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Pulling the blanket up around me, I turn my attention back to the TV. I need to stop wondering what it would be like to run my fingers through Brent’s dark hair or grab ahold of his biceps.
Venturing a little bit closer to him, I spend the rest of the movie stealing glances in his direction and trying to ignore the rush of heat running through my veins.
“Nora’s going to be so mad I watched this without her,” Brent says once the movie ends. “Let’s keep this our little secret.”
“Is this her favorite, too?”
“She can’t get enough. She would watch it every single day from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day if I let her.”
“My kind of girl,” I say, winking at him. “Your secret is safe with me.”
I offer my little finger for a pinky promise. When he reaches over and wraps his finger around mine, I feel a tingle down to my toes.
Neither of us make a move to pull apart. We sit there with our fingers intertwined, gazing at one another. There’s nothing I want more than to lean over and kiss those lips of his.
The energy in the room is charged with so much lust and want, it’s impossible to ignore.
And Brent seems to feel the same.
With our fingers still wrapped, his thumb starts rubbing my palm slowly in circles. After a few seconds, he takes his left hand and moves a piece of hair out of my face. His hand rests on my cheek and the gesture is so intimate, so sweet, that I find myself turning my head, letting his massive hand cup my cheek.
The calluses on his palm are rough against my skin. The need to feel his hands on my body becomes almost too much to bear.
Removing his hand from my cheek, he swipes his thumb over my lower lip. His gaze heats and his tongue darts out to wet his lips. Slowly, he leans forward until I can feel his breath on mine. My pulse jackhammers.
His lips finally find mine, grazing softly before pressing firmly and giving into the kiss.
He smells of citrus and cedar, and tastes of chocolate.
Wow, he tastes so good. Somehow, I knew he would.
“Penelope,” he murmurs. “I’ve been daydreaming about kissing you for days.”
I smile against his lips. “Oh yeah? Makes me feel better that I’m not the only one.”
I didnotexpect grumpy Brent to be as attracted to me as I am to him. This night keeps on surprising me.
Brent reaches over to turn off the TV, so the only light comes from the Christmas tree.
Shifting to deepen the kiss, a small voice cuts into the silence.
“Daddy? I can’t sleep…”
Chapter Fifteen
Brent
“Crap!”IwhisperasPenelope and I jump to opposite sides of the couch, putting as much space between us as possible.
I can hardly catch my breath. The taste of hot cocoa mixed with the salty popcorn lingers on my lips. Nora’s little footsteps slap down the hallway as she makes her way toward us. Her favorite teddy bear dangles from her left hand while she uses her free hand to rub her eyes.
“Daddy?” She squints to locate me in the dim room.
“I’m right here baby, it’s okay.”
I climb off the couch and scoop my little girl up, letting her rest her head on my shoulder as I rub her back. She doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night often, so I know she must’ve had a bad dream.
“Penelope?” Nora perks up. “Hi! What are you doing here?”
