In the growing dark, she couldn’t see his expression clearly, and told herself it wasn’t necessary. She didn’t care. More than that,
Bryan stepped onto the porch and sent her his trademark crooked grin, the one that did funny things to her stomach in spite of the fact that she’d refused to acknowledge those things.
And not for the first time, she acknowledged somewhere deep down that Bryan was acting far more “mature” than she. Darn him.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “I looked up your address in the computer.”
“I mind.”
His lips curved, but he said nothing to that, simply sat on the bench right next to her. “So. What’s this about a Christmas curse?”
“It means I have yet to successfully manage a smooth holiday season.”
“Ever?”
She didn’t, couldn’t, answer. Not when their thighs brushed, their arms touched, and his face, when he turned it toward her, was completely void of the laughter she’d been silently groaning over ever since he caught her trying to kiss Matt.
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” he said, reading her mind with horrifying ease.
“Which? Nearly killing our vice president, or having him now be afraid of me?”
“That you didn’t believe me the first time.”
“Oh. That.”
“Yeah.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “
“It wasn’t
“No,” he agreed with a rueful laugh. “It sure wasn’t. And if I hadn’t had that ridiculous costume on, if we hadn’t been surrounded by dressed up, drunken fools, if…” His eyes gleamed with heat. “Well. Maybe it was for the best.”
She was certain somehow his statement should make her feel better. It didn’t.
“So…are you going to admit it?”
“Admit what?”
He let out a short laugh and shook his head. “You can’t fool me, you know. I’m the master of avoidance techniques.”
“You don’t avoid anything. You jump into every single day with your eyes wide-open, one-hundred-percent ready for anything and everything. Don’t tell me you know anything about avoidance techniques.”
“Ah, but the adventure and excitement of my job, that has nothing to do with what I’m talking about.”
“And what are you talking about?”
“
She stared at him, and he stared right back, his eyes clear and open and honest.
“Why?” she whispered. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because maybe I’m a big fake,” he whispered back. Slowly, as if he were afraid to frighten her off, he lifted a hand. His fingers brushed her cheek in a soft, barely there caress. “When it comes right down to it, I’ve never taken the biggest risk of all. I’ve never opened my heart all the way to a woman.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Was that her voice, all whispery and light? Good Lord, she sounded as if she were having an attack of the vapors. But then he shifted a little closer and those long fingers cupped her jaw, and she became much more seriously breathing challenged. Her pulse raced. Her heart pounded. Her palms went clammy.
Wait, she
“You’re breathing funny,” he said.
Well, so was he. “I thought you loved your carefree lifestyle,” she said softly.
“I do. I’m just saying…hell.” A self-deprecating laugh escaped him. “I have no idea what I’m saying.”
“I’ve seen customers fall all over themselves to get your attention,” Katie said. “I’ve seen half the staff-the
“I said I’ve never opened my
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because I have enough women in my life with my family. Because I never felt the need for another nosy, bossy-”
“Hey! We’re not
“Then maybe I haven’t met the right woman.”
Oh, she didn’t want to know this, she definitely didn’t, because something within her softened, melted. Warmed.
Darn it. Darn
Her insides were going all molten on her, dissolving with each light stroke of his roughened fingers. “Bryan-”
Now those fingers spread wide, as if he needed to touch more of her, and his thumb slid slowly, languidly, over her sensitive lower lip until it quivered open.
His gaze darkened, his mouth opened, too.
“Bryan-”
“Mmm. Love how you say my name. Say it again.”
She nearly did, but then realized her eyes were half closed, her body was straining toward his, and she was one touch away from doing what she’d sworn never to do. She could never become attracted to him.
She not-so-kindly ignored her little voice, because after all, Bryan Morgan was not a forever kind of guy, no matter what he said. She straightened away from him, clicked her mouth closed and glared at him.
So did Tic.
Toc leaped gracefully from her lap and stalked off, clearly bored.
Bryan just waited patiently.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?” he asked innocently.
“Which is?”
“That I kissed
He laughed softly, sexily, and her stomach tightened again.
She’d known the truth all along. It
“Come on, truth now,” he said huskily. “You know it wasn’t Matt in the Santa costume.”
She could only stare at him.
“Let me prove it,” he said softly. “I can, you know.” His eyes seconded the motion. His mouth curved invitingly, and Katie actually shifted slightly, instinctively moving closer.
“Right here, right now.” His gaze was on her mouth. “Let me lay all these doubts to rest for once and for