Your Christmas Love (The Bennett Family 10)

“I wanted to regroup after the meeting. Moved my flight earlier and turned off my phone because I knew I’d lash out at them. They weren’t supposed to send out that email. They followed some stupid protocol they had in place. I didn’t even know about it. I meant to talk to you, explain everything.”

“Paris?” she pressed, her voice almost a whisper. “Why didn’t you tell me about that?”

“It was something the board and I discussed months ago. It was a backup plan for the worst-case scenario, but then I didn’t give it any thought because I met a certain sassy-mouthed, Christmas-obsessed branding VP who turned my life upside down, and I fell in love so hard that I can’t even see straight.”

“Mr. Statham, are you trying to soften me with flattery?”

“Yes, ma’am. Is it working?”

“I’m undecided. You can keep at it though. Might tip the balance in your favor.”

“Ah. I see.”

“Why did you even make that deal with the board?”

“It was the only way I could get them to commit to finding workplaces for as many employees as possible. If I agreed to oversee our European operations.”

That light in her eyes dimmed instantly, slaying me.

“Winston, I don’t want to keep you from doing whatever you have to do to get the best deal for the team.”

“Sienna, this doesn’t change anything between us.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because I love you.” I cupped her face with both hands, needing to feel closer, to show her that our connection was as strong as ever. She belonged to me. We belonged together.

“I know that a lot of things are up in the air, but no matter what, I want us together. Don’t you want the same thing?”

“I do, but... how about the deal?”

Despite leaning into my touch, she watched me with weariness. No. I was going to do everything in my power to erase any doubt.

“I’m not going to take it. I happen to be in love with a very smart woman. I’m sure that if we put our heads together, we’ll find an even better solution for the team.”

“I see. More flattery,” she whispered, giving me a small smile. “Just so you know, it’s working.”

“Is that a yes, then?”

Her smile grew bigger, until it almost swallowed her.

“Hell, yes!”

She rose on her tiptoes, balancing her hands on my shoulders. She was the one who made the first move, touching her lips to mine, but I took control of the kiss the next second. I needed to feel that she was mine. She loved me.

She wasn’t holding all this uncertainty against me. She was ready to embrace it with me.

I hadn’t thought it was possible to love Sienna more, but right in this moment, I fell deeper.

I kissed her until she whimpered, pushing her hips into me. I pressed my thumb on the top of her spine, splaying my fingers on her shoulder blades, barely holding back from slipping them under the fabric of her dress. I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight head if I touched her bare skin.

I needed to be alone with her.

It was all I could do not to pin her against the storefront and deepen the kiss. Instead, I pulled back. She pouted.

She was cute in her semidrunk state, rubbing her eyes and shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

I’d take care of her tonight. I’d show her I was meant to take care of her every night.