Page 4 of A Very Naughty Christmas

“By half an hour. I’ve already had two cups of coffee.”

Maybe he was worried he’d have trouble getting to sleep. If she was bolder, she might suggest a few things he could do to help. Or, rather, thatshecould do… but she wasnotthat bold.

“I… I’m sorry… Sir,” she added, because it seemed appropriate. Was it her imagination, or had something flickered across his face when she’d said that? She couldn’t be sure. It might have just been the light.

“That’s all right, I think I’ll let it slide—this once.” His eyes twinkled at her, looking so like she’d imagined that she blushed again. Or maybe it was the innuendo, the one that she wasn’t even sure she understood. All she knew was that it made her squirm in her seat, even if she had no idea why. “Are you hungry? Or did you just want coffee?” There was a teasing lilt to his voice as he signaled for the waitress.

“Um, I could go for some fries.”

“Good. We can share.” He winked.

Sara cleared her throat and looked out the window, trying to find something to distract her from the way he made her feel. Could he tell? Surely he didn’t suspect that the warmth that flooded her cheeks had anything to do with his innocent flirting. He probably wasn’t even flirting—she probably onlywantedto think that he was. God, this was embarrassing. Shenever should have come.

Fortunately, the waitress came over and Alex ordered their fries and water for himself.

“And to drink for you, ma’am?”

“I’ll have milk, thanks.”

“One milk, got it.”

“And, actually, if you could make it chocolate, that would be great.”

“Chocolate milk. Can do.”

It wasn’t until she shifted her gaze to Alex and saw him grinning that it occurred to her that ordering chocolate milk on what may or may not have been a date made her seem a bit childish. But the moment the thought crossed her mind, she tossed her hair over his shoulder and looked back at him with her most determined stare. She was tired of feeling like an uncertain little girl around him. She was a woman, damn it, and it was time that he recognized her as one!

“So, what have you been up to for the past year?” he asked, his voice neutral as though she’d just voiced her thoughts aloud.

“School,” she answered simply. “I stay pretty busy. Junior year and all.”

“Junior year,” he whistled. “Wow. It seems like just yesterday that you were jumping through the sprinkler in the front yard.”

Sara cleared her throat, trying to appear as adult as possible as she informed him, “Actually, that was over spring break.”

Alex’s grin widened and his eyes focused on her with such smoldering intensity that the squirming resumed. “I know. I have a pretty good memory. You kind of have to, with my job.”

“Yeah, I guess so. And, um, speaking of that… thanks for earlier. You know.”

“No problem. Everyone deserves a break now and again. But make sure you remember that it was a one-time-only deal.”

“Yes, of course,” she murmured, ducking her head to hide her hot cheeks. What waswrongwith her? Why did that low, gravelly voice of his bring out this stammering schoolgirl? Which, technically shewas… but she wasn’t normallythisembarrassed and flustered! Not even with the toughest professors at school. She had to focus on that—she’d had a debate with thedeanonce. The dean! Sure, Alex was her oldest crush, and yes, he had a blush-worthy smile, not to mention the dimple, but she was a grown woman! She was a strong,capablegrown woman! Now she just had to keep reminding herself of that.

“And Sara… I just wanted to say… I mean, I should have sent a card, or something, but I didn’t know what to say then, either.”

She tensed up, knowing what he was getting ready to say, but then his hand wasreaching across to grab hers and she couldn’t help but relax from the contact.

“I am so sorry about your parents. They were really good people.”

And then, just like that, her eyes were filling with tears. It was such an unexpected surprise that she almost started to laugh. But Alex looking across the table at her, his features suddenly soft and sympathetic, his hand clasping hers, made her laughter die before it started. She wasn’t sure what she felt, except grateful to him—grateful, and still shy.

“Yeah, they were,” she answered at last. “Thanks.”

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but right then the waitress reappeared with their drinks in hand and no sooner had she put them in front of them than another waiter was behind her with their fries.

As curious as she was about what he had to say, Sara couldn’t help but also feel relieved. She wasn’t ready to cry—not yet. And certainly not in public! If she had to choose tears in front of her crush or blushing and stammering, she’d gladly choose the latter. Especially when he made it feel so good.

Chapter Two

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