Christmas Dreams (Beyond The Red Carpet Book 5) by Carol Wyatt

Author:Carol Wyatt [Wyatt, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

11

Alyssa descended the stairs, the floorboards creaking beneath her feet. She tugged at her rumpled clothes from yesterday, wishing she had something fresh to change into. As she entered the living room, she stopped short, surprised to find Denise lounging on the couch, cradling a steaming mug of coffee.

“Morning,” Denise said, her voice still husky with sleep. She looked surprisingly relaxed, her blonde hair tousled and her face free of makeup.

Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. She quickly pushed the feeling aside, reminding herself that she needed to focus on the day ahead. “I didn’t expect you to be up so early,” she said, glancing at the clock on the mantel.

Denise shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. “Couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind, I guess.”

Alyssa nodded, understanding all too well the weight of unresolved issues. “I need to get going,” she said, gesturing towards the door. “It’s Black Friday, and even though we don’t have sales, people like to come and reserve their trees early. And then in the evening, I’ll be decorating.”

Denise raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a busy day ahead.”

“It is,” Alyssa confirmed, already mentally running through her to-do list. “I need to swing by my place first, grab a shower and a change of clothes.”

Denise set her mug down on the coffee table and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. Alyssa tried not to notice the way her shirt rode up, exposing a sliver of toned stomach. “I could come with you,” Denise offered, catching Alyssa off guard. “To the tree farm, I mean.”

Alyssa blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Denise’s offer. “That would be great,” she found herself saying, even as her mind raced with the implications of spending more time with Denise.

She couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly beautiful Denise looked, even in this casual state. Her blonde hair, slightly mussed from sleep, framed her face in a way that made Alyssa’s fingers itch to reach out and tuck a stray strand behind her ear. The absence of makeup only served to highlight Denise’s natural beauty, her clear blue eyes and full lips drawing Alyssa’s gaze.

Alyssa knew this wasn’t just starstruck admiration. No, what she felt for Denise was something deeper, more visceral. It was an attraction that went beyond the superficial, a pull that she couldn’t quite explain but couldn’t deny either. And considering how much Denise’s presence had aggravated her just a few weeks ago, it was kind of shocking.

The realization hit her hard just then, and suddenly, the cozy living room felt too small, too intimate. Alyssa’s heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, needing to put some distance between herself and Denise.

“I should get going,” she said, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears. “I’ll see you later?”

Denise nodded, a flicker of confusion crossing her features at Alyssa’s abrupt change in demeanor. “Sure, I’ll be there.”

Alyssa managed a tight smile before turning on her heel and practically fleeing the room.

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