Page 20 of Sugar Plum Serenade

“Fine. I was a lightweight wino who criticized your wine containers and then drank too much. You had to drive me home when I’m sure you had other things to do.”

“None of them would’ve been as fun as spending a little more time with you.”

That was a nice thing to say, but was he honest or full of shit? Was he spinning a tale so she’d sleep with him? Should she tell him he didn’t have to work so hard? Of course not. She’d lose her woman card if she did. Maybe he didn’t need to work too hard for her, but that didn’t mean she wanted him to think she was easy.

“You’re a good neighbor and a good friend.”

He placed his coffee cup beside hers, leaned in, and kissed her. Last time he’d kissed her on the couch it had been amazing, but they were closer now than they’d been then and she knew without a doubt that she wanted him. For today, for tomorrow, while she was in Seawolf Beach… a hunk for Christmas…

This kiss was different, deeper. She felt it all through her body, as if just their lips touching meant he was already a part of her. She leaned back; he stayed with her. She wrapped an arm around his back; her legs spread a little as she tried to make their bodies fit.

They wouldn’t fit until all these clothes were out of the way…

She pulled her mouth from his. “I don’t suppose you have…”

“I don’t, not with me. Are you on…”

“No. It hasn’t been… necessary.” Not for a very long time.

“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything, and I don’t think I’ll make it until tonight. Wait right here while I run home and grab what I need.”

Olive responded by leaning up and in, kissing him too quickly, and then jumping off the couch. Who needed a sexy red dress? “Go.”

“I’ll be right back.” Tuck stood and headed toward the door. Before he got there, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID, then answered with a short, sharp, “What?” He listened a moment, then looked back at her. His face fell.

Before he said a word, she knew he was not going to be right back with a condom or condoms.

He stuffed the phone back in his pocket. “Emergency at The Magnolia. I have to go.”

“Will I still see you at six?”

At least he was honest. “I don’t know. I’ll call you.”

Talk about deflated. “Be careful,” she said as he left, leaving her alone. She normally loved being alone…

Olive sighed as the door closed behind Tuck. It was all she could do to not chase after him. If she did, if she opened that door and called his name, that would be all she wrote. It wasn’t like this was going to take long! But she wasn’t on any kind of birth control, and he didn’t have a handy condom. They weren’t kids with zero self-control, and neither of them was stupid enough to think they’d be okay just this one time. “There’s a fine line between brave and foolish, isn’t there?” she muttered. “When have I ever been brave?”

She decided to be optimistic about whatever emergency had called Tuck away. He’d get things taken care of. She’d don her sexy red dress and heels, they’d have dinner — maybe — then he’d help her out of that sexy outfit. She grabbed the coffee cups, one empty and one almost empty, and placed them in the sink to wash later.

When the knock sounded on the door, she jumped. Tuck, had to be. Maybe the emergency was over, he’d collected what he needed, and… Who else would knock on her door?

He’d just been gone a few minutes; she hadn’t locked the door, not yet. The knob turned; the door swung open. Her heart almost came through her throat.

And then…

“Mike!” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too disappointed. “Girls!”

Her nieces ran into the room. They never walked anywhere. Their preferred method of movement seemed to be tied between running and jumping. They entered her little rental house utilizing both.

“Sorry,” Mike said. “Dawn said you’d probably be here by now, and the kids really wanted to see you.” He lowered his voice as he neared her. “My folks loaded them up with sugar after lunch and we’re paying the price. They were making Dawn crazy, which to be honest isn’t all that hard these days.”

Four-year-old Ava ran to the back corner of the living room, stood by a bookcase, and said, “Arrrrr, matey.”

Willow, a much more mature seven, explained. “Ava likes to visit her imaginary friend who lives here. He’s a pirate.”

“Ava has imaginary friends?”

“Tons,” Willow said.