Page 27 of Matchmaking Under the Mistletoe

My hands slide under her sweater, and I feel the smooth skin of her lower back, but it’s not enough. I meant what I said, she’s gonna have to instigate and ask for anything between us to happen. There’s no way I can tell her no after the tension that’s been building over the last few days.

I’m sliding my hands up, inches from finally feeling her full breasts against my hands, when the lights finally cut back on.We jump apart, and I fight the growl that wants to work its way through at being interrupted again.

“Um, that was…” she starts, looking dazed and running her fingers over the lips where my mouth was.

“Yeah, sure was,” I agree. All I want is to pull her back to me and kiss her mouth, but as we stand beneath the lights, the moment seems lost. I debate reaching for her hand, but after having her body pressed against me, it doesn’t seem like enough.

“Guess they got the lights back on,” I say gloomily, folding my arms across my chest.

“Yeah, you ready to get going? It’s already after midnight,” she asks, starting to make her way toward the exit. I’m not sure if I’m imagining it, but I’m almost certain I hear the same disappointment in her voice that I’m feeling right now.

“Yep, I’m wiped,” I say as we take a right at the next turn.

We walk for a moment, and we’re almost to the end of the maze before she pauses and says, “Brian?”

I look over at her, and my heart skips a beat at the look in her eyes. She gestures to the canopy of mistletoe that’s hanging over the exit. “Kiss me again, please.”

God, I thought she’d never ask.

I lean down and plant a slow kiss on her mouth this time, knowing that my control will snap if I kiss her again like I did back there in the dark. This kiss is still needy, but instead of the rushed desperation I’ve felt the last two times I kissed her, this one is unhurried. It feels like taking our time to make sure that we don’t break the spell we’re under.

After a few minutes of tasting her, we pull back, both out of breath and dazed. “Come on, Mills, let’s go home,” I say, feeling a content smile spread across my face at the words.

CHAPTER 14

MILLIE

The sun coming through my window eventually pulls me from my slumber the following morning, and I roll over, savoring the feeling of waking up without an alarm. Last night on the way home, Brian insisted I take the day off and I accepted, eager for the opportunity to sleep in after all the early mornings and late nights we’ve had this week.

Rolling over, I grab my phone and see that I managed to sleep until almost nine. Noticing I have a few missed texts, I smile when I see Brian’s already sent me something this morning.

Brian: Good morning. I’m running over to Saddle Ridge to meet with the contractor that’s about to start working on the repairs for City Hall, but I’ll be back this afternoon.

Brian: Also, I stopped by Deer Valley to grab some paperwork I left in the office on the way out of town and grabbed you a coffee. It’s in the microwave when you get up. Enjoy your day off, and you better not let me catch you working. Relax today… that’s an order.

My stomach dips at the tone of his text. It’s incredible how fast he can go from being a perfect gentleman to a man who has me willing to drop my panties at the drop of a hat.

When he told me last night that he wasn’t going to make a move until I asked him to, I’d been ready to drop to my knees and do whatever I needed to feel his hands all over me. But of course, we got interrupted again, and the last kiss we shared had been sweet and gentle compared to the last two, like he was determined to savor it. Then, on the way home, he was back to his usual polite demeanor, asking me about my favorite music and books before walking me to my room and telling me to spend the day in bed or doing whatever else I wanted. And now, he’s sending me bossy texts and bringing me my favorite coffee…

Dear Lord, bless and strengthen any self-control left within me because I’m pretty sure it’s so far gone, I think it might be halfway to Texas by now.

Me: Oh, that was sweet. You didn’t have to do that.

Brian: I know I didn’t have to, Millie. I wanted to.

Brian: Also, Huey called this morning. He wants to know if we’re up for dinner tonight. I told him that would probably be fine, but I needed to check with you first. Does that work for you?

Me: Sure, that’s fine. And thank you, Brian.

Brian: You’re welcome Mills. Now, enjoy your day. I’ll be home around four.

Me: Yes sir.

Clicking out of his messages, I see that I also have a few texts from my sister. Oh, God… Lizzie is going to go ballistic when I tell her what happened last night. Groaning, I tap her name, deciding I may as well get it over with. Plus, I wouldn’t mind having her opinion on the situation because I’m pretty sure I’ll drive myself crazy if I sit here reliving it all day by myself.

Lizzie: Okay, sorry sis. I literally JUST got finished taking care of that fashion emergency. I need sleep and that IV of coffee Lorelei Gilmore was always talking about…

Lizzie: BUT enough about me. I need updates on my favorite small town mayor.

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