I hear rattling from that direction as I flick through the obscene amount of holiday programming clogging the channels. Not that I’m against Christmas, it’s just when you’re used to being on your own, watching others celebrate with their families and loved ones is a painful reminder of what you’ve never had.
There I go again. I’m not sure what my problem is right now. Usually I’m not such a Debbie Downer. Yeah, my lot in life has left me disheartened at times, but I find ways to stay busy and connect with friends to keep the worst of the melancholy at bay. Maybe it’s because I didn’t make it to Becca’s and am now stuck with a stranger.
Next year and all the others after it will be different, I remind myself. I just have to make it through this last one alone, and then it’ll be me and sweet pea. That’s what I need to be focusing on. Not how alone I am right now and especially not the tempting man who just walked into the living room, arms loaded down.
He places a platter with snacks ranging from popcorn and cookies to crackers, cheese, and meats on the coffee table. Plucking a steaming mug from the arrangement, he hands it tome with a small bowl holding an assortment of tea. I feel the spark of electricity again when our fingers brush.
“I figured you might be hungry if you’ve been on the road for a while,” he supplies as he flops down on the couch.
“Wow, that’s quite a spread, and sweet of you. I am a little hungry. Thank you.” I hadn’t thought about how long it’d been since I’d eaten, being distracted by driving through the storm and crashing. But now, with the food in front of me, I suddenly feel ravenous.
“Welcome.”
The grin he gives me sends flutters through my body, most notably between my thighs. Lord, the man is even more gorgeous when he smiles like that. I’m sure he has women falling at his feet when he does.
Too bad I’m pregnant with another man’s baby because I wouldn’t mind being one of them.
Chapter Four
Brooks
Forcing myself to tear my eyes away from the redheaded siren so I don’t make her uncomfortable, I look at the TV. “Home Alone, huh? You gotta wonder what that dad did for a living to be able to afford that house and taking the whole family to France for Christmas.”
“No kidding. The way they portrayed life in the late eighties and nineties left people with some unrealistic expectations.”
The conversation flows through the movie, and I find myself enjoying the unexpected company more than I could have ever imagined. The credits roll and the next movie begins, and neither of us makes a move to get up.
“Hell yeah.Die Hard’s one of the best Christmas movies there is,” I proclaim.
Her brows furrow and lips turn down as her gaze jerks to mine. “Die Hardis not a Christmas movie.”
“Sure it is. They’re having a Christmas party.”
The way her eyes roll in response is adorable. “So what? It could be any kind of party, and the story still works. Christmas is not central to the story.”
“But he’s coming home for Christmas, and they’re doing the robbery at a time when things are shut down and people are distracted,” I counter, loving how into this argument she seems to be.
She blows a raspberry. “He could be visiting at any time, and any bank type holiday would produce the same results.”
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree because I’ll die on this hill.” I grin at her.
She snorts, shaking her head. “Haha, so funny.”
My smile is so big my cheeks start to hurt as I send her a wink. “I thought so.”
She bites down on her bottom lip and a flush comes over her cheeks. My blood heats as my dick twitches at her response. Who knew bantering could be such a turn-on?
Or maybe it’s this woman in particular.
We’ve only just met, yet my body is responding to her unlike I’ve ever felt with anyone else. Sure, the easy conversation reminds me of being with Kayla, but the instantaneous and boiling attraction is nothing like the physical relationships I’ve had with other women over the years. They were slow burn at best, and none of them can hold a candle to his one. I wouldn’t be able to pick them out of a lineup today.
This woman beside me, though, I know she will be imprinted in my brain for years to come, never to be forgotten. The thought pierces through me like a lightning bolt, striking me a thousand times harder than the electricity I felt when our hands touched.
I’m fried by the realization, but I know one thing for certain – she’s the one.
My heart thunders in my chest at the prospect I’ve just met my future wife. It’s all I can do not to jolt off the couch and scarethe shit out of her with an announcement which would make me sound crazy.
I suddenly understand the agony my brother must’ve been going through all those years he held himself back from Kayla. To know she’s the one but not be able to do a damn thing about it must’ve been torture—and he did it for me to boot! I owe the man a huge thank you. There was never anything between Kayla and myself, but he wasn’t certain there had been and didn’t want to get in the way.
