Page 16 of Matchmaking Under the Mistletoe

Set up the decorations at the tree farm.

Reach out to volunteers.

Ignore the fact that my new roommate might be the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Easy enough, right?

CHAPTER 9

BRIAN

When we finally roll into my driveway, I’m exhausted and on edge.

Spending the entire day with Millie was pure torture. Not because she isn’t good company—quite the opposite, actually. I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed a road trip as much as I did today. Not only is she fucking gorgeous, but her ideas for the inn are genius and she’s funny as hell. Spending hours inhaling her vanilla perfume and catching glimpses of her curves has literally eaten away at every bit of control that I possess, begging me to forget the fact that she’s my employee. All afternoon I told myself I just had to make it to this evening, then I could drop her off and regroup. But instead, here she is sitting in my driveway because I opened my big mouth and couldn’t let her leave town.

God, this is gonna be a disaster, but it’s too late now to do anything about it.

“Home sweet home,” I say, trying to lighten the tension that suddenly feels suffocating.

“Brian, I really appreciate this, but are you sure you don’t mind? I can see about staying somewhere else. The last thing Iwant to do is make you uncomfortable after everything you’ve done for me,” she says, looking sheepish.

“Yes, I’m sure, Millie. There aren’t many options in Springside to begin with, and combined with the weather and the holidays, there isn’t anywhere else for you to go. Plus, I have plenty of room,” I tell her, jumping out of the car and reaching in the back to grab her bags.

We walk in silence to my front door, and after fidgeting with the lock, I open it and lead her inside. I forgot to leave any lights on when I left this morning, and it’s so dark I can barely see anything. I move to find the light switch, but when I flip the first switch nothing happens.

Weird.

I notice the faint glow of the clock in the kitchen, so I know the power isn’t out. Assuming the lightbulb must have blown since I can’t remember the last time I changed it, I go to step further into the house reaching my hands out in front of me for the lamp I keep in the living room.

Instead of the lamp, I feel a soft brush of skin followed by Millie’s sharp intake of breath. I tell myself to move my hand, but I feel frozen, finally feeling her skin grazing my hand. After thinking about her constantly for the last day, all I want in this moment is to pin her against the wall and taste her sweet mouth against mine.

We stand frozen in the darkness, like both of us are scared to break the spell we’re under. I feel her lean slightly into my touch, and any bit of control I had snaps. Before I know what I’m doing I’m leaning against her, desperate to claim her lips. It's been years since I felt this level of need surging through me. Her breath quickens and my dick hardens in my pants, desperate to rub against her. I’m close enough that her hot breath grazes across my cheek. My lips brush against her mouth just as my phone rings, breaking us from our spell.

I hold back the curse that wants to break free before stepping away from Millie and checking my phone. The screen lights the room to show the name of one of the city councilmen that often calls to chat, but I have no desire to talk to him after what he just interrupted.

While I’m sending them to voicemail, Millie reaches for the lamp—thanks to the light from my phone screen—and flips the switch, causing light to filter through the dark space. We stare at each other in silence, neither of us willing to address what almost just happened between us.

Trying to break the uncomfortable quiet filling the room, I say, “So, uhh, let me give you a quick tour. Here’s the living room and kitchen, the guest bedroom and bathroom are on the right. The laundry room is next to the back door, and my room is to the left, right across the hall from yours.”

She looks at me, giving me another awkward smile before responding. “Oh great, thank you. I know I told you before, but I really appreciate you letting me crash here.”

“Millie, you don’t have to thank me. I’m sorry you can’t stay at the inn right now. But I’m glad you’re here. God knows I need someone to run these events. So really, you’re doing me a favor,” I tease.

Another blush covers her cheeks before she says, “Well I really am grateful, but I’m wiped. So let me grab my bag, and I’ll be off to bed,” she tells me, and it’s impossible to deny the exhaustion creeping into her voice.

“Sure thing. Here, I’ve got it,” I say, grabbing her bag from the floor where I dropped it before our encounter. “I’ll walk you to your room.”

We walk the short distance to the guest room, and I try to ignore the fact that she’ll be sleeping this close to me for the foreseeable future. It would be so easy to suggest that she slipinto my king-size bed instead, but I remind myself that I still have to behave, even if we aren’t at the inn.

I’m so lost in thought, I don’t realize she’s leaning against the door when I go to sit her bag inside, and her body presses against mine for a few moments, before she pulls back.

“Oh, uh, sorry about that. Uhh, I’ll drive us to the inn tomorrow morning. Just come out when you’re ready. I usually leave around eight. Goodnight, Millie,” I say in a rush, desperate to get away from her and get my thoughts under control.

“Goodnight, Brian,” she says, before hastily retreating to her newly claimed bedroom and closing the door without a second glance.

I lean against the wall, fighting the urge to pull at my hair. Damn it, that was not how tonight was supposed to go. God, it’s been a long time since I felt this rattled by a single almost kiss, but my pulse is still racing, and my hands are longing to pull her against me and kiss her mouth the way I want to.

I give into the moment and let myself imagine the taste of her lips and the feel of her soft curves under my hands. I think about all the times earlier today when I had to remind myself to be a professional and let out a low growl of frustration. The door looks back at me, daring me to knock and finish what we almost started in the dark a few minutes earlier. After fantasizing for another minute, I turn and walk toward my bedroom, throwing myself on the bed and rubbing my hand down my face.

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