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Before she knew it, they were saying goodbye to everyone else and she was leaving the party with one arm hooked through Clear’s right arm and the other hooked through Strong’s left.
“You know, that was just about the perfect night,” she told them, as they left the music and crowd behind.
“It’s not over yet,” Clear reminded her. “That is, if you still want to make Christmas cookies with us?”
Melanie and Strong’s eyes met and the two of them burst out laughing.
“What? What did I say?” Clear asked, frowning at the two of them. “Surely the three of us making cookies together isn’t that funny?”
“The three of us together…” Melanie repeated and found that she was blushing even as she giggled. “No—no it’s not funny,” she assured Clear. “And I still want to make some. Um…” She looked down at herself. “But this is my best dress. Let me run to change and I’ll meet you at your suite in a few minutes—okay?”
“That sounds fine to me,” Strong murmured. “Don’t be too long, little one.”
“Oh, and wear the present I got you.” Clear nodded at the silver wrapped box under her arm. “I know we’re not supposed to open them until Christmas, but I think you’ll find this gift will really come in handy tonight,” he added.
“All right.” Melanie smiled at him and then blew a kiss to them both. “Assemble the ingredients, Clear—we’ll be making Christmas cookies before you know it.”
Then she turned and walked down the corridor to her apartment, wondering what she had to wear that was good for midnight baking.
11
“What an amazing night—and it isn’t over yet!” Melanie did a little twirl in the middle of her living room, watching as her red dress floated out around her. She felt wonderful—so warm and alive and full of possibilities! Dancing and flirting with the twins all night had made her feel young again—or maybe it was the punch that had done it. Either way, she felt absolutely fabulous and instead of fading, the good feeling just seemed to keep growing and growing.
“Now what should I wear?” she murmured to herself. “I don’t want to get flour all over my best dress…”
She was about to put down the silver-wrapped package and go rummage around in her storage closet, when she remembered what Clear had said. He had asked her to wear what he’d given her for a gift.
Eagerly, she sat down on the couch and ripped into the silver wrapping paper. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had given her a present. Steven had decided that gift giving for holidays and birthdays was “silly” around the second year of their marriage and he’d never gotten her anything again. At the time, Melanie had tried to tell herself he was being practical but later she’d learned that he had been buying plenty of presents for the many mistresses he cheated on her with. So clearly…
“Nope!” Melanie said aloud, cutting the bad thought off abruptly. “No bad or sad or angry thoughts right now. Tonight I intend to be perfectly happy and not—”
The words died on her lips as she opened the plain white cardboard box and saw what lay inside.
Cushioned in layers of tissue paper was a sexy red, see-through negligee trimmed in silky white fur—a sinfully sexy Secret Santa Surprise.
Melanie stared at it, trying to get her brain to process the sight. It took a moment, but at last, she understood—
Clear had gotten her sexy lingerie for Christmas and apparently he expected her to wear it while she was alone with him and Strong.
Now what was she going to do about that?
12
“You don’t think she’s changed her mind, do you?” Strong was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace, where soothing gold and blue and green flames were crackling. He’d turned up the fire the minute they got in to set the mood.
“I don’t think so.” Clear was busy in the kitchen. He had gotten out all the ingredients he thought they would need—eggs, flour, sugar, butter, a can of the human vegetable called corn, and also one of lima beans. He frowned at the items piled on his counter. Was he forgetting anything? Oh yes—bacon! He reached for it just as their front door chimed softly.
“I’ll get it.” Strong hurried to the door and opened it to find Melanie standing outside.
“Hello, boys.” She swayed into the living area, a secretive little smile playing around the corners of her lush lips. She was wearing a black dress that wrapped around her and tied at the side, but the minute Strong shut the door, she reached for the bow and untied it.
Clear had come out into the living area by then, wiping his hands on a dish towel.
“Hello, Melanie,” he said pleasantly. “I think we have everything we need to make Christmas cookies but I’m not sure if I have enough bacon so—”
