Chapter 18
IVY
Chase Hunter is one helluva kisser. I run my fingers over my lips, still full from the seven-minutes-in-heaven, lip-and-tongue-locking session that ended far too soon.
I like him. Truth be told, it’s possible I may be a little cray-cray over him. When he embraced me and kissed me on the cheek down in the kitchen, I morphed into a hot mess, fleeing with a lame excuse to take a nap.
That nap? Never happened.
I laid down, thinking of reasons why I should forget about Holly’s rules and just go for a little holiday tryst.Or more. Because I’m pretty sure I want more.
Instead, I told myself I had a job to complete and was just about to head downstairs to play more ofEvelyn fake fiancée, when,boom!,in plowed the H.A.M., in all his, sexy-looking-but-you-cannot-have-him glory.
Then, that heart-stopping, make-me-want-him-even-more kiss…
Why did he pull away?
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not like I wasn’t a willing participant,” I say, knees like Jello.
He closes the door, struts over to me, my lips tingling, wishfully gearing up for another kiss.
Cupping my face, his thumb gently grazes my cheek. “As much as I loved kissing you, it can’t happen again.” His low growl lets me know he’s battling his own urges. “We’ll lose focus on the task at hand, and part of that task is making sure we don’t break any rules.” He moves his hands from off my face; the absence of his warmth on my skin makes me shiver. Taking a few steps back, he shoves his hands in the pockets of the jeans that just so happen to hug him in all the right places. “Business, not pleasure.”
His words sting. Yet, he’s absolutely right. Who am I kidding anyway?
Why in the heck would a man like Chase Hunter—billionaire without a care—want a little nobody, out-of-work actress, like me?
I give a half-shrug, hoping its nonchalantness masks my bitterness. “Well, let’s get back to business then, shall we?” I say it in my Evelyn British accent and Chase sucks a deep breath in, then out.
Silence drowns out the sound of my heart, beating like a rhythmic drum, as I follow Chase downstairs. He explained his mom wants me to participate in the family tree-decorating tradition.
Great. Now all I need is to grow feelings for his family, too.
I plaster a smile across my face as I channelEvelyn Bloom,and just as I step into the living room, Zia is there, humming Christmas tunes, looking like the perfect would-be mother-in-law.
“Evelyn, I trust your nap has left you feeling revitalized?” She smiles, genuine, real.
Actually, the kiss your hot son just teased me with, was quite the picker-upper.
“Yep. I’m feeling like a million bucks.”
“Where’s BB?” She looks around the room.
Oops. You see what that kiss did to me? I never leave my poor baby behind. Chase Hunter’s succulent lips—obviously—sucked the brain cells out of me. I’ll be surprised if I can formulate complete sentences for the rest of the evening.
“She was still napping,” Chase replies, seemingly on my behalf. “I’ll go get her because I’m sure Maddie wants to meet her.”
He leaves me alone with his mom and right away, she pats the couch, inviting me to sit beside her, and I don’t hesitate.
“Chase’s Dad, sister, grandmother, and her friend, will be here soon. And they’re all looking forward to meeting you. Don’t get alarmed at their level of excitement and the possible flood of questions they may ask you.”
I giggle. “I’m looking forward to meeting them, too.”
She holds up an ornament, eyes all agleam. “This one is just about thirty-years-old. It was Chase’s first Christmas one, and what started this whole tradition. Since then, we purchase new ornaments every year, and sometimes I wonder how we make them all fit.” She lifts her chin in the direction of boxes full of ornaments. “All that, is what we’ll be hanging on the tree tonight.”
Chase returns with BB, setting her down on the hardwood floor. To my surprise, my diva trots over to Zia instead of me.
I sigh. Even BB’s falling for them.
