Page 28 of Twelve Dates of Christmas

Epilogue

~ Rylan ~

Five Years Later

Twelve days to Christmas, and all I could think of was how fast I could get finished with work and get home to my wife and kids. It was crazy, really, that I used to dread Christmas rolling around, yet now, it was one of my favorite times of the year. And my celebration of it would begin in approximately two hours. This appointment was my last before vacation.

I took a deep breath while I hurried down the sidewalk toward the building where I was meeting the owner of the construction company overseeing our latest project. The chill filled my lungs, invigorating me. Overhead, the clouds broke and let through a beam of light. And destiny…

Smiling, I momentarily froze to the spot, confused and bemused. That bright spate of sunlight seemed to shine directly onto her, the embodiment of perfection. I took in everything at once. Black slacks, black high-heeled boots and a red puffy coat. Her halo of blonde hair fell below her shoulders. Her locks and the red and green plaid scarf around her neck, blew in the breeze, a flag beckoning me to charge at her—charge at her and scoop her up and runaway with her.

My wife. My everything.

People thought Holly and I wouldn’t last. And by people, I mean Iris. My family had had no such illusions. They knew me, and they knew Holly flowed through my veins, sustaining me.

But what was she doing here? Brow furrowed, I watched her dart into a building about the same time my phone started ringing.

“Kenton,” I said, more interested in my wife than in pleasantries.

“Go do your thing,” he told me. “I have your meeting. Go follow your sunshine.”

Just like that, my confusion seeped away. She’d planned this. Quickening my steps, I hurried after her. For five years, she’d filled my life with excitement and bliss, making every day special and giving me three precious kids. Normally, right now, she’d be at home with them, which made me thing that either Keaton or my mom was babysitting tonight.

I veered into the building and almost laughed out loud when I saw the sign for the speed dating event. This might be the first time in their history that one of their attendees was carried out over someone’s shoulder, because Oh Hell No!

“Can I help you?” the woman asked when I burst through the doors.

“Rylan James,” I growled.

“Oh, Mr. James, I have your information right here.” She handed me an envelope. “Now, what you’re going to do is take those stairs right there and the gentleman up there will take you to your event.”

I looked to my left at the curtain that lead to the event—at least it had last time—then to the stairs behind me. Okay…

Taking the steps two at a time, I found myself in a wide hallway with a plush red and black patterned carpet, cherry wainscoting, and tan walls that gave the area a warm, subdued look. It didn’t calm me. I wanted to find my wife. Now.

“Mr. James?” a man asked after I’d bounded through onto the landing, looking left and right. He wore a dark suit and had a wire to his ear, making him look a little like the CIA. Strong security here, apparently.

“Yes.”

“This way.”

I followed him into an elevator that took us to the fifteenth floor then followed him down the hallway.

“The card in your envelope will open the door,” he told me. “Have a good evening.”

As he walked away, my hands shook a little with excitement while I pulled out the keycard and held it to the reader. I wasn’t so dense that I hadn’t recognized this as a hotel about the time we’d stepped out of the lift and into this hallway. Yes, there was a speed dating event happening, but it wasn’t what my naughty wife had planned for me. Before the lock release, I was already rock hard.

I stepped into the suite, dropping the envelope and keycard. My suitcoat dropped, and I started pulling on my tie as I walked the short corridor to the bedroom.

“Holly,” I breathed.

Only the bed’s side light was on, and she sat reclined against the pillows in the skimpiest little Mrs. Santa outfit I’d ever seen. The top hugged her ample breasts that were fuller after having our kids. Below that, the red-velvet garment, trimmed in white fur, split all the way to the bottom that ended at her hips. The opening exposed her flat belly and the tiny red thong that just barely covered her pussy.

She bit her lip but couldn’t hold back her smile.

“Merry Christmas, Rylan. I thought we’d start out our Christmas break with a bang.” Her hips shifted, revealing her arousal and making it clear what sort of bang she needed.

I had never stripped so quickly. Less than a minute later, I crawled between her legs, nestling my hips against her.

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