Looking down on the trail from the summit, Zuri felt the competitive spark ignite in her chest. “Tell you what. If either one of you can beat me to the bottom of Ribbon Run, I’ll answer that question.”
Thao jumped to her feet as the gondola door opened. “Oh, you are so on!”
Chapter Eleven
A LaCrosse Christmas Soiree
Music, chatter, and laughter filled the two-story foyer of the LaCrosse’s palatial home. A sixteen-foot tree glittering with pink, red, and silver ornaments stood in the center, beneath an enormous crystal chandelier hanging beneath the glass dome ceiling. Twin sweeping staircases, wrapped in garland with pink and red velvet bows, curved up on either side of the foyer, to a second-floor gallery furnished with velvet settees and oil paintings in gilded frames.
Kyree stood beside the tree, his eyes trained on the front door and his hands tapping against his thighs to an inner rhythm as he tried to ground himself. Twenty minutes ago, he had been sequestered in his bedroom with the windows wide open, and wearing nothing but socks and boxer shorts because he’d been worried that he might sweat through his clothes before Zuri arrived.
Once she’d texted that she and her friends were on their way, he’d worked buttons, zippers, and shoelaces with focus and fumbling fingers, dabbed on his favorite cologne, and made his way downstairs to meet her.
Most of the two hundred guests––including dignitaries and one or two celebrities––had already arrived, and with cocktails in hand, moved freely through the reception rooms.
At the smooth strains of a saxophone, Kyree peeked through the wide-open double doors leading to the grand salon, where fresh, evergreen garlands with sprays of holly, gold stars, and red velvet bows, created a festive aura, and where The Melville Browne Quintet played smooth jazz––the melodic backdrop filtering through the house. Next to the drummer, the youngest party attendees––boys and girls in pretty little dresses and adorable suits––danced wildly, while Catherine and Stephanie, the LaCrosse’s live-in nannies, and three others hired for the night, stood nearby with watchful eyes.
Michelle had outdone herself again this year, Kyree thought, straightening a silver bauble on the tree. Like everyone else, he should be enjoying the party––drinking, dancing, sampling the decadent food, and mingling, like Adam Andreas, owner of Hotel Andreas, who was deep in conversation a few feet away with the governor of New Hampshire. But Kyree’s stomach was in knots, waiting for the woman he’d fallen for in Adam’s hotel.
He fidgeted with his square, gold cufflinks, in spite of feeling debonair in a crisp white shirt, black dress pants, and a velvet burgundy blazer with black lapels––the outfit he would be wearing when he told Zuri how he really felt about her.
Kyree had no idea what he would say, or how, but he knew he had to tell her tonight. It was the last time they would see each other before she and her friends drove home to Connecticut tomorrow, and he needed to do something to make sure she understood that this wasn’t just a holiday fling for him, but the beginning of something that could survive the changing seasons if she was bold enough to take the leap.
His chest tightened every time his mind wandered back to the moment he’d watched her get off the elevator at Hotel Andreas, leaving no doubt that what they’d shared that night was more than just lust. And on their sleigh ride beneath the stars, when she’d confessed that what she felt for him was more than she’d ever felt with her fiancé of three years, Kyree had sworn in his heart to do whatever it takes to make sure Zuri never questioned that she was everything he’d been waiting for, and that what they had was worth taking a chance on.
In awe of how fast everything was moving between them, he touched his hand to his lips. The ghost of their kiss and the way she’d melted into him, and holding her had felt like coming home. When he’d told her about his upbringing, her reaction had assured him that he could trust her. She hadn’t flinched or made him feel like he needed to apologize for pretending he belonged in her world; she’d just listened, convincing him that he need never hide any part of himself from her.
It was her understanding nature, her wit, her drive, and her untouchable beauty that made it impossible for him to control his need to be with her––to never live another day without her…
“Whoa,” Kyree exclaimed, side-stepping out of the way as four little boys pushed through the throngs and grabbed several candy canes from the tree, then disappeared into the crowd as quickly as they’d appeared.
Kyree chuckled at their antics and returned his attention to the front entrance, but his amusement caught in his throat.
There, Zuri stood, just inside the doorway, with Soleil, Thao, and Avery close behind.
The room seemed to tilt, the air growing thin as he watched her shrug out of her coat, her smooth, bare shoulders coming into view as it slid down her toned arms, revealing her strapless, curve hugging, silver gown. It shimmered with thousands of tiny sequins, capturing and refracting every beam of light in the foyer, transforming her into a luminous, celestial beauty. The stylish bow at the bust drew his eyes to the swell of her firm, voluptuous breasts––exactly where he shouldn’t be staring in a room full of people––her braids, swept up into a high ponytail, shimmered with bits of silver tinsel, and simple diamond studs adorned her ears.
Chic, sophisticated, and radiant, she was the North Star, and every other woman faded into the background in her presence.
Despite his efforts to remain calm, Kyree began to sweat, a fine sheen breaking out on his neck, but he didn’t care, wasn’t afraid she could sniff out his nervousness. With his focus locked on Zuri like a heat-seeking missile, he made his way toward her.
Her gaze swept the crowded foyer, a slight furrow of her brow as she searched for him.
But Avery spotted him first, tapped Zuri’s shoulder, and pointed.
Her face lit up when she saw him, a spontaneous, blinding smile that cracked Kyree’s control completely. She said something to her friends, then they smiled and waved at him before blending into the crowd.
With her focus solely on her target, Zuri glided toward him, the shimmering dress transforming her into a jewel in motion. As soon as they were close enough, they reached for each other and their lips met in a slow melting kiss––deep, dreamy, unhurried––without thinking, without caring who was watching. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as he tightened his around her waist, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her vanilla perfume.
After a few moments, Kyree reluctantly released Zuri’s sweet lips and lifted his head, but kept his arms around her, not yet ready to let her go. “You are absolutely stunning, Zuri Harris,” he said, his eyes sweeping down her delectable body.
“That’s exactly the reaction I was hoping for. In fact …” She stood on tiptoe and placed her mouth to his ear, her breath warm against his skin. “I fantasized about you unwrapping me.”
Every muscle in Kyree’s body went rigid. His grip on her waist tightened involuntarily as electricity shot straight through him, pooling low and urgent. He needed to get her alone—needed to peel that dress off her body and worship every inch of her. Needed to hear her moan his name again.
The party, the A-list guests—none of it mattered. Not when she was looking at him like he was the only man in the world, like she trusted him completely, like she wanted him just as desperately as he wanted her.
The moment was now. “Put your coat back on.” His voice was rough and commanding.
