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He lets out a deep chuckle then looks back at me with a flare in his eyes, almost a threat. “If I was the one, you wouldn’t sit down for a week with that bratty mouth of yours. I don’t think you could handle me,” he says with a smirk.
“Oh, I never back down from a challenge. That’s how I got to where I am today,” I say with a smile.
I try to move away from him but his grasp on me is firm. He looks above us, drawing my eyes in the same direction. The mistletoe. Of course that’s what we are under.
“Tell me to stop, Sarah.” His words ring through my ears but for the life of me I can’t speak. I don’t know if I want to speak. Maybe I do want this hot irritating caveman to kiss me. Maybe I want to see what the short stubble on his jaw feels like as he takes what he wants from me. I don’t move as Travis’ mouth descends on mine. His lips are warm and taste of coffee. There’s something electric about the way his lips feel pressed against mine. He runs his hands into my hair pulling gently at first and then harder, the deeper the kiss goes. He licks the seam of my lips and I gasp, allowing his tongue access to my mouth. A moan escapes my lips as his other hand trails down my side and pulls my waist closer to his. I can’t get enough of his touch. My hands grasp the fabric of his shirt to pull him closer just as his phone begins to ring.
He pulls away from me and continues to stare into my eyes. He doesn't take them off me until he slides his phone to his ear. I can hear through the speaker that it’s a work call. Someone needs some maintenance done to their security system before the snow storm hits later this week. I turn away to give him some privacy. But he isn’t having it. He pulls me flush against his hard body as he speaks to the customer on the phone. He hangs up, sliding the phone back into his pocket.
My body tingles at his touch. “That’s one way to shut you up. That mouth of yours is something else.” I open my mouth to scoff but he catches my lips with his in another scorching kiss. “The lock on your door is finished,” he murmurs against my lips. Did he really just say that in the middle of a kiss. This man is giving me whiplash.
I take a step back, looking up at his lustrous brown eyes. I decide to be polite and not ask what the hell just happened. “Thank you for coming by Travis. I suppose you will text me when the other parts come in?” I ask as I take another step back. I need to get away from his magnetism. He nods his head and turns away from me, packing his equipment as he goes.
Is he going to even mention the kiss? Was it only because of the mistletoe that I hung. Maybe I’m a shitty kisser. No, no, no, I’m not going down that road. I am a strong independent woman, and he can’t handle it. Yes, that’s what I’m going with.
Chapter 5
Travis
What the hell was I thinking. Yes, there was mistletoe there but it’s not like I have ever participated in that little tradition before. I run my hand through my hair as I drive across town to the office. There’s something about that little brat that I find attractive. Of course, she is beautiful but it’s more than that. As I’m deep in thought, my phone rings bringing me back to the present. My mom flashes on the screen. I punch the speakerphone button on the steering wheel.
“Hey mom. How are you?” I ask as I navigate through New York traffic.
“I’m doing fine. How are you, my darling?” she questions.
“Everything is great. Business is going well as usual. I have no complaints.” I make a right into the parking garage by my building.
“Any girls you want to bring home for me to meet? I’m not getting any younger you know. I want some grandkids before I’m too old to play with them.” I roll my eyes. I hear this from her all the time. She’s worried about me spending another Christmas alone.
“Mom, not this again. When I meet someone, I’lllet you know. For now, I’m too busy with work and renovations on the house.” I try to mollify her, but I know she will keep pressing.
“Son, you work too hard. You need to have some fun every now and then,” she protests.
“I go out with the guys after work sometimes. I promise, I’m alright,” I insist.
“Fine. I can take the hint. You don’t want to talk about this. I just want you to be happy, Travis,” she says with a sigh.
“I’m happy mom. I need to go because I just pulled up to the office. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Alright dear. Love my boy,” she croons.
“I love you, too, mom.” I hang up the call and rest my arms over the steering wheel. I’m the last one in my family that hasn’t settled down yet. I guess I haven’t found what I’m looking for. My thoughts go briefly to Sarah and her emerald, green eyes. She’s someone I could be interested in. I scoff at myself. She doesn’t need an old man like me.
I head into the office and the Christmas music blares from the speakers. I swear it looks more like the North Pole every time I walk in here. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know those fuckers are adding decorations every time I’m out of the office. I shake my head. I’ll get them back.
???
9 days til Christmas…
The equipment for Sarah’s apartment finally came in. I texted her to let her know, but she hasn’t gotten backwith me about a good time to come by. I know she read the message so either she is ignoring me or just forgot to respond.
Checking my watch, I decide to go on and head that way. It’s almost closing time around here so she should be out of work soon. I collect the security gear and haul it out to my truck. I drive across town, seeing children play in the fresh blanket of snow. It stirs something in my chest that I don’t have the energy to reflect on that right now.
I park, grab my things and head up to Sarah’s apartment. I knock a few times without any answer. I take out my phone and pull up Sarah’s contact information, hitting call. I move my phone away from my ear and hear Sarah’s ringing inside the apartment. I knock again with no answer. Something doesn’t seem right. She opened my message about an hour ago and now she isn’t answering. I stand there and contemplate the implications of putting in her code and making sure she is okay. I go back and forth with myself for a minute until I call again, and she still doesn’t answer.
Biting my lip, I put in her code and the door unlocks. I step inside and it feels like a furnace in here. The Christmas tree lights are on and so is the TV. I put my things by the door and walk over to the living room. I don’t want to startle her if she’s asleep. Walking around the couch, I see a bundled-up Sarah with way too many blankets on for the temperature it is in here. I feel her forehead and I know immediately she has a fever. Sitting on the edge of the couch, I try to wake her but she’s too groggy to notice I’m there.
Military training kicks in. I see a thermometer on the coffee table next to her phone that didn’t wake her whenI called. Thankfully it’s not an oral thermometer, but a tympanic one. I turn it on and place it in her ear until it beeps. Fuck, her fever is 104.5 degrees. I need to get her cooled down. I drag off the blankets that she is bundled under. She still doesn’t move. Getting to my knees in front of her, I move the hair from her face.
