Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

He reached for her across the seats, his fingertips brushing her cheek, his thumb gently lifting her chin. “Take a chance, Megan,” he said. “Climb onto this crazy ride and see where it takes us.”

He kissed her, his lips closing on hers with an easy sureness that quickened her pulse and sent whorls of pleasure cartwheeling through her body. She could have pulled away, but something about the gently teasing pressure of his mouth stirred longings so intense that she didn’t want them to end. She closed her eyes. A moan stirred in her throat as he nuzzled her lips, caressing, tantalizing . . .

Think! the voice of reason shouted in her head—and Megan knew she’d be a fool not to listen. The rascal certainly knew how to kiss. But then, he’d had plenty of practice. Was he practicing on her—maybe warming up for Lacy?

Think! The man had just confessed to crushing on another woman. Now he was kissing her—and getting away with it. Who did he think he was?

Summoning her outrage, she placed her hands on his chest and shoved him backward. Even in the dark, she could see that he was grinning like a satisfied cat.

“What did you think you were doing?” she sputtered.

“I was kissing you. And you liked it. Don’t tell me you didn’t.”

She turned away from him in the seat, gazing forward into the darkness beyond the windshield. “You are out of line, Conner Branch,” she said in her firmest teacher voice. “Take me home this minute.”

“As you wish.” He laughed as he put the Jeep in gear and pulled away from the curb. “I hope you’re not waiting for an apology.”

“I wouldn’t expect one from a man who thinks he’s so hot that women will beg him for a kiss.”

Still laughing, he swung the Jeep around and headed back toward Main Street. “You could’ve stopped me,” he said. “I’m aware that ‘no’ means no. And my hearing is excellent.”

But she hadn’t stopped him. The instant his hand had touched her face, she’d known that he was about to kiss her. She could have easily pulled away or spoken up, but she hadn’t. In fact, she’d kissed him back.

Hot-faced, Megan watched the colored Christmas lights blur into rainbows. Any argument she could raise would only sink her deeper. All she could do was let him take her home and, before getting out of the Jeep, make it clear that she never wanted to date him again.

“I like you, Megan,” he said, pulling up in front of her family’s house. “I hope you’ll let me see you again.”

The man had brass. She had to give him that. “I don’t know if that would be such a good idea,” she said.

“Why? Because I kissed you?”

“In part. But mostly because you’re holding out for another woman. For all I know, you were imagining her when you kissed me.”

He shook his head. “Wrong guess. Believe me, that was you I was kissing, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

“You’re insufferable,” she said.

“So I’ve been told. But I promise I’ll grow on you if you give me a chance.”

“I’d have to be crazy to do that.”

“There are worse things than being crazy.” He pushed open the door of the Jeep. “Think about it. Meanwhile, I’ll walk you to the porch.”

He came around, opened the door for her, and helped her to the icy ground. Megan clung to his arm to keep from slipping on the front walk. Under the shelter of the porch, she released her grip and stepped away. He made no effort to kiss her again, but he was still smiling.

“Give it some thought,” he said. “We could have some fun times together.”

“And what about your dream woman? I don’t fancy being some man’s Plan B.”

“You said you had a boyfriend. That puts us on an even footing. We could be each other’s Plan B.”

His logic—if that’s what it was—made her head spin. Megan’s hand fumbled for the doorknob and turned it. “Good night, Conner. Thank you for a memorable evening,” she said.

“I’ll call you.” He moved back to let her go inside. Megan opened the door, stepped through, and closed it behind her. Seconds later, she heard the Jeep start up and drive away.

* * *

Megan walked into the living room, where Daniel and her father were watching a basketball game on TV. Her mother glanced up from the novel she was reading.