One Christmas Knight Read Online Free PDF Page B

glowing.
    “Shelley’s asleep,” she said softly, stepping aside to let him in.
    “You got my message?”
    “Uh-huh. Great that Max was there to help with all that water. You’ll miss him when you’re gone.”
    “We’ll keep in touch.”
    She tacked her smile back up. “Absolutely.”
    Heading for the lounge room, so warm after the freshly fallen snow outside, he rubbed his bare hands close to the fire’s reviving flames. “The center called this morning. They’ve hired my replacement.”
    She frowned. “I thought they might’ve asked you to stay.”
    “They did.” He kept rubbing. “This is a great town. Wonderful people.” He’d tell her straight. “But I don’t feel a part of it.”
    She dropped her gaze. “I didn’t help.”
    “That’s past history.” He joined her. “We’re over that, right?”
    “Are we?”
    She looked as if she wanted to say more. But then, breaking the moment, she gestured toward the fireplace. He hadn’t noticed. A mini Christmas tree sat to one side of the mantle.
    “Thought I’d make an effort,” she said, walking over, “for Shelley.”
    “You don’t usually decorate?”
    “No point. It’s just me.”
    He rotated to face her. A reflection from the fire sent a light show dancing over her red pants and Christmas themed sweater. She’d put on lipstick…red, too. Her lips looked so moist and kissable and…off limits?
    “Now you’ve made a start,” he said, referring to the mini tree, “you ought to keep going.”
    “Suggestions?”
    “A wreath on the door.”
    “Doable.”
    “A blow-up Santa on the lawn.”
    She grinned. “Too much.”
    He edged closer, focused on her lips. “Mistletoe.”
    He watched her throat bob as she swallowed. “I can look into that.”
    “I can help.”
    “I bet you can.”
    “Just say the word.”
    “What word is that?”
    “Any word,’ he leaned in closer, “but preferably yes .”
    So many times since that day, he’d wanted to hold her again. He’d never got the chance. Never thought he ever would. But now she was peering into his eyes and the message was clear. She wanted him to hold her. Never more than at that moment, he wanted that, too.
    His palms slid up the slender column of her throat until he cupped her jaw and cheeks. Then he took a deep steadying breath before his lips brushed over hers. When she trembled, pressed closer, he angled his head and his mouth gently covered hers. Her palms slid up and over his shoulders.
    The deeper he kissed her, the harder she clung.
    When he finally drew away, his mouth stayed close to hers while liquid fire flowed sweet and blistering-hot through his veins. Every cell in his body was revved up, aching to go.
    “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time,” he murmured and grazed his lips over hers again.
    “Different to six months ago.”
    “I’d go with better .” He hummed through a hungry smile. “Which, frankly, I thought was impossible.”
    When he moved to kiss her again, Emma stiffened and he drew away. Had he got something wrong?
    “Em? I got the impression you liked it, too.”
    “I like it the first time,” she said. “That doesn’t change how I feel.”
    “You mean about getting involved.” When she nodded, he joked, “Commitment is usually a man’s hang up.”
    “The twenty-first century, remember?”
    “If you want to know, this minute, I can barely remember my own name.”
    And this was about now , about him bundling her closer and letting bone-melting attraction speak for itself. But her eyes were sparkling like he’d never seen before. In a way that let him know she needed to get something off her chest.
    He took her hand and led her to the sofa. As they sat side by side, she flicked a hesitant glance toward the baby’s bedroom.
    “This will sound a little déjà vu,” she began, “but just before that boyfriend and I broke up, I took a home pregnancy test.”
    Damon’s world screeched halt. His voice was a disbelieving rasp.