A Home for Christmas by Deborah Grace Staley

Author:Deborah Grace Staley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-10-17T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“Janice.”

“Blake,” they said in unison.

“Wow. You look . . . amazing.”

She dropped the panties she'd been holding and pulled the neckline of the dress together. “Oh, I was just, um, you know… Candi insisted I try this on. I'll just,” she sidestepped her way to the dressing room, “just change.”

“No. Wait.”

Blake blocked her path.

“No, really. I should be getting back to the office.” Any excuse to get out of such an embarrassing situation. To be found trying on provocative dresses in Candi's Naughty Boutique in the middle of a workday. What must he think when she wasn't sure what she thought? But when he touched her face with the back of his hand, all thoughts of embarrassment short-circuited.

Last night, she'd walked out on him. Their conversation had taken a turn she hadn't expected. Had become too deep. Too personal. It had also brought to light differences she couldn't overlook. But now, in this moment, the attraction between them sizzled. With him standing a breath away devouring her with his eyes, Janice was rocked with desire for him despite her misgivings. She leaned into his touch and braced her hands against his chest.

Blake plunged his hand into her hair and circled her waist with his arm, and then his lips were hot and hungry on hers, leaving her weak and wanting more. Much more. He broke the kiss suddenly, skidding his lips across her cheek to her ear.

“Janice. I'm sorry.” He grasped her arms and pulled away a little.

She blinked. “Sorry?” The starched cotton material of his Oxford-style shirt felt rough against her palms.

“Yes.” He looked over his shoulder. “We're not exactly in a private place here. It's just, I wanted to kiss you so badly. Seeing you here, looking so beautiful and sexy, I couldn't help myself. Can you forgive me?”

Janice leaned into him again. Blake groaned. “Only if you stop apologizing,” she said. “After last night, after the way we left things . . . ”

He smoothed a hand down her hair and pressed his forehead to hers. “I know.”

She focused on the buttons of his shirt. “I wasn't sure you'd want to see me again. Not everyone is willing to deal with the demands on a doctor's time. When I make plans, I never know—”

“Now, stop right there. What you do is important. Any man that can't see that is just plain stupid.”

“But you won't get to pick and choose what's important. Can you handle that? Giving someone else that much control?”

“Would you give me that chance?”

Janice had to look away from the intensity and passion filling his eyes. There it was again. Hope. It flooded her heart like a long overdue soaking rain on dry, parched land.

“There's more.” Blake tipped her face up with a finger beneath her chin. “Don't pull away. Don't. Tell me what you want.”

Janice shook her head and took a step back, out of his arms. “I can't.”

“Can't or won't?”

“Does it matter?”

“Hell, yes it matters!”

For every step of retreat she took, he advanced.

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