Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr

Author:Robyn Carr [Carr, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459291287
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2009-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

It was a successful date, proved by the way they were in each other’s arms, kissing deeply, before they were even in his house. It was still early enough to get in a good, long session of kissing on that soft, deep, inviting couch, and they fell on it together, taking turns helping each other out of boots and jackets without hardly breaking the kiss. Within moments they were in their favorite position on that great sofa, lined up against each other, exploring the inner softness of their mouths. Her body grew predictably supple and soft while his grew more urgent and hard.

Nathaniel whispered, “Annie. Come to my bed.”

And she said, “No.”

“No?” he answered weakly. “Annie, you don’t mean that.”

“I do mean it. No.”

“But you kiss me like you’re ready. Why not?”

She pushed herself up on the couch just slightly so she could look at his eyes. “We’ve only known each other three weeks, for starters.”

“I’ve kind of known you my whole life, even if I haven’t known you since you got your braces off. But I’ve known you intensely for three weeks.”

“We knew each other superficially for one week and intensely for the next two weeks. I might require a little more than that.”

“Why?”

“Because I just broke up with Ed. Six months ago. It isn’t that long.”

“It’s forever,” he said. “I should have made you forget he ever existed by now.”

“I think in another couple of weeks, I will have forgotten. And I’d kind of like to know how you feel after you’ve had your chance to lie on the beach surrounded by beautiful bodies in very small bathing suits.”

“Oh, that. Listen, that’s not even part of the equation,” he said. “Really. That trip has nothing to do with how I feel.”

“It has to do with how I feel,” she said.

“Annie, if I hadn’t made arrangements for this vacation long before I met you, I sure wouldn’t plan it now. And it was a lot more than wanting to be lost in bikinis, believe me. It was a very convenient, very convincing plan, so I wouldn’t find myself held hostage on a cruise ship with all my sisters and their kids. I explained—my brothers-in-law are great, but when their wives are around…”

“They have to act like husbands and fathers?”

“As opposed to regular guys,” he clarified with a nod. “We’ve been on a couple of fishing trips together and I’m telling you, these guys are the best. They are my brothers. But when my sisters and the kids are around…”

“Husbands and fathers,” she said helpfully again.

“But I’m not,” he said. “I’m bored out of my mind. The only reprieve I get is a brandy and cigar with my dad and a conversation about veterinary medicine. Come on, don’t you feel sorry for me? It’s murder.”

“So, you’re not looking forward to seeing all your old buds?” she asked.

“That? Sure, that’ll be great. We used to study together several nights a week. And then after graduation, we went off in all directions.

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