Page 9 of One Night at Christmas

“Yeah. The minute I decided to come here.”

“Oh.” She didn’t blame him. She blocked out thoughts of his plans and anything about the future. All they had was now. She wanted to pretend he belonged to her and her alone. Now that he planned to commit himself to another woman, a woman who didn’t deserve him.

She took a drink of wine and looked him in the eyes. “You can kiss me.”

He moved around the table and leaned down. She raised her chin, and their lips touched briefly before they moved into a deeper kiss. Warmth spread throughout her body all the way down to her toes.

His lips were firm yet soft. He slanted his mouth across hers and teased the corner of her lips with the tip of his tongue. Panicked, she moved back a bit, but he chased after her with a finger under her chin. Once again, he covered her mouth, and she was lost. Their heads tilted in opposite directions, they kissed long and slowly, exploring and tasting until Charon felt all the nervousness and doubt slip away.

Someone cleared their throat, and she and Bryson sprung apart. Charon looked over her shoulder to find an elderly woman glaring at the two of them. When the woman was sure her sentiment was clear, she stepped toward the exit.

“We got a little carried away.” Charon started

to drink again just for something to do, but her glass was empty.

Bryson poured her more wine from the bottle he had ordered. “It’s easy to get carried away with you. If that kiss was any indicator of how tonight is going to go, I’m ready.”

“Me too.” She meant it. Dinner no longer appealed. Even as she thought it, the waiter arrived with their meal. She looked at Bryson, and he looked back at her. He seemed to read her mind and signaled the waiter again.

“Sorry about this,” Bryson told him. “Something has come up. We’ll take the check right now.”

“Shall I put everything in a box to go, sir?”

“No—”

“Yes, we’ll take boxes,” Charon interrupted. “We might get hungry later.”

Bryson paid for the food, and they hurriedly left the restaurant. Charon gazed out at the street beyond the restaurant. There wasn’t a taxi in sight.

She turned to Bryson. “Oh, boy. I didn’t think about a taxi. Getting one from the airport was easy. From here, I’m not so sure.”

He tugged her to his side and held up a set of keys. “I have a rental. Come on.”

Chapter Four

Charon stepped out of her dress. She told Bryson she wanted to freshen up even though she took a shower and changed as soon as she checked into the hotel earlier. The truth was she needed a moment to collect herself.

She checked out her body in just a bra and panties in the mirror. Her hips were a little wide, and her thighs were thick. Not that she was really big, more like overweight. She worried about the slight love handles and the boobs that weren’t as perky as they had been in her early twenties. Sure, she was just twenty-six, but she could see the big 3-0 already casting an influence. Someone as perfectly built as Bryson wouldn’t have any trouble getting a woman, even a supermodel.

She licked her lips and swallowed. A knock at bathroom door made her jump. Bryson called out. “Hey, you coming out, or do I have to come in and get you?”

“Not funny.”

“Don’t be nervous. We’ll talk a little.”

She suppressed a moan. Talking—that was all they had done for two years. This trip was about getting physical, and they only had tonight. She had to make herself move past the initial act and then enjoy herself to the fullest. Her knees knocked no matter how much of a pep talk she gave herself.

“Char.”

She frowned at the door. “I’m going to kill you, Bryson.”

“You have to come out here to do that.”

She opened the door while he continued to tease her, but as soon as he saw her in her bra and panties, his words died away. She clamped down on the inside of her cheek and refused to look away. If she caught even a hint of displeasure from him, she was out of there. It would give her a good excuse to run.

“Oh, God, Charon.”

Her mouth went dry. “What?”

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