Then he swept her into his arms and into the bedroom.
* * *
Christmas Day, Holly awoke feeling warm and sated, and she tingled all over. She’d never felt as cherished and cared for as she had when Dylan had made love to her last night.
She closed her eyes and let herself remember. His warm body melding with hers, his eyes warm and giving. Most of all, she recalled the absolute feeling of fulfillment as he came inside her.
She rolled over to glance at the clock on the nightstand, but the first thing she saw was her angel instead. They’d never put it on the tree, she thought. That was something they’d get to later on, she hoped, because she already sensed Dylan had left again this morning. Knowing Dylan, since he was home for a short visit, she felt sure he’d gone to see his mother.
She felt just as certain he’d be back.
Lying alone in her bed gave her time to think, maybe for the first time since Dylan’s surprise visit to her office. As she let all her feelings wash over her, her first thought wasn’t of Dylan, but of John. It wasn’t so much guilt she felt as a heaviness in her heart because he was a wonderful man. But there would be time to deal with her feelings for John soon enough. Right now, she had a rare morning off and she intended to enjoy it by lounging in bed and not thinking of problems or possible solutions.
She reached for the television remote and turned on one of the morning shows, caught one segment, then dozed through the weather. She woke up again just as an entertainment reporter was dishing on the latest buzz from Hollywood.
She watched the list of stars who celebrated birthdays and heard the latest scandals before a picture on the screen caught Holly’s attention. Actress Melanie Masterson’s beautiful face flashed before Holly’s eyes.
Curious despite herself, and compelled to watch, she sat up straighter in bed and raised the volume.
“Ms. Masterson issued a statement thro
ugh her publicist announcing a New Year’s Day wedding to her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Dylan North,” the reporter said.
Holly pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs.
“Neither Dylan North nor his representative was available for comment, but this reporter happened to see them at a party earlier this year and they were glued together. Whatever caused their breakup obviously wasn’t serious enough to keep them apart in the coming year. Diane, back to you.”
Holly shook her head. “No way,” she said to the television screen.
Melanie might be beautiful, but she didn’t understand Dylan, not the way Holly did. And though Dylan loved his career, he wouldn’t settle for a shadow of the type of woman he wanted. Then there was the fact that he’d been in Holly’s bed last night. Not Melanie’s. The other woman obviously had an agenda. Still, Dylan wasn’t here with Holly now, and this unsettling news did nothing to relax her.
She’d lost her luxurious morning in bed, and she yanked the comforter down, rose from bed and headed for the kitchen. If nothing else, coffee would get her day back on track.
No sooner had she reached the kitchen when her house phone rang, and she snatched up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Hi, babe.”
On hearing Dylan’s voice, her spirits soared. “Dylan!”
“Good morning,” he said gruffly.
She felt herself smile. “Good morning to you, too.”
“Do you have any idea how much I wanted to be there when you woke up?”
His deep voice caused a distinct warmth to settle low in her stomach. “I think I can imagine. Why’d you leave so early?”
“I went to see my mother. We have so little time, and I knew she’d appreciate a quick Christmas visit. I planned on being back before you even woke up. But—”
She gripped the receiver tight in her hand. “But what?”
“I got a call and I have to catch a flight to L.A. I’m at the airport now.”
Her stomach, which had just fluttered with warmth and desire, now plummeted in disappointment. “Does it have to do with Melanie?” she asked coolly, deliberately keeping any emotion out of her voice.
“Not in the way you think. It has more to do with the movie role.”
Holly drew a deep breath and tried to understand. “The role you decided not to take? Or did you change your mind?”