Page 24 of Inherited Holiday

“Well, what do you know?” I mocked. “I caught it, and now I’m holding the pin. The way I see it, you have two choices. You can surrender to me, or I’ll have to punish you for being a bad girl.”

“Surrender to you? What the hell does that mean?”

“It means you owe me a dinner.”

She extended out her hip in a defiant manner. “A dinner for what exactly?”

Twirling my index finger in a circle in the air beside me, I responded, “Need I say more?”

“Oh,” she celebrated with a pleased expression on her face. “I’m getting punished for bringing some holiday cheer into your life? Also, do you need me to remind you that you specifically asked for the Mistletoe welcome, and I’d hate not to live up to your town expectations.” She left for a minute and came back with a cookie basket. “That reminds me, I made these for you.”

I wasn’t going to pass up one of her delicious cookies. Reaching into the basket, I grabbed one and immediately took a big bite. Within seconds, I was spitting it out into my hand.

“Oh yeah…” she mocked in a snide tone. “I ran out of chocolate chips, so I used raisins instead.”

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I walked into the nearest bathroom and tossed it in the trash where it belonged.

“You know how much I hate raisins,” I called out, stepping back into the room.

“Oh yeah…” She smiled wide. “Oops.”

“This is how you treat your new boss?”

“I’m just following your orders and trying to make you feel welcome.”

“Is that a threat?”

She winked at me. “Never.”

“Does that mean you won’t have dinner with me?”

“That’s exactly what it means.”

Listening carefully, I asked, “You’re choosing to be punished, then?”

In two determined strides, she was in my face. “Mrs. Claus never backs down from a challenge.”

I grinned, knowing I just won the golden ticket. Without thinking twice about it, I followed Dan’s advice to show her I really had changed.

Specifically, when it came toher.

Gripping the back of her neck, I tugged her toward me.

In a steady breath, I warned, “Then I’ll have no choice but to bring out the Grinch in me.”

NOELLE

My hands were pressed against the mantel on the brick fireplace beside the tree in one quick movement. The heat from the flames instantly warmed my skin as he spread my legs from behind.

With my back now to his front, it gave him the leverage he sought.

What is happening?

My mind raced with mixed emotions while my body completely betrayed me. It didn’t just melt into his touch—it molded.

Shit!

I needed to stop this.

---