But Jean had gotten that stupid “L” word stuck in my head and then Bathin had been all over it, and now I wanted to hear it,dammit.
I wanted my Christmasromance.
Bathinsnorted.
I scowled at him. “Stop reading mymind.”
“Stop being soentertaining.”
I imagined throwing him in a dungeon with a thousand hungryrats.
“Promises, promises. And now I’m suddenly famished. I needpie.”
He wandered off to sweet talk the waitress out of a free slice, something at which he was surprisinglyadept.
“Delaney?” Ryder’s voice brought me back to theconversation.
There was no need for me to get upset about him teasing me. There was no reason for me to be annoyed that he was more emotionally open with his dog than withme.
I could be calm. I could be happy that he was coming home in time for theholidays.
Who needed the “L” word? Nobody. Who needed Christmas romance? Notme.
Take that,Jean.
Also? Two could play thisgame.
“You’ll be glad to know I’ve already told Spud I love him more than you do. And guess who he believes? Me. I didn’t want to break it to you over the phone, but ever since I’ve been taking Spud on walks, feeding him bacon, bringing him a dragon to wrestle with, he’s made it pretty clear he loves me bestnow.”
“A…did you saydragon?”
“By the way, you’ll need new curtains. The dragon likes fabric. And there’s a strong possibility Spud won’t even recognize you by the time you get back. Why, just the other day he was staring at your picture andgrowling.”
“Delaney.” He coughed to smother a laugh. “Are youokay?”
“I’m just fine. I’m justgreat.”
“Mmmm-hmm. You sound great.” His voice dropped into that sexy burr that made my mouthwater.
I bit the corner of my lip and waited for my stupid heart to stop fluttering for him. Waited for the butterflies in my stomach to get the message that there would be no takeoffs today. All flights weregrounded.
“Don’t,” Iwhispered.
“Don’t what?” Sexy voice. Sexyman.
I closed my eyes and could almost feel his arms wrapping around me, his body hard and heated againstmine.
I could almost feel his breath ghosting across my cheek to my lips, where he would pause, thumbs framing my mouth before he pressed a kiss exactly where he wantedit.
How could I miss him so much when he’d only been gone for a couplemonths?
Hearts wereconfusing.
I might have made a littlesound.
“Don’t think I’m not missing you,” he rumbled. “I can’t sleep at night. You’re all I think about. And every time I hear your voice…I just want to turn the project over to some other company, pack it all up, and comehome.”
“Yeah?”
