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"I'd be honored," he replied, his voice low and sultry. The electricity between them was palpable, an undercurrent of desire that surged with each shared laugh and stolen glance, and her heart pounded as she held his gaze.
How the hell could she be feeling like this about him?
The heart wants what the heart wants, and it doesn’t make any concessions for redefined sexuality. Yeah, yeah. She didn’t need a lecture from her conscience.
Although a moment later, she might have rethought that when Jaxon leaned close, then reached across to brush a crumb from her lips, his touch lingering for just a moment. She didn’t mean to do it; it was purely instinctive. His cerulean eyes were on hers, his face was close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek, and Holly flicked out her tongue and swiped it over his thumb.
Jaxon sucked in a breath, and the next moment her lips were on his, and she drew her tongue over the full bottom lip that replaced his fingers. Lips that were soft, and warm, and tasted delicious, the taste addicting.
Holly didn't even realize what she was doing until it was too late.
Jaxon's hands moved to cup her shoulders, and she wished they were in her hair or squeezing her against him.
But then something clattered, a tray being dropped, and it brought Holly to her senses as fast as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over her head.
She drew back with a gasp. "Holly," Jaxon whispered, and she could hear the surprise in his voice.
She slapped her hand over her mouth, wishing her lips didn't tingle from the connection she'd felt with him. "I'm so sorry," she whimpered. "That was inexcusable. I completely forgot myself for a moment. Please forgive me."
Holly felt dreadful. Jaxon was in a committed relationship. What the hell had gotten into her?
She felt like she was going to vomit.
He shook his head; his smile was still soft, but she could see a hint of something else there, too.
Embarrassment probably.
Jaxon winked. Winked! “Don't worry, I won't hold it against you." Holly couldn't believe how incredibly gracious he was. He and Nick had been nothing but wonderful toward her, and Holly had betrayed them both.
Pure mortification heated her face. She remembered that soft inhale of breath. That was probably shock, now she thought about it. And the way he’d pressed his hands to her shoulders. Oh Lord, he’d been trying to push her away. Oh, dear god, this was so humiliating. And in public, too, where anyone might have seen. She’d have to come clean. Own her mistakes and apologize to Nick and make it absolutely clear that she was solely to blame, and that Jaxon had played no part in it.
Surprisingly, the kiss really didn’t seem to faze Jaxon at all. What Holly had expected to be an excruciatingly uncomfortable afternoon was, in fact, rather delightful.
“I need to pop into the gallery before we head home,” Jaxon told her. “You mean the Snow Gallery?” she asked, suddenly excited despite how tired she’d been feeling.
Jaxon grinned. “Yes, I need to pick up Nick’s Christmas gift.”
Holly’s heart melted just a little. She didn’t think restaurant staff earned enough for that kind of gift, but knowing Jaxon was prepared to spend so much on his lover showed the kind of bond they must have. The price of works by the person who only signed himself as ‘Snow’ had skyrocketed since the notoriously private artist had burst onto the scene. Nobody even knew the gender of the artist; Snow was like the ‘Banksy’ of the traditional art world. The only place the artwork was shown, outside of especially prestigious exhibitions, was here in Leavenworth. It was one of the reasons Holly had chosen this particular Christmas village to visit, and not a different one… despite all the prison jokes she’d had to endure.
“Will you be okay to look around while I have a word about my purchase?” Jaxon asked when they entered the galley.
“Of course,” Holly said with a smile. “Having a companion is really a bonus at this point. I was expecting to be doing all this on my own.”
“Well, I’ll be back shortly. I’ll come and find you.”
She nodded but allowed herself to be distracted by the beautiful artwork. The less she thought about Jaxon - and that scorching kiss - the better.
Holly hadn’t gotten very far by the time he returned. She was too enthralled with the amazing paintings.
“Enjoying yourself?” Jaxon asked, appearing by her side, and placing a warm hand on her back that sent a shiver down her spine. Damn, she really needed to get her reaction to him under control.
“It’s wonderful, “Holly gushed, not taking her eyes off the painting in front of her.
“I never took you for having an appreciation for art.” A less welcome voice interrupted her enjoyment. Was that derision in his voice? Did he not think she was cultured enough to recognize greatness when she saw it?
Holy stiffened and clenched her teeth, but she was determined not to let Kris’ attitude, or his presence, affect her.
Just act as if nothing happened.
