Page 5 of Five Mistletoe Moments
“No, and I’ll be reimbursing you. No arguments, sweetheart.” He already had a hard enough time knowing she’d booked the vacation, charity auction and timeshare points or not. His sister-in-law argued that Dwight had paid for it with his donation and he guessed she had a point, but still.
“Not like I’d win anyway,” Mia said with a snort. She reached for his hand. “So I’m just going to enjoy our time here.”
He intended for her to enjoy it and him.
* * *
Mia sat across from Dwight while they ate and studied his relaxed features. From the first moment she saw him, she’d been drawn to his good looks as much as the strong, quiet, almost mysterious aura he exuded. While most of the other men in the bar tried to pick up every woman who walked by, Dwight sat alone at a corner table eating and typing on his iPad. A few women tried to invite themselves to his table, and she watched him turn down each one.Until me.Mia counted herself lucky because the past few weeks with him—even though mostly long-distance—had been something out of a fairytale. She contemplated what he said about knowing you’ve found the one merely from a kiss. Did that mean he thought what they shared was more than a passing fling? She wanted to believe his words, trust that the emotional connection she felt was real because it had never been that way with any of the other guys she’d dated. This man was so very different in a good way and Mia hoped by the time they left, she’d know for sure. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and knew it was probably Alana wanting the picture. She ignored it for the time being. “Did you always know you wanted to go into construction?” she asked, picking up on their earlier conversation. Because their previous encounters had been so brief, they hadn’t talked a lot about their jobs. She only knew he co-owned a company with his friend.
Dwight took a sip of his Corona and leaned back in the chair. “Yes. I love the challenge of being able to take pieces of wood and turn them into a beautiful structure. No two projects are exactly the same and I learn something new every day—a new technique or application of an existing one.”
She could hear the passion in his voice. His dark eyes sparkled with excitement “It has to be amazing to watch a house or building take shape.”
“It is, especially when the client is pleased with the outcome. What about you?”
“I worked at an accounting firm for six years and it was boring with a capital B. The monotony had started to wear on me and I was thinking about finding something else, until my best friend told me about her and her four brothers opening a bar and entertainment spot. Alana’s oldest brother, Nicholas, with his finance background, was going to be in charge of managing the books, so I asked if he needed an assistant.”
He smiled. “I’m sure no day is the same.”
“There’s not much variety in numbers, but working with people who are like family makes a huge difference. It’s never a dull moment with those guys,” she added with a chuckle. Although the brothers were all about their business, their playful antics made going to work a joy. Mia and Dwight continued talking, enjoying each other’s company and listening to the music until the sun dipped below the horizon.
“Would you like to take a walk on the beach?” Dwight asked.
“Yes.” He stood, came around the table and helped her up. Hand-in-hand, they began a slow stroll toward the edge of the water. As they walked, Mia felt a contentment she’d never experienced and it scared her to death. She stopped, stared out in the darkness and tried to push the feeling aside, and instead concentrate on the fact that she’d gotten her wish of not being alone for the holidays. Her phone vibrated again, and again she ignored it. She’d send the photo tomorrow. “You know, this is the first time I’ve been away from home for Christmas.”
Dwight fit himself behind her and held her in his embrace. “You like Christmas?”
“It’s my favorite holiday. I love everything about it, from the music and decorations, to the smell of cookies baking, sitting around a crowded table stuffing my face and exchanging gifts. I love this time of year so much that I even wanted to have my—” Mia clamped her jaws shut. No way would she tell him that she’d dreamed of having a Christmas wedding.
“Your what?”
“It’s nothing important. I just get excited about Christmas, that’s all.”
Dwight turned her to face him. “Talk to me Mia. What were you going to say?”
He stared at her with such caring that the words were out before she could stop them. “I always dreamed of getting married at Christmas. I guess you can say I’m a romantic and envisioned having a fairy tale kind of winter wonderland wedding. Crazy, huh?”
Tucking her hair behind her ear, he said, “It’s not crazy at all. I think it’s a beautiful time to get married and you would make the perfect gift for any man.” He touched his lips to hers, then resumed their previous position.
Yeah, not lust. I’m just straight up falling for this man.After a few minutes, she asked, “Did you mean what you said about knowing you’d found the one just from a kiss?”
“I meant every word.”
She leaned to the side, looked up at him and searched his face for any hint that he was teasing, but saw only sincerity.
“And I’m more than ready toshowyou. Right here, right now.”
A nervous laughter escaped her and she felt her eyes widen. “What?”
“I told you I plan to make you a believer and I can’t think of a more perfect place to get the ball rolling—standing on this beautiful beach in the moonlight, a million stars in a clear, black sky…and this.” Dwight held up a small package.
Mia squinted, trying to see what he had. Then recognition dawned. “I know that’s not mistletoe.”
A wicked grin spread across his face. “It is Christmas and we are talking about kissing. I plan to kiss you in ways and in places you’ve never been kissed, and when I’m done, there will be no doubt in your mind that what I’m telling you is true. Are you ready to fall with me, Mia?” he murmured. “I want you to feel what I feel.”
She’d barely gotten the wordyesout before he brushed his lips across hers once, then again. Moving closer, he trailed kisses along her jaw and the corners of her mouth. Each fleeting touch of his mouth on hers sent a flurry of sensations whipping through her. Mia gasped softly. Drawing her closer, he captured her mouth in a slow, drugging kiss. She ran her hands up and down his back beneath his shirt and heard him moan. Dwight tightened his hold and each stroke of his tongue demanded that she give him everything, including that small part of her she kept locked away to protect her heart. Her body trembled as his tongue made sweeping, swirling movements around hers. Then he changed the tempo. His tongue thrust deeply, plunging in and out as if he were making love to her, sending shock waves straight to her core. A low pulsing started in her center and grew stronger until she exploded into a thousand pieces as an orgasm tore through her. Mia shuddered uncontrollably and her breaths came in short gasps.What in the world?
Dwight eased them down to the sand and held her in his lap. “That’s just the beginning, sweetheart,” he murmured, still placing fleeting kisses along her jaw.
