Her Festive Baby Bombshell

“I do.” Her voice held a note of conviction. “Just follow your heart. It’s a good, strong heart. It won’t lead you astray.”

“No one ever said anything like this to me. I... I just hope I don’t let you down.”

“You won’t. I have faith in you.”

His gaze dipped to her lips. She could read his thoughts and she wanted him too. Not waiting for him, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.

At first, he didn’t move. Was he that surprised by her action? Didn’t he know how much she wanted him? Needed him?

As his lips slowly moved beneath hers, she’d never felt so close to anyone in her life. It was though his words had touched her heart. He’d opened up and let her in. That was a beginning.

Her hands wound around his neck. He tasted sweet like the fresh batch of Christmas cookies that she’d left on a plate in the kitchen. She was definitely going to have to make more of those.

As their kiss deepened, her fingers combed through his hair. A moan rose in the back of her throat. She’d never been kissed so thoroughly. Her whole body tingled clear down to her toes.

Right now though, she didn’t want anything but his arms around her as they sank down into the nest of blankets and pillows. While the storm raged outside, desire raged inside her.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

IT COULD BE BETTER.

But it could have been so much worse.

The next morning, Finn returned to the safe room after a preliminary survey of the storm damage. He glanced down at the cocoon of blankets and pillows to find Holly awake and getting to her feet. With her hair slightly mussed up and her lips still rosy from a night of kissing, she’d never looked more beautiful.

She blushed. “What are you looking at?” She ran a hand over her hair. “I must be a mess.”

“No. Actually you look amazing.”

“You’re just saying that because you want something from me.”

He hadn’t said it for any reason other than he meant it. However, now that she’d planted the idea into his head, perhaps now was as good a time as any to tell her what he had on his mind. He’d stared into the dark long after she’d fallen asleep the night before. He’d thought long and hard about where they went from here.

But now as she smiled up at him, his attention strayed to her soft, plump lips. “You’re right, there is something I want.” He reached out and pulled her close. “This.”

Without giving her a chance to react, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Her kisses were sweet as nectar and he knew he’d never ever tire of them. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. He needed to make sure that last night hadn’t just been a figment of his imagination.

And now he had his proof. The chemistry between them was most definitely real. It was all the more reason to follow through with his plan—his duty.

When at last he let her go, she smiled up at him. “What was that about?”

“Just making sure you aren’t a dream.”

“I’m most definitely real and so was that storm last night. So, um, how bad is the damage?” She turned and started to collect the blankets.

“There’s a lot of debris on the beach. It’ll take a while until this place looks like it once did, but other than a few minor things, the house held its own.”

“That’s wonderful. How long until we have power?”

“I’m hoping not long. I plan to work on that first.” They were getting off topic.

“Before I let you go, I do believe we got distracted last night before I could ask my next question.”

“Hmm...I don’t recall this.” She sent him a teasing smile.

“Convenient memory is more like it.”

“Okay. What’s your question?”

Now that it was time to put his marriage plan in action, he had doubts—lots of them. What if she wanted more than he could offer? What if she wanted a traditional marriage with promises of love?

“Finn? What is it?”

“Will you marry me?”

Surprise reflected in her eyes. “We already had this conversation. It won’t work.”

“Just hear me out. It won’t be a traditional marriage, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it work. After all, we’re friends—or I’d like to think we are.” She nodded in agreement and he continued. “And we know we’re good together in other areas.”