Her Festive Baby Bombshell

“Hide behind your villainous persona when in reality you’re not like that at all.”

His gaze shifted to her rosy lips. “How am I?”

“You’re tough and hard on the outside, but inside...” She stepped closer, pressing a hand to his chest. “In there where it matters, you have a big heart.”

“No one ever said that before.”

Her hand remained on his chest as though branding him as hers and hers alone. “They just don’t know you like I do.”

His heart pounded against his ribs. “And do you like what you’ve gotten to know?”

“Most definitely.”

His hand covered hers. “You do know if you don’t leave right now that I’m not responsible for what happens next.”

“But what about your guests?”

“They’re involved in a card game.”

“Oh, yes, the card game. You don’t want to miss it.”

By now she had to be able to feel the rapid beating of his heart. “I don’t think they’ll miss me.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded, not caring if they did. There was nowhere else he wanted to be at this moment. “Are you sure about this? You and me?”

“I’m sure that I want you to kiss me.”

“Holly, I’m serious.”

“I am, too. You do still want me, don’t you?”

He groaned. “You know that I do.”

His hands wrapped around her shapely hips and pulled her to him. In the process her towel came undone, pooling at her feet. He continued to stare into her eyes, watching to see if she’d change her mind, but he only found raw desire reflected in them.

She lifted up on her tiptoes and he didn’t waste a moment claiming her lips. He was beginning to think he’d never tire of kissing her. The thought should worry him, but right now he had other things on his mind—things that were drowning out any common sense.

As their kiss deepened, so did his desires. Once was definitely not enough with Holly. Her beauty started on the inside and worked its way out. If he were to ever entertain the idea of getting serious with someone, it would be her.

Her fingers slid up his neck and combed through his hair. Her curves leaned into him, causing a moan to form in the back of his throat. Perhaps they could be friends with benefits. There wouldn’t be any harm in that, would there?

He clearly recalled when things ended between them that Holly had said she didn’t want anything serious. In fact, she was the first one to say there couldn’t be anything more between them. For a moment he’d been floored and then relieved.

Now as her lips moved passionately over his, he wondered what he’d been thinking by letting her walk away. They had so much to offer each other with no strings attached.

But first he had to be sure Holly was still on board with the idea. He just couldn’t have her expecting some sort of commitment from him because in the end, he’d wind up letting her down.

He grudgingly pulled back. Cupping her face in his hands, he gazed deep into her eyes. “Holly, are you sure about this?”

She nodded.

“Even though it’ll never lead to anything serious?”

Again she nodded. “I told you I don’t do serious.”

A smile tugged at his lips. How could someone be as perfect as her? The thought got shoved to the back of his mind as she reached up and pulled his head down to meet her lips. This was going to be a night neither of them would forget—

Knock-knock.

“Hey, Finn, you coming?” Mr. Caruso’s jovial voice came through the door. “Everyone’s anxious to get the game started.”

Holly and Finn jumped apart as though they were teenagers having been caught making out beneath the bleachers. She looked at the door and then him. Her lips lifted into a smile before she started to laugh. Finn frowned at her. She pressed a hand to her lips, stifling the stream of giggles.

“I’ll be right with you.” Finn ran a hand over his mouth, making sure there were no lingering signs of lip gloss. And then he finger-combed his hair.

Holly gestured that she would wait in the bathroom. He expelled a sigh of relief. He really didn’t want to have to explain what she was doing in his room scantily dressed in that tempting bikini.