Page 16 of A Game-Changing Christmas

Chapter Five

Putting on her best smile, Bri strolled back to Raphael where he finished an order with Allison and Lance.

“I swear if Camilla wasn’t my girl, I’d be stretched out in our king size bed underneath this mountain of muscle,” Allison said.

They all smiled. “Say you promise,” Lance Valentine pushed.

Allison giggled. “You know I do.” Cuddled in the tuck of his arm, Allison lifted her head and turned her lips up for a smoking hot kiss.

“Mmmm…” Lance growled, pulling Allison so close she was seconds away from being in his lap.

“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Raphael said, turning to Bri.

“I think you’re right.”

They both chuckled and eased away from the newly engaged couple, who were so in love they couldn’t wait to be wedded on Christmas day.

“Looks like a small list there,” Bri chimed.

Raphael held up the short piece of paper.

“That’s because everyone ordered the same thing. Steaks, potatoes and green beans.”

“This late?!”

“We’ll burn it off at the gym tomorrow,” he said with a chuckle.

“I guess so. If I get anywhere near that, I’ll need help burning it off, too.”

Raphael glanced over at her. “You’re more than welcome to join us, or me. We’ll work it off together.”

A hot string of heat trailed down Bri’s skin, and she had a mind to squeeze her thighs together.

Oh my God, Bri, free your mind, girl.

They meandered through the hospital hall and exited into the frosty night air.

“Eeeek!” Bri squealed, instantly turning to run back inside but colliding with the warmth of Raphael’s chest.

“Whoa,” he said, wrapping her in the cove of his solidly crafted torso as she buried her head there. “Why don’t you stay inside while I pull the car around?”

His lips were pushed against her ear, the heat from his mouth thawing her through and through.

“Um…” she said, flustered. “Sure, yeah, sounds like a good idea.”

Raphael spun them around, and they walked step for step back through the double doors where he hid her from the icy air in the corner of the hospital’s entry.

“Stay here. I’ll come back in and get you.”

His breath tickled her nose, and she nodded, unsure of how to respond to the unsteady beat of her heart or the vibrant way her body lit up on his touch.

“Okay.”

He offered an easy-going smile then exited while Bri softly bounced, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She was antsy and rightfully so. After tonight, she’d have to make sure to put some distance between them. If for no other reason but to keep her mind from venturing into places it didn’t belong.

It had only taken him the stretch of a few minutes to pull the Jaguar Land Rover to the entrance. Raphael hopped out, his confident strides making the short distance to her in seconds.

“Ready?”

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