Page 16 of One Night at Christmas

“I can’t.”

“You’re an idiot.”

Bryson agreed in silence.

“Alright, I won’t say anything, but I better not ever hear about you sniffing around her again. I plan to marry her, and when I do, I’ll kill anybody that tries to touch her. Got it?”

“Got it. You like playing the volatile hero bit. Just so long as you’re always gentle with her. We won’t have a problem.”

Morris disconnected the call. Bryson placed the phone back where he found it and rose to turn on the light. A few minutes later, Charon walked out of the bathroom, and he had to school his face to keep from showing the emotion that overwhelmed him. His time was running out.

“We’ll have to leave for the airport in an hour and a half. What do you want to do?”

Her fingers clenched on the belt she knotted at her waist. A hotel bathrobe never looked so good on a person as it did on her.

“Breakfast. I’m starving.”

“Downstairs? Somewhere else? Anywhere you like. My treat.”

“I’d like to eat here if you don’t mind.”

“Perfect.”

Bryson handed her the menu and moved to make the bed so they could stretch out on it again. He started to flip the TV on but changed his mind. He wanted to spend the last of their time with his attention focused on her.

“Did I hear you talking on the phone?” she asked. “You’re not conducting business, are you? You said you would take off. I know what kind of workaholic you are.”

He didn’t hesitate to lie because he knew it was better for her happiness if she could decide freely whether to get back with Morris or not. Of course he kept hoping she wouldn’t. “Not working at all. Why would I when I have a beautiful naked woman in front of me?”

She smirked. “This naked woman has a sore cootchie.”

Guilt struck him. “I’m sorry. I—”

She held up a hand. “It’s not that you were too big. Don’t worry about it. We had some marathon sex, so it’s natural. I’ll go down on you again before we leave.”

“No.”

Confusion wrinkled her brow. “You don’t want it?”

“No, I’ve had enough,” he lied again. “I’m okay with spending the last of our time the way we usually do.”

“Talking about everything and nothing?”

“Exactly.”

They ordered room service. While Charon had only ordered the standard eggs and bacon, Bryson went all out. He included sausage, fruit, pancakes, oatmeal, coffee and orange juice. His appetite was big but not that big. He wanted Charon to have any and everything she wanted just in case she changed her mind by the time the food arrived.

Soon he was inspecting the covered dishes to be sure they were prepared the way she liked. He knew her particular preferences. Just because it gave him pleasure to do so, he added cream and sugar substitute to her coffee in the amounts she liked and handed her the cup.

“You’re wonderful,” she purred.

He grinned.

“Why do you look pleased with yourself?”

“I’m not.”

“Uh-huh.”

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