Page 36 of Inherited Holiday

Clearly still choosing to be defiant, I could see in her eyes that she was up to something.

“Maybe you don’t.”

I chose my words carefully, lacing my tone with cockiness directed right at her. I took a step toward her, expecting her to move back.

She didn’t.

“Is that right?” I replied arrogantly, centimeters from her lips. “I don’t know you? Really? What part don’t I know? Maybe I don’t know the way you move your hair to cover the side of your face when you’re nervous. Or maybe I don’t know how you bite your bottom lip when you’re deep into your baking. Or do you mean that I don’t know the way you freak out if it’s toodark in a room and you won’t walk in? Or maybe I don’t know that you bite your fingernails when you think no one is looking. Oh wait, here’s a good one. I don't know that you're trembling in your skin right now. I don’t know that your heart beats a million miles a minute, your hands are clammy, and you can’t swallow. How hundreds of thoughts are going through your mind, but the top one being how bad you want me to kiss you. How badly you want me to fuck you. How bad you want me to claim every fucking inch of your perfect body.” I paused to let my words sink in, and her flushed complexion gave away that everything I was saying was true.

“You’re right. I don’t know you. I don’t see your gorgeous smile in my sleep. I don’t hear that ridiculous giggle you have when I’m away from you. I don’t see those dark brown eyes every time I close mine.” I leaned in a little closer so she could feel my breath against her lips.

Her breathing hitched, and her eyes dilated. All it would take was for me to kiss her and bite that bottom lip that had me hard just staring at it.

I didn’t.

I wanted her…

Needed her…

To come to me.

“I’m pretty sure I know you. I know exactly who you are.”

She licked her lips, trying to conceal the smile from my examples that described her to a T.

“Any more doubts I can clear up for you, Elle?”

I swept her hair away from her face, and the mere touch of her cheek against my fingers restrained me from the impulse to back her up into the wall and remind her of who she belonged to.

Her resolve was breaking again. It was written all over her beautiful face. I never expected what happened next.

Not in a million years.

NOELLE

“Noelle, you gotta be messing with me,” he let out, holding up a heap of red velvet that was suddenly on his chest. Cocking his head to the side, he stared at me with no trace of amusement in his bright green eyes.

I bit my lip so I wouldn’t fall into a fit of giggles.

With the most believable serious expression I could muster, I cleared my throat and replied, “Oh, come on, it’s for the kids, and it’s not that bad. I even called in a few favors. You’re wearing one of Santa’s suits, so you could be the best Santa.” Smiling wide, I gave him one hell of a smirk.

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing.

“Oh… you think this is funny, do you?”

Straightening up, I once again cleared my throat. “No. I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing with you.”

“I’m not fucking laughing, Elle.”

I choked back another chuckle. “I’m laughing for both of us. You may not think this is funny right now, but it’s one of those situations you’ll look back on later and think it was hilarious.”

“Hilarious, my ass. What I do find funny is the fact”—he pointed a stiff finger at the suit lying beside me—“you think I’m actually going to wear that.”

“This is the only way I’ll go with you.”

“Hate to break it to you, but the kids aren’t going to believe I’m Santa.”

“Maybe the older kids won’t, but the younger ones will.”

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