered the door in her robe?

Worse, would she have let him in?

“You’re still here?”

I spin at the surprised sound of her voice. The sight of Al in her robe comes too close to confirming my worst fears. “You shower fast.”

“Not usually.” She huffs out a little laugh. “I skipped a few steps.” Her eyes drop to the flowers in my hand. “Where did you get those?”

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