She lowered her eyes. “I have a good memory for dates.”
“So mark this one, December eighteenth, asfirst kiss.”
“You’re assuming there’ll be a second one.” Such a mischievous expression on her adorable face.
“I’m certainly hoping.” Except when he gazed down into the foyer, his mother’s glare was like a slap. Whether it was because he was kissing someone in public or because it was someone outside their social bracket, he didn’t care. However, he didn’t want her to take it out on Carli. “How about we finish the tour first?”
As they strolled through the rooms on the second floor, he told her stories of growing up in a place this big and the kind of trouble he and his brother had gotten into.
“I used to hide in my mother’s walk-in closet behind her clothes. I always won Hide-and-Seek, because Harrison never dared to look in there.”
“Why not?”
“My mom would not have been happy if she caught us messing with her stuff.”
“But you weren’t scared?”
Lifting his eyebrow, he smirked. “I made sure I never got caught.”
“Such a naughty little boy.”
He wanted to be naughty right now with her, but he kept himself in control. As it was, she allowed him to give her a kiss as they left each room. Short and sweet, but a connection regardless and not a single complaint.
“I’d love to continue our mistletoe tour, but I have a feeling my mother might hunt me down and do something I wouldn’t like.”
“I don’t remember seeing mistletoe up here, other than over the stairs.”
“You must have been mesmerized by my kisses and didn’t notice. See? There’s some there, too.” He pointed above their heads, where there was nothing but a white ceiling.
Carli laughed, and he kissed her again. Her lips tasted like champagne with hints of chocolate. Heavenly. The sounds she made as his mouth touched hers rolled over his skin and jolted him in places that hadn’t had any stimulation in way too long.
As they descended the other set of stairs, her skirt swished around her knees, barely brushing her slender ankles.
“I forgot to tell you how much I like your dress, how good it looks on you.” The sweet, demure lace had been driving him crazy all night. There was the slightest hint of skin through the fabric, teasing him and heating his blood. It wasn’t as clingy as Priscilla’s dress or many of the others here tonight, but it hugged Carli’s curves, showing off her figure.
A distressed expression crossed her face as she played with the flouncy sleeve near her wrist.
“It’s not really like the rest of the dresses here tonight.”
He took her hand. “You mean ridiculously expensive and too revealing? Leaving nothing to the imagination?” His imagination concerning what was under Carli’s dress was going into overdrive. “Or dripping with ostentatious gems and sparkles, so you can tell how much money was spent on them?
“You mean you didn’t spend millions on this tie?” she teased as she playfully tugged on it.
Glancing around, he checked who was nearby. “Don’t ever tell my mother, but I bought this tie at Wal-Mart. She’d disown me if she knew I even entered the store, never mind made a purchase.”
“This is good blackmail information.” She tapped her finger on the lips he’d kissed so recently. “Wonder what I could get out of this?”
With anyone else, he’d be afraid of what they’d ask for. Carli was too honest and hardworking to expect to be handed stuff for free.
“There’s still champagne and lots of chocolate to be had. Could I tempt you with that?” He gestured toward the dining room where the desserts had been placed.
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded and moved in that direction. “I think you could.”
He introduced her to a few more family friends and made sure to say goodbye to them, doing his good hosting duties, even though he wasn’t an actual host here anymore. When the guests had dwindled to only a few and the staff were starting to consolidate leftovers, he found his parents.
“We’re heading out now. You outdid yourself again, Mom. Wonderful as always.”
The compliment was intended to prevent her from insisting they stay until every single person was gone.
