A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #9.5)

“You’re as strange as my family.”


“I can live with that.”

He leaned in as if he was going to kiss her, but just then a voice came over the speaker system.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Mayor Marsha. Welcome to the annual Fool’s Gold tree lighting ceremony.”

Dante straightened. “Later,” he promised.

She nodded.

The crowd moved in around them. Dante shifted her so she was in front of him, his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, enjoying the contact and the warmth.

After a few minutes of announcements, a song from the high school glee club, a cheer from the high school cheerleaders, and a drum roll, the lights of the thirty-foot tree came on.

They shone brightly against the dark night sky, and the crowd clapped. There was a bright star at the top, and about half the lights blinked on and off. A few feet away, a little boy asked, “Daddy, do you think it’s gonna snow?”

Everyone laughed.

Unfortunately, the skies were clear. Evie found herself agreeing with the little boy—wanting snow on a magical night.

“I have so got to get me one of those,” Dante whispered in her ear.

She laughed. “Where would you put it?”

“I’m not sure, but I’d figure something out.”

* * *

AN HOUR LATER they were back at her place. With the gas fireplace going and the heat up, they’d finally stopped shivering. Without jackets and scarves getting in the way, they could do some very interesting things with each other, as Evie discovered, stretched out on the sofa with Dante.

He had his arms around her and his body pressed to hers. He was all lean muscle—masculine and strong. When he kissed her, she found herself more than willing to surrender. The idea of being sensible was highly overrated.

He kissed her cheek, her jaw and then down her neck. Shivers accompanied the brush of his mouth. Very specific parts of her body were paying attention, and she found herself willing him to touch her br**sts.

She wrapped her arms around him and squirmed to get closer, hoping he would get the message. He shifted so he was kissing her mouth again, his tongue tangling with hers. Passion coiled around them, drawing them together.

One of his legs slipped between hers. His thigh pressed against her center. She pushed against the unyielding surface, wanting the contact, the sweetness of his fingers or even his mouth. The image of them naked together filled her mind and made her catch her breath.

He was hard already. She could feel that part of him pressing against her hip. They were both adults. Single. There was no reason not to—

He sat up and stared at her. “I should, ah, go.”

It sounded like more of a question than a statement. She could see the battle raging in his eyes. No doubt the fact that his business partner was her brother had something to do with it. And that he’d met her mother. He was being sensible. She should respect that. Which she did. Sort of.

“Okay,” she murmured.

“Unless you want me to stay.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Did you want me to order takeout? Are you hungry?”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “Now you’re messing with me again.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I expected better.”

“No, you didn’t.”

He grinned. “Was that a yes on me staying?”

She reached for the hem of her sweater and pulled it slowly over her head. As she moved, she felt him stiffen. What she knew and he didn’t was that underneath she wore a camisole. She was still completely covered.

Still, as he stared at her, he looked like a man who had just discovered a miracle.

“That was a yes,” she whispered as he reached for her.

Chapter Ten

Evie carried a pot of coffee and a plate of toast upstairs. She was tired in the best possible way. Lack of sleep due to a charming, handsome man in her bed was an excuse she could fully embrace. She walked into the bedroom and set the plates and coffee on the dresser. She pulled two mugs out of her robe pockets. Before she could pour, Dante stepped out of the bathroom…naked.

He smiled when he saw her. “You’re back.”

“Are you surprised? I said I would return with coffee.”

“I would have been just as happy to see you if you’d come back without any.”

He crossed the space between them, took the mugs from her and put them on the dresser, then pulled her into his arms. As she stepped into his embrace, he pushed off her robe and she let it fall to the floor.

Then his hands were touching her, and she was leaning in to have a little personal contact of her own.

They’d made love twice in the night, then slept in a tangle of arms and legs. She would have thought he was the type to disappear after the deed, but he’d settled in and she’d been happy to have him stay. Now as he slid his hands over her hips and then up to her br**sts, she felt herself starting to melt again. But just as they started to kiss, her stomach growled.

Dante drew back. “You didn’t get any dinner last night, did you?”