Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Her face was expressionless as she went about collecting the ingredients to make more hot chocolate and dumped them into the milk frother before pressing the button to power it up. When she wasn’t facing me, I let my grin out to play. “Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps all the things that have gone wrong were Santa’s plan all along. They could be leading me straight to my Christmas present.”
Bethenny laughed and lifted the lid off the frother. “It’s a good thing you just admitted to believing in Santa Claus. I should have warned you yesterday. People who don’t believe aren’t welcome here,” she said with a wink. We both chuckled as she poured the steaming, frothed mixture into two mugs. She had a thoughtful expression on her face as she handed me a hot chocolate, then walked over to stare out one of the windows. “There has to be a way to get you to the Ashleys. I don’t want you to miss any more of your holiday with them. But they live a little far to venture out on my snowmobile in this weather.”
I mentally sighed in relief. I was good and stuck here. Perfect.
4
Bethenny
Having Lincoln stay with me through the storm would take my mind off the fact that I was spending the holiday without my family for the first time ever. Especially since the chemistry between us was hot enough to melt the blizzard—as I’d proved by humping him like a horny teenager. But that would’ve been extremely selfish, so I forced myself to offer him a way to make it to Jake’s parents’ house. Even if it was half-hearted and I was relieved when he replied, “It’s not worth the risk.”
“Are you sure?” I took a sip of my hot chocolate as I peered through the kitchen window at the whiteout conditions. “The storm is bound to let up at some point, and there will be plenty of snow on the ground for us to ride. I’d hate for you to miss out on all the fun with Jake and his family.”
He winked at me, his lips curving into a smile of pure male satisfaction. “With how we started the day, I’m damn sure I’ll have a fuck of a lot more fun stranded here with you.”
Heat filled my cheeks, and it took everything in me to hold his gaze. I wasn’t shy in most situations, but something about Lincoln brought out the lovestruck teenage girl in me. And it wasn’t just because of what had happened between us when I woke up.
My reaction to Lincoln was far from normal for me. The magnetic pull between us had roused my dormant libido—and the outline of his semi-hard dick in those gray sweatpants was sending my desire to new heights.
I didn’t have much experience with guys. Growing up, boys had been terrified to ask me out. My brothers had made sure of that. By the time I’d gotten to college, I was too busy to worry about dating. And once I was elected, I didn’t just have a jam-packed schedule to contend with—every citizen of Winter Falls felt as though they had the right to stick their nose in my business.
Having this time with Lincoln without the prying eyes of my constituents or my family was the best Christmas gift I could have received. I must’ve been on the top of the nice list this year because Santa had been very good to me.
“If you’d prefer to stay here with me, who am I to argue?” I tried to act nonchalant, but I didn’t do a good job of it.
There was a teasing glint in his hazel eyes. “But only if you want me here.”
“You’re going to make me say it out loud, aren’t you?” I muttered, setting my mug on the counter and crossing my arms over my chest.
His answering grin was sexy enough to combust my panties. “Yup.”
“Fine,” I huffed. His gaze dropped to my chest, where my breasts were now pushed up, and my nipples pebbled beneath his stare. “Please spend your Christmas with me.”
His expression turned serious as he answered, “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
Butterflies swirled in my belly at his forthright admission. I was sorely tempted to climb him like a tree, but it was probably too soon to do that. Again anyway since that was pretty much what I’d already done to him in my sleep. Then his stomach let out a growl, and I realized what a bad host I’d been last night. “Oh, no! I can’t believe I didn’t think to ask if you were able to grab dinner at the airport. You have to be hungry by now. I’m so sorry.”
Lincoln patted his stomach with a sheepish grin. “No worries there. I had plenty of time to eat at the airport while I was delayed, and I munched on some chips that I grabbed from the vending machine while I was driving. But I could definitely go for some food right about now. If you have groceries, I can cook breakfast.” He tossed back the rest of his drink and set his mug down beside mine.