Page 28 of 40 and Flashing (the Scotsman)
He grinned back. “I imagine we’ll have some explainin’ to do when we get up the mountain anyway.”
He was probably right. Not that she minded.
“So…” He nipped the lobe of her ear. “Did ya say somethin’ about a gift?”
He sounded like a little boy excited over a toy. It reminded her of how he looked when he slept, as if all the cares of the world had fallen away and the charm and enthusiasm that was pure Gavin was suddenly free. “I think I did mention something about a gift.”
Leading him over to the Christmas tree, she pulled him down to sit in front of it, face-to-face with her. Beneath the lit branches lay a box wrapped in shimmery gold paper, a big bow on top. Hesitation filled her. Gavin was literally the man who could have anything, and what she’d gotten him was small. Would he like it?
She handed the box over. “Merry Christmas, Gavin.”
There was no careful unwrapping of the paper for her Scotsman; no, he tore into it immediately, shredding the paper in his eagerness to get to the box. Her worry dissipated; all she could do was grin as she watched him eagerly reveal his surprise.
Gavin opened the box flaps. A mound of tissue paper lay below. “What is this?” Grasping the material, he pulled until he was surrounded by a sea of white. Inside was a thick stack of paper bound with a rubber band.
“I thought you could use something to read on your way home,” she explained.
He lifted the packet from the box, mouth open in awe. “This is your manuscript, Scarlett.”
“It is. Aside from my editor, you’ll be the first to read it. I know I already told you—”
He tackled her, taking her backward until her spine met the rug and he was lying on top of her. “It’s perfect.” His warm lips met hers, pushed them open, and his tongue delved inside. She savored the taste of him, the eagerness of his mouth, the soft surge of his desire against her thigh. When he lifted his head, she was hot and flustered. “I can’t wait to read it.”
Happiness lit inside her. “I figured you’d need a reminder of that quirky author you discovered in an unusual way on your trip to the Tennessee mountains.”
“I appreciate the reminder”—he ducked his head to nibble her collarbone—“but I don’ think I’ll be in danger of forgettin’.”
Her breath caught, but Gavin didn’t give her a chance to reply. Instead he kissed her again, and for a long while after that, thinking was impossible.
Around lunchtime they headed up the mountain to get ready for the wedding. At the base of the stairs, they parted, her to go up to Lily’s suite, Gavin to wherever the guys were, but not without a kiss. Her lips tingled as she mounted the stairs and walked to the room where Lily was getting ready. When she entered, Erin and Claire were already there.
“About time!” Erin reached for a hug. “We thought you were never gonna get here.”
“Not that we blame you,” Claire said. “Who would want to leave that hunk behind?”
Scarlett blushed.
Erin giggled. “That’s it, you owe me five bucks,” she told Claire.
“I told you guys things were heating up,” Lily said, exiting the bathroom.
Scarlett turned, eyeing Lily in her white silk robe. Her makeup was perfection, her blonde curls that she’d let grow out a bit falling over her shoulders in beautiful disarray. Ignoring the comments about Gavin, she said, “You look beautiful.”
Lily nodded toward Claire. “Thank God we have an artist among us. No way could I get a hairstylist and makeup artist up here on the mountain on Christmas Day.”
Claire waved her arms over Lily as if showing off a painting. “It’s not hard to do when you have such a good canvas.”
“Are you nervous, Lily?” Scarlett asked.
Lily’s grin held the light of a thousand candles. “Not in the slightest. One of the big advantages of doing this at my age instead of twenty years ago, in my opinion.”
“Definitely,” Claire said. “I threw up the morning of my wedding to Jared. And had the added pressure of being a virgin.”
“Ugh.” Erin groaned. “That would’ve made it even worse. I’d been with Stephen all through high school and was still so, so nervous on my wedding day.”
“I have zero doubts that this is the right thing to do,” Lily said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as comfortable with anyone as I was with JD from the moment we met.” A sheen of tears appeared in her eyes. “He’s my best friend.”
“Don’t go crying!” Claire said, rushing over with a tissue in her hand. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”
