Page 34 of Only for the Season
One touch of his lips against mine and I forgot everything – his money, how a man with money tried to destroy me in the past, how men with money can’t be trusted.
I scowl. I am not letting this man ruin me. No way. No how. Been there. Done that. Couldn’t afford to buy the t-shirt to commemorate the occasion.
Jeremy glances over his shoulder at me and smiles.One more minute,he mouths to me. My legs tremble and my panties dampen at the intention in his light brown eyes.
Oh boy. I need to get out of here before I forget all sense and let this man strip me naked and touch me all over. I nearly moan as visions of him doing exactly that flitter through my mind.
Knock it off, Parker. You know better.
There’s only one way to handle this. I scurry toward the door and rush outside.
The kitchen is a mess and I’ll probably curse Jeremy to hell and back tomorrow morning when I end up spending way too much time cleaning my baking utensils. But I don’t have a choice.
Jeremy Holland is entirely too tempting. Especially since I know how soft his lips feel, how expertly he uses his tongue, how sparks ignite when his hard length presses against my stomach.
“I need to think of something else. Anything else,” I mutter to myself as I march toward my apartment.
“What did you say, dear?” Lily asks and I startle with such force I nearly fall over.
She’s standing next to me on the sidewalk and I didn’t notice her. Huge mistake. Lily prides herself on knowing everything going on with everyone’s love lives on the island. I never should have befriended her daughter, Sophia.
I force a smile. “I was wondering what you thought of the Thanksgiving pies.”
She moans. “They were delicious as always. I’m already salivating over having another pie for Christmas.”
My smile is definitely strained now. Christmas is even busier than Thanksgiving. I love this season – decorating the tree, the hope of snow, caroling, mistletoe, spiked cider, and the general feel of the holiday magic – but it’s also the busiest time of the year forPirate’s Pastries.If only I could afford to hire another baker to help me out.
“Make sure to get your order in on time.” I wink.
“It’s on my to-do list.” Her eyes narrow. “Must run. I need to speak to Sophia about her wedding.”
“How are the preparations going?” And does she want me to provide the cake?
Lily rolls her eyes. “Apparently, I’m taking over.”
I bite my tongue before I laugh. She’s definitely taking over. Lily doesn’t hesitate to go after what she wants. Her daughter is the same. Just ask me sometime how she got her brother’s best friend to fall in love with her when he was determined to resist her.
“She better not be buying a dress there,” Lily mutters before racing down the sidewalk.
I contemplate messaging her daughter to warn her Lily’s on the way but then I notice the back door of the hardware store open and Sophia tiptoe out. She notices me and places a finger over her lips. I chuckle. Sophia and her friends were always trouble in school. I can’t believe they own a successful brewery and somehow haven’t managed to burn it down during a prank gone wrong.
I wave before continuing on my way to my apartment. I shiver as the cold seeps in through my light jacket. I hope it snows. There’s nothing quite like Christmas with snow.
Except last year, we actually had a storm and lost electricity. I didn’t manage to bake any of my pies. My stomach drops. Please, for the love of mermaids, no snowstorm this year.
Jade waves from across the street. “Parker, how are you?”
“Hi, Jade.”
She waggles her eyebrows. “How is the sexy man living in your loft?”
At the reminder of Jeremy, a vision of what we did in my kitchen pops into my mind. My cheeks start to heat. I try to fight the blush from forming but it’s hopeless. I have no control over the heat I feel when I think of our kiss. At least Jade is across the street and can’t see my red cheeks.
“Rumor has it he helped you with your gingerbread house. Has he helped you with anything else?”
It’s official. I should have used the alleyways to walk home. Beginner mistake. I forgot how each and every person on Smuggler’s Hideaway – including the local realtor – feels a need to broadcast your business to the rest of the island’s inhabitants.
In my defense, I don’t usually walk around the streets of the town of Smuggler’s Rest during the day. I’m entirely too busy. Besides, I don’t even have enough money to window shop.
