Page 68 of Christmas All the Way

Xander’s mouth dropped into a perfect O. ‘You’re kidding.’

Keeley looked away. ‘I wish I was. Because I said some horrible, unforgivable things to you, Xander.’ She closed her eyes. ‘When I think of what I said.’

He crossed the room to stand in front of her. ‘Hey, don’t be upset. I said a few things that weren’t especially helpful too. We both felt betrayed by each other.’

She shook her head. ‘But it was all so unnecessary. If I’d only believed you—’

He took her hands. ‘It doesn’t matter. Really. I don’t even remember what you said.’

‘Liar,’ she said, fully meeting his gaze for the first time since he’d walked into the room.

He gave her a crooked smile. ‘It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.’

Keeley’s heart began to thunder in her chest. Could he really still care, in spite of everything? ‘I’ve missed you too,’ she whispered.

He reached out to cup her face with one hand. ‘I’m happy to hear that. Because I seem to remember we have some unfinished business to take care of.’ He ran his thumb tenderly across her bottom lip and it was all she could do not to sigh. ‘To be continued, if I remember rightly. Unless you’re still determined to keep things professional between us.’

‘No,’ she said, tilting her face towards his. ‘I mean yes. What I’m trying to say is that I think we should continue where we left off. Right now, in fact.’

‘Here?’ he said, his lips hovering so close to hers that his breath tickled her skin. ‘Not in the library?’

‘Here,’ she replied, and brushed her mouth against his. ‘And there.’ She kissed him again. ‘And everywhere.’

She wasn’t sure how long they stayed locked together, his hands in her hair, her fingers splayed across his chest. It felt like seconds but might have been minutes and probably would have been hours if Grace hadn’t knocked at the door and called, ‘I’m counting to ten and then I’m coming in.’

Pulling away from Xander, Keeley did her best to tidy her hair while he watched in amusement. ‘I don’t know why you’re bothering. She knows exactly what we’ve been doing.’

‘I don’t care. Appearances matter.’

His grin widened. ‘Then you’d better do something about that stubble rash on your chin.’

Keeley’s hand flew to her chin, where the skin already felt hot. ‘You might have shaved,’ she grumbled.

Xander spread his hands. ‘I didn’t expect to be kissing anyone.’ Stepping nearer, he pulled her close again. ‘I promise I’ll be better prepared next time.’

Keeley eyed him archly. ‘Oh, did you bring your razor with you?’

‘No,’ he said blinking. ‘I meant when I go home.’

She smiled. ‘If you think I’m letting you out of my sight again, Xander Jones, you’ve got another thing coming. You are my early Christmas present and I intend to take my time unwrapping you. Unless you’d rather I didn’t.’

A grin tugged at his mouth. ‘Sounds good to me, Dr Cotterill.’

Keeley took a deep breath. ‘Then there’re only one more thing I need to know.’ She paused, crossing her fingers he wasn’t about to give an answer that would ruin everything. ‘Exactly how old are you?’

He blinked. ‘Does it matter? It’s just a number.’

‘No, it bloody isn’t,’ she huffed as the door began to open. ‘Tell me quickly.’

‘Thirty-seven,’ he said. ‘But I’ll be thirty-eight at the end of December. Is that okay?’

Keeley felt the last of her concerns melt away. Four years was a perfectly acceptable age difference. ‘Yes,’ she said with a grin. ‘As long as you don’t mind being my toy boy.’

His arm crept around her waist as Grace entered the room. ‘Honestly? I can’t think of anything better.’

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

O’ Christmas Morn, when the bells are ringing and the snow is fresh and bright. I firmly believe there is only goodness in the world on such a day as this.