Page 155 of His Christmas Temptation

“I… Ah…”

No response?

As she looked away to pick up her glass once again, her hand shook.

Her earlier coldness had made him wonder if their sensual connection still existed. Now he knew. It did, even if she preferred to pretend otherwise.

Moments later, holding her cocktail, she sat back, once more in charge.

More revelers filed in, and the energy seemed to rival that of some Mardi Gras celebrations.

And because he worked all the time, he missed it all.

Their food arrived, and before trying her meal, she plucked a fry from his plate. He grinned. Only couples who were comfortable together did things like that. Progress?

By the time dinner was finished and his fries had vanished without him eating a single one, a couple of the larger parties had left the area, bringing down the noise level, and the notes from the up-tempo jazz music were once again audible.

“Another round of drinks?” their server asked as she cleared the plates away.

“For me.” He nodded, not willing to end the evening yet. “Kaylee?”

Frantically she shook her head. “That one was lethal. Maybe a sparkling water with lime?

“You got it.”

Within minutes, their fresh drinks had arrived, and Kaylee plucked at the small napkin, once again making him notice her bare finger. “When we were ring shopping, I had the impression you’d been engaged before. Married, maybe?”

“It doesn’t really matter.”

“Again, one of those things that will seem odd if I don’t know anything about your past.”

“There’s nothing much to tell.” As she met his gaze, and pain ghosted through her eyes, she pursed her lips as if resolved. “We’d found my dream ring, and I’d been looking at dresses online.”

Frost waited.

“And then my father’s health declined, and my job became a bigger part of my life.”

He drummed his fingers on the table.

“The short story is that Dwayne felt neglected.” She attempted a smile that was more of a grimace. “So he sought attention elsewhere.”

“Bastard.”

“I tell myself it’s better that I found out when I did.”

“Does that help?”

“Now that I’m over the hurt?” She shrugged fatalistically. “Yes. I wanted—want—a forever relationship and everything that goes with it. Pets. Even a mortgage.”

“Kids?” A few days ago, to rattle her, he’d said he wanted four children. Now the idea of seeing her belly swell with his baby obsessed him.

Fuck.What the hell was wrong with him?

Even though they were in public, his cock hardened.

“Not right away, but yes.” Then she stopped plucking at the napkin and sat back as if disengaging from dangerous territory, something he’d be well-advised to do as well.

She paused for a moment, and he didn’t fill the silence, waiting for her to go on. Eventually she did.

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