Page 12 of Holiday Hookup

“He just wants in your pants,” she accuses and I know she’s partly right, I knew that was part of the motivation when he pushed me up against the wall and made me weak in the knees, but to be fair, I am very much okay with that.

“That might be true, but I either stay with him for free or dip into my savings and stay at a hotel. And I’m sorry, but I’m going with the free option. Besides, maybe I want him in my pants.”

She sighs, knowing my logic is semi-sound.

“Wouldn’t your landlord have paid for the hotel?” I thought the same thing, so after Dane left, I went and asked him. It was a resounding “no,” since he’s “not made of money.” When I tell Jenn this tidbit, she just starts groaning about how horrible landlords are in this town.

“Fine, but you better let me know if anything weird happens and I’ll be over there in a heartbeat to kick his ass.”

“Sure Jenn, you’ll be the first person I call.” I hang up the phone and zip up the last suitcase and roll it to the front door where I have the rest of our stuff stacked. I take a deep breath, open the front door, leaving it open as I walk the four feet to Dane’s apartment. I knock, listening for signs of life behind the walnut door, so when I hear nothing, I knock again, finally hearing footfalls on the other side. As it opens, I’m about to berate him for taking so long when all rational thought leaves my brain because standing in front of me is Dane—in just a towel—water dripping down his gloriously bare chest.

“Sorry, I was in the shower.”

I can feel the nod of my head, but no words come out of my mouth because all I can seem to do is take in the tattoos that cover his chest and shoulders, traveling down his arms and ending at his wrist. How did I not notice those before?

“Nel, you okay?”

My eyes dart up to his, which are sparkling with mischief. Shoot, I was totally busted for staring for too long.

“Yup, I’m good.” The blush creeps even further up my chest and up my neck as I avert my eyes to look anywhere but the towel-covered portion of his body.

“You sure? You seem a bit… distracted.” That knowing smirk on his lips makes me want to smack him but at the same time I can’t figure out if I actually want to climb him instead.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I whisper, the dryness in my throat causing my voice to crack, and that’s when he decides to lean against the doorframe, placing his hand on the top of the towel, lowering it just an inch.

“You know, if you want to see what’s under here, all you have to do is ask. Trust me when I say I’ve been dreaming about that since I left you that night.” His eyes darken and the atmosphere in the room changes.

“I-I didn’t mean to…” I stutter as he holds up his hand, making me stop whatever embarrassing things were about to shoot from my lips.

“Nel, I get why you didn’t text me back. You have Jaxon and a whole life built here. So, I get it. Trust me.”

I tilt my head to the side. How the hell is this man single? His laugh alerts me to the fact that once again, I said that out loud. I really need to stop doing that.

“My life before this was never really relationship inclusive.”

“Sorry, that’s none of my business…” I mutter as that smile returns.

“If I have it my way, it will become your business.” Ignoring my stare, he goes out into the hall, towel still hanging low on his hips, as he picks up my bags from my doorway, and brings them over into his place.

“Are you coming in, or are you going to just stand there and imagine me naked?”

I shake myself out of the daze I put myself in by watching him and step into his apartment.

This is going to be an interesting week.

“So, we’re staying here?” Jaxon asks quietly as I take his hand and lead him through Dane’s front door.

Dane is dressed, thank god, and sitting on the couch off to the left while I take Jaxon into the kitchen.

“But why?”

I take my millionth deep breath since picking Jaxon up from school. Having to repeat yourself to a child is a given, but this is probably the fifth time I’ve explained why we’re staying here, and it still hasn’t sunk in. Before I have to explain it all... again, Dane calls him over to sit next to him on the couch.

Fascinatingly, Jaxon bounds over as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, and plops himself down beside Dane, whose eyes I’ve been avoiding since this morning. But I can’t help but watch with rapture as Dane explains the situation once more to my son, and as Jaxon sits there silently listening to him, I wonder what his secret is.

“What about Christmas?” His eyes grow big and the tears start and my heart sinks into the floor. “How will Santa know where I am?”

The fear in his voice breaks me open as I haul him to me, sitting on the floor as he wraps his arms around my neck.

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