1-800-CHRISTMAS by Josie Riviera

Author:Josie Riviera [Riviera, Josie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

“Tomorrow is the bake-off contest,” Keiran reminded Desiree as she entered the foyer.

“It’s written in bold on my calendar.” Desiree set down her briefcase and joked, “How could I ever forget?”

Finally, it was Friday, the last day of another grueling work week.

“I’m glad to see you, gorgeous.” He helped her off with her sunny-yellow raincoat and took her in his arms for a long kiss.

He’d been waiting for her at the foot of the stairs, the sparse lighting glinting over his hair. Thick, wavy, and midnight-black. And he looked oh so incredibly handsome.

He was dressed in a cotton chambray shirt unbuttoned at the neckline, showing a deep vee at his throat. His denims were well fitted. Tall, well-built, and confident, he sent her pulse racing. His physique would stop any woman in her tracks.

She linked her fingers around his nape, thinking all the while that he was the type of man she could easily fall in love with.

Wow. Whoa.

Love was the doorway to sorrow, and she’d had enough disappointment to know better than to risk her heart again.

Still, Keiran might be worth the risk. It was pure bliss having his strong, secure arms around her. Love was a quiet, joyous peace with no barriers. Love was exactly that with this man.

For an instant, she squeezed her eyes closed. No. No. No.

As much as she cared for him, they could never be together. Although he was talented and creative, he hadn’t decided on a career for himself. Cooking or carpentry?

After her chaotic childhood, she knew stability was her primary goal.

Her feelings warred ferociously, and she considered telling him how much she cared, and what she most feared if they were to go forward in their relationship—that he could easily pick up and leave at any time.

Stability. Stability.

Numbly, she pulled from his arms.

He watched her, his gaze penetrating. He was always in tune with her emotions. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course.” She dragged her gaze from his and focused on the authentic tin ceiling tile he’d replaced in the foyer. The edges were trimmed neatly and seamlessly overlapped.

Before she could remark on his excellent workmanship, he brushed a kiss across her temple. “Are you ready for an amazing time tomorrow, gorgeous?”

Gorgeous. No one had ever called her gorgeous. Profoundly touched, she brushed away a tear before his perceptive green-eyed gaze leveled on her. She wasn’t used to praises, to his unbending good nature, and didn’t know how to react.

“I’m ready to win the cake contest.” She gave him her best challenging gaze while she shook lingering droplets from her black pencil skirt. Raindrops had chased each other across her car’s windshield all the way home. If only it would snow to complete the holiday season.

“We’ll see about that.” He hung her raincoat in the foyer closet, then laid a callused hand on her cheek. His touch was reassuring. “So how was your day?”

“Demanding, as usual.” Without prompting, she lifted her face for a kiss. “I’m delighted I only have one more work week to go before Christmas.

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