“Not exactly, but?—”
“What I’m trying to say is that much as I’ve enjoyed every second we’ve been together, much as I want to keep that up, we need to face the fact that?—”
“I can guess what you’re about to say and it’s fudging nonsense. You?—”
“I’m not a good prospect in the long run. You need someone who?—”
“I need you.” She ducked under his hat and laid one on him, gripping the back of his neck and not letting go until he groaned and started kissing her back.
When he shifted to take the kiss deeper, he knocked his hat to the frozen ground. She tried to pull away and retrieve it, but he tugged her closer. Thrusting his fingers into her hair, he held her head as he continued to ravish her mouth.
Desire pulsed in her core. She whimpered, craving what his kisses promised, aching for the heat of his body to meld with hers.
Gasping, he broke away from the kiss. “This is insane. If anyone looks out the windows….”
“Do you care?”
“No. Do you?”
“No.”
“That’s all I need to hear.” He quickly undid his jacket buttons and hers. Pulling her close, he dipped his head. “Might as well give them a show.”
His kiss had been hot before. Now it was so X-rated her body clenched in reaction. She pushed her hips against his fly and he gripped her tush, bringing her in even closer.
As he made love to her with his tongue and rocked his hips, her body responded. If he kept this up, if she didn’t move away… she would….
With a soft cry of regret, she wiggled out of his arms and stepped back, panting. “Enough.” She fumbled with the buttons of her coat.
“Yeah.” Gulping for air, he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, leaving his jacket open to the frigid air as he gazed up at the night sky. “To be continued.”
“Oh?” She dragged in a breath. “Then you’re not dumping me for my own good?”
He responded with a ragged chuckle. “I should, you know.”
“But you can’t, because I’m irresistible.”
He leaned down and scooped up his hat. Then he met her gaze. “I’ve lived my whole life believing I can always walk away.”
“Please don’t walk away.”
“That’s the thing.” He settled his hat on his head and buttoned his jacket. “For the first time ever, I’m not sure I can.”
Chapter Nineteen
“We’d better go back.” Cole had no interest in returning to the party, but the tempting alternative, leaving now with Mila, wouldn’t be happening. He was the designated driver for Claudie, Rio and Monty. He made a point of honoring his commitments.
Maybe that was why he made so few of them. He’d been dangerously close to committing his future to Mila. Then reality had smacked him upside the head.
She deserved someone who could guarantee they wouldn’t be a shitty father to her children. She needed a guy who looked forward to playing Santa for his kids on Christmas Eve.
Bile rose in his throat as his demons stirred. He was not that guy.
“Let’s not go back just yet.” Mila glanced toward the gazebo. “I’d like to check on the Angel Tree.”
He pulled himself together. Better go along with her suggestion unless he was prepared to spill his guts. “Sure.”
He’d been ignoring the gazebo with its large Christmas tree, Santa’s elaborate chair and lighted garlands looped over each railing. Not surprising that the tree would have some sort of community charity attached to it. As he followed her up the steps, he braced himself for the hit.
