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Then, as if it was too hard to keep smiling, he looked back at the floor.

“She was coming here on Christmas Eve. We were spending it together, then opening gifts on Christmas morning and we’d be getting married in the afternoon. She was hit by a drunk driver on her way here and was killed instantly.” He fisted his hands. “The drunk suffered some minor cuts and scrapes. They said he was too drunk to tense up and that’s what saved him. He didn’t even remember getting into an accident, much less killing someone.”

Her heart sank, and her chest ached. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll take it all down before I go.”

He walked over and sat on the bed beside her. “I don’t want you to go. Let’s put the decorations back up. It’s time I started living in the now and not in the past.”

“I don’t know. You—”

“I’m sorry. Truly. Don’t leave.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek

She blushed. Her pulse raced and her stomach turned over. “You shouldn’t do that.”

With one knuckle he lifted her chin and turned her head toward him.

When she looked up, he lowered his head and with his lips just a breath away, he whispered, “I know I shouldn’t, but I’ve been dying to do this since you got off the plane.” He took her lips with his and kissed her gently, deepening the kiss when she put her hands on his shoulders.

He pulled her close, making their bodies as intimate as possible given the way they were sitting. Finally, he pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. “How about we put the decorations up together? Then later tonight, I’ll light the fire and the tree and we can sit on the carpet with smugglers and watch the fire.”

Kaylie pulled back and sat up straight. Her lips tingled and felt swollen. She placed her fingers on them and they even felt swollen to her fingers. When was the last time a kiss had left her lips in such a state?

“What are smugglers?” She kept her fingers on her lips, enjoying the sensation.

“Hot cocoa with peppermint liquor in it.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh my. Are you trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me?”

His brows lifted and he shook his head. “I don’t want to take advantage of you, not now, not ever. I just want us to enjoy the fire, the decorations and each other. If you don’t want the peppermint, we won’t have it.”

“No, I think it sounds delicious. And sitting in front of the fire will be fun. It will be like sitting around a campfire.” Then she paused and her eyebrows became slashes over her eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

He straightened and took her hand in his. He began making slow figure eights on her palm. “I’m sure.” Then he looked her in the eyes and his lips turned up in a slow smile. “And what would a city girl like you know about a campfire?”

She looked down at her hand, her body tingling as she watched him move. Then she looked up and saw his smile. She lifted up her chin. “We lived in Colorado until I was about ten. Dad loved camping and fishing and hunting…everything that had to do with the outdoors. Then Dad died and Mom moved to Brooklyn to be close to grandma.”

“How did you get involved with Vincent Rizzo?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You seem to know an awful lot about my case for just helping out a friend.”

He had the good grace to redden a little. “Okay, truth. I’m thirty-six and was a Navy Seal for four years before the CIA recruited me to be a field agent. I did that for eight years and now I’m retired here, to this ranch. Paul thought my background would be useful and I could keep you safe. How old are you, Kaylie?”

She took a breath. “I’m thirty. Why?”

“Just curious. I guess I wanted to know if I was robbing the cradle.”

She laughed. “Definitely not. I was engaged for almost four years. When I found out he was cheating on me, I broke it off. That was two years ago. So, since you’re here, what about your business?”

He frowned. “Let’s finish this in the kitchen or living room with a drink.”

She nodded. “Okay, kitchen it is. You probably want something stronger, but I’ll get us some tea and we can sit at the table until we’re ready to tackle the decorations.”

“Sounds good.” He stood and extended her a hand.

She took it and rose from the bed, then she headed for the kitchen.

Ryan followed her. When they reached the kitchen, he sat at the table.

Kaylie got them each a mug of hot tea and sat across the table from him. “Now you were saying about your business, Evers’ Manufacturing?”


Tags: Cynthia Woolf Romance