Page 117 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

Holly poked her again. “And?”

“And nothing. He asked me to stay with him and I said no.”

“Why did you say no?” Holly asked incredulously.

“Because I didn’t want him to ask me to stay with him and then regret it. Or worse, we fall apart because it’s way too early in our relationship for such a big step.”

“I thought you were picking out drapes and shit for his house?”

“Yes, but that’s fantasy,” Delilah said, noticing the paddles were slowing now that they were closer to the eight hundred mark. “Moving into someone’s studio trailer with your dog and fully formed adult habits is terrifying.”

“Interesting. I thought it was building a life together and making plans.”

“Are you trying to make me feel worse about my situation?” Delilah asked, turning to face her best friend.

“No, of course not. I just want to clarify and work through your decision so that you make it reasonably and not because you’re terrified of the unknown. Maybe it’s not Anthony you’re worried about having a meltdown when previously formed habits are discovered.”

Delilah set the programs down on the nearest table and crossed her arms. “You aren’t suggesting that I would be the one to freak out over Anthony snoring or not putting the seat down?”

Holly shrugged. “You are an only child who has never lived with anyone, except me for a short time. Do you remember sandwich gate? You didn’t talk to me for two weeks.”

“Sandwich gate was about boundary issues! You took a bite of my sandwich without asking.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself, bestie. You better get ready,” Holly said, pointing at the stage. “Your boy’s up next.”

Delilah glared at Holly’s retreating back, only to straighten up when Merry called Anthony to the stage. He held his arms out and did a little turn, sauntering to the edge, and when a few women made as if they were going to reach for him, he jogged back.

Don’t make too big a show, pal, or I’m going to need more cash.

“Anthony is a thirty-one-year-old local business owner who stands six foot three in his bare feet. In his spare time, he likes to partake in outdoor activities like quad-riding, snowmobiling, or waterskiing, and spending time with his beautiful girlfriend, Delilah.”

Her mouth dropped, picking up one of the programs and flipping to Anthony’s page. There it was, plain as day.

He’d included it in his profile, told the entire town they belonged together.

“As Anthony is in a serious relationship, he does not feel comfortable being auctioned off.” The crowd of women started booing and hissing, some of them even shooting her angry looks. “However, his company, Adventures in Mistletoe, has agreed to donate generously. Not to mention his bachelor replacement is a young, virile firefighter whom you all might remember for running a car up the flagpole his senior year, give it up for Bladen Moon!”

Anthony took the stairs down into the crowd and she lost sight of him for several moments, or maybe it was the tears blurring her vision that made it hard to track him. The women in the crowd had forgotten about Anthony and Delilah as the blond man wearing a red suit and black button-down took the stage, dancing to elated cheers.

When Anthony stepped out from the crowd and made a beeline for her, Delilah’s heart pounded rapidly with anticipation as his expression intensified the closer he got.

Hunger. Anthony looked ready to eat her up and she couldn’t wait.

“Come on, baby, time to go. I got plans for you.”

Chapter Thirty-one

The moment her front door closed behind them, Anthony reached for Delilah, his control snapping with the knowledge that this was it. No holding back or pumping the breaks tonight. He was going to make love to Delilah, although he wasn’t sure how gentle he’d be this time. The pressure had been building up too long and too strong for him to go slow. He needed to make her his, to show her that there was nowhere else, no other man, nothing in this world that could make her feel the way he did.

At least, that was the goal.

Leia whined and Delilah murmured against his mouth, “I need to let her out.”

“Hurry,” he said, following behind her as she bent over to lift the cage door and release her dog. Leia bounded around them for a few seconds before she raced for the back door. Meanwhile, Anthony’s hands gripped her hips, grinding his aching erection against her ass and she gasped, “Bedroom.”

Anthony picked her up and dumped her over his shoulder, carrying her down the hall like a conquering Viking, ready to claim his prize. He dropped her onto the bed and reached for her feet, staring into her eyes as he removed first one black ankle boot, then the other.

“You and these dresses are going to be the death of me,” he growled, gathering the hem of the black fabric and rolling it up over her thighs. Delilah leaned back on her elbows, her eyes heavy lidded, her lips wet and parted. When he had the skirt bunched at her waist, Anthony took the top of her tights and dragged them down her legs, the sheer black fabric ripping under his rough hands, but he didn’t care. Anthony wanted inside her and any garment that got in his way wouldn’t survive.