Page 37 of Getting Wrapped Up

“Which means your brain was tossed around like a rubber ball inside a box.”

“Yeah, kind of. I’m fine though. Doc wants me to take it easy. Make some lifestyle changes.”

She nodded as it hit her she knew almost nothing about this man except that he knew what he was doing with his lips and fingers. And he was Joe’s brother. Which meant he’d grown up in Vegas in their family’s casinos and had money on level with Trump. Her eyes went wide. “You’re rich,” she blurted out before she could think better of it. Then she blushed. “Sorry. I just realized I know some things about you because of what I know about Joe.”

He nodded. “I’m rich. Part of my problem.”

Some people might have scoffed at that, but she actually knew what he meant. His money allowed him to be less responsible in some ways. Maybe many ways.

Her family had money too, and that was what had allowed her mother to run from and self-medicate her depression rather than dealing with it. She could have afforded great therapy, but she’d chosen the path of denial and liquor and shopping. It wasn’t only Christmas that had suffered from her emotional turmoil, but it was the thing that was most obvious to her children. At least until they’d gotten a lot older and realized Mom was so fun because she preferred to cover up any and all pain or difficulty with trips—to the beach, to the mall, to Disney World.

Dealing with pain and confronting difficult things was definitely harder as a grownup since Kate hadn’t had a role model or any practice.

Hence Kate’s plan to hibernate in her apartment and ignore Christmas completely.

It seemed that every time she’d put herself out there and tried to make some happy memories, it had blown up in her face. She’d begun to think her mom was right.

But then Levi had come along.

“It wasn’t your money that helped you give me a wonderful night last night, and cutting and decorating a Christmas tree, cuddling by the fire and watching Christmas movies on Netflix won’t cost a thing.”

His expression changed from one of self-deprecation to something that almost seemed like affection. “You’re right. The hot chocolate cost me, but everything else was all me.”

He seemed so pleased by that she couldn’t help but grin and slip her arms around his waist in a hug.

Levi seemed startled for a moment, as if he wasn’t sure how hugging worked, but Kate held on, and a few seconds later, she felt his arms around her.

The guy was a fantastic kisser, but he wasn’t a bad hugger. Not at all.

Reluctantly, she finally pulled back. “I want to hear some background to these shameless tales while we’re out,” she told him. “Then I promise when we get back here, it’s all Christmas and joy and cheesy childish stuff. Anything we’ve always wanted out of Christmas and never had.”

He hadn’t fully released her from the hug and ran his hands down to rest on her butt. “Two things that I want aren’t childish at all.”

Immediately, her whole body responded. Her first instinct was to shed every single stitch she was wearing. And that was just her first instinct. She took a deep breath. “What are those?”

“I want to sit in front of the fire, wrapped up in a blanket with you and drink wine,” he said, pointing to the table in front of the couch.

That sounded heavenly. “Done,” she said.

“And the other involves the floor too.”

“Okay.”

“I want to strip you down, piece by piece, kissing everything I unwrap like you’re the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Then I want you to ride me with only the fireplace and the tree lighting up this room.”

No,thatsounded heavenly. She stared up at him. Sex by Christmas tree light. It was like he’d read her mind.

“We’ll have to wait until dark so that’s the only light in here,” she said.

Of course, they could practice on the bed upstairs, or on the kitchen counter, or in the shower, or on Phoebe’s huge, sturdy dining room table…

“Then we’ll wait. It will build the anticipation. Make it even better.”

She wasn’t so sure about that. There was something to be said for immediate gratification. Not to mention the fact they only had a few days together. “But maybe—”

He silenced her with a kiss. An instantly hot, bold, arch-against-him-and-moan kiss.

Nearly two minutes later, he finally raised his head. “Let’s go get a tree.”

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