Page 23 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

He stared at her. A muscle jerked along his jaw. But Jake nodded.

She inched closer to him and put her hands on his chest. Then she whispered, “But you don’t even like Christmas.”

“Maybe it’s growing on me.”

Her lips parted.

“Or maybe I’m doing it for you.” Low. Words meant just for her. “Not the kids.”

Warmth spiraled through her. She leaned onto her toes because she could absolutely kiss the man right then.

Aliyah clapped. “Perfect! I’ll get the suit, and you can try it on now. Showtime will be here before we know it.” Her heels clattered away.

True didn’t move. At first, she just kept staring into Jake’s dark and deep eyes. Then she slowly smiled because she actually was figuring out a whole lot about him. And Jake might claim that he was big, bad, and dangerous. He might say he was the wrong kind of man for her to want. But for a wrong kind of man, Jake certainly had a heart of gold. “Thank you.”

His eyes glinted with intent. “You’re gonna owe me.”

“I’ll pay anything you want.” Hadn’t she made that offer before? When they’d been in his office, and he’d agreed to take her case without hesitation? The cops had turned her away. He hadn’t.

Wrong kind of guy? No. He was right. Exactly what she needed. She hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Jake.”

“Ho, fucking ho,” he groused. “You tell no one about this, understand? No one. This is one of those secrets that you carry to the grave. And you are damn well not to tell Harris, understand? Especially not him. And not my assistant Perry, either. Jeez, not Perry. The kid would never let me hear the end of it. He’d suddenly be convinced that I was overflowing with Christmas spirit.”

She beamed up at Jake.

He blinked at her. His voice roughened as he added, “And I will be collecting on what is owed to me.” His gaze had just gone feral.

Please, please do collect. Collect all night long.

She could hardly wait.

“How about a down payment?” Had she really just said those husky words? Her attempt at flirtation? Seduction?

His widening eyes confirmed that she had, indeed, said them.

No time to take the words back. No time for hesitation. She curled her hands around his neck and hauled him toward her. Jake’s mouth crashed onto hers. The kiss was a little clumsy because she was acting on nerves and need, but Jake took things over and turned the kiss from clumsy into…into…

Savage delight.

His tongue thrust into her mouth. He licked. He claimed. He had need coursing through her veins. A need that she only seemed to feel with him. Wildness rose within her. The good girl was so done. Being good for so long had gotten her nothing that she wanted.

An ex-husband who cheated.

A stalker who was trying to kill her.

A dead body.

Good was not working. Maybe it was time for something new.

His hands were on her waist. Her body pressed hard to Jake’s, and there was no missing his arousal. He wanted her. She wanted him.

Take him. They didn’t have to follow any rules. Jake probably still hated rules. He was a guy who lived on the edge, and she wanted to live there with him. A moan trembled from her, and he kissed her ever harder. His hands began to lift her up against him.

“Found it!” Aliyah called out happily. “Want to try on the Santa suit?”

Jake’s head slowly lifted. He stared down at True. Her panting breath seemed far, far too loud.

Then his head lowered. Not for him to kiss her again. Instead, his mouth went toward her right ear. And he whispered, “What I want…is to fuck you.”

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