Read Online Lovers by Christmas: by Angelita Gill - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Angelita Gill
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surgery.”
“Surgeon?” She smiled at his single nod. “No wonder you’re so intense.”
A smile tugged at his mouth. “I’ve been told that once or twice. I’ll try not to project too much intensity your way if I can.”
“Don’t you dare hold back, Kenner Sutton. I want to get to know you just as you are.”
With a grin, he squeezed her hand to show his appreciation. Was it possible to be in love with her already?
She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, looking down at the ground. “Should we really go back in there?”
“For a little bit. Why? Do you think it’s obvious what we’ve done?”
“Yes,” she answered, and he chuckled. “Someone could’ve easily seen us walk out to the garden and now we’re returning less…polished.”
“You’re even more beautiful with that after-glow. And it’d be even more suspicious if we don’t return. Besides, there are hundreds of people in that mansion. I’m sure the majority of them are more concerned with gossip and their next cocktail than what we were doing.” He led her up the stairs to the veranda. “And there are a few things I want to do with you in there.”
She laughed. “Such as?”
Once they were outside the door, he took hold of both her hands and gazed into her pretty gray eyes. “I want to dance with you. Eat with you. Drink with you. I’m going to show everyone in there I’m crazy about you, Thea. How does that sound?”
She smiled, raised her face, and brushed her lips on his chin. “Sounds like the perfect beginning to my Christmas with you.”
***
Thea remembered the last time she was happy. Years ago, with Ben, on the beach. That was a different time, a different connection.
Now she didn’t have to say the last time was over two years ago with a man she lost, now she could say it was the night she found Kenner again, when she wasn’t even looking for him. She was going to love a second time, she just knew it. After freshening herself in the bathroom, she rejoined him in the party, and Kenner wasted no time grasping her hand, claiming her as his.
A sense of peace came over her when he pulled her in arms in the ballroom to dance. She rested her chin on his shoulder while they swayed to the romantic holiday tune. He held her close, and she knew people were wondering what was going on between them, but if he didn’t care, neither did she.
“Kenner,” said Meryl as she and Bob waltzed up next to them. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re quite smitten with my interior decorator! Give the girl room to breathe, please. This isn’t a bump and grind club.”
Thea stifled laughter as Kenner granted his hostess’s request and placed several inches between their bodies. “Thea and I were acquainted before you introduced us, Meryl.”
“Why on earth didn’t you say anything?” she asked, looking at Thea.
“I barely recognized him,” Thea lied, much to Kenner’s amusement.
Meryl, ignoring her husband’s soft plea to leave them alone, responded with an understanding, “Oh, I see. Women usually have a hard time forgetting our Kenner. I’m sure he’ll spend the rest of the night making sure you don’t do it again,” she teased.
They both chuckled, and the Mallorys waltzed past them to speak to another couple.
“Regardless of the night at The Dame & Dapper, you and I were meant to meet,” she said, musing out loud. “Meryl was going to introduce us tonight.”
“True.” His mouth skimmed her ear. “But I would’ve been on my best behavior in here, and that incredible night might’ve never happened.”
Then she was forever grateful she’d forced herself out of her apartment and gone to the lounge. “You’re wrong.”
“I am? I hate when that happens.” He kissed her cheek.
She giggled, meeting his gaze. “It would’ve happened. Tonight.”
He smiled, moving her in a turn, and bringing her back in, close, with no space between them.
“Remember Meryl’s warning. This isn’t
“Surgeon?” She smiled at his single nod. “No wonder you’re so intense.”
A smile tugged at his mouth. “I’ve been told that once or twice. I’ll try not to project too much intensity your way if I can.”
“Don’t you dare hold back, Kenner Sutton. I want to get to know you just as you are.”
With a grin, he squeezed her hand to show his appreciation. Was it possible to be in love with her already?
She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, looking down at the ground. “Should we really go back in there?”
“For a little bit. Why? Do you think it’s obvious what we’ve done?”
“Yes,” she answered, and he chuckled. “Someone could’ve easily seen us walk out to the garden and now we’re returning less…polished.”
“You’re even more beautiful with that after-glow. And it’d be even more suspicious if we don’t return. Besides, there are hundreds of people in that mansion. I’m sure the majority of them are more concerned with gossip and their next cocktail than what we were doing.” He led her up the stairs to the veranda. “And there are a few things I want to do with you in there.”
She laughed. “Such as?”
Once they were outside the door, he took hold of both her hands and gazed into her pretty gray eyes. “I want to dance with you. Eat with you. Drink with you. I’m going to show everyone in there I’m crazy about you, Thea. How does that sound?”
She smiled, raised her face, and brushed her lips on his chin. “Sounds like the perfect beginning to my Christmas with you.”
***
Thea remembered the last time she was happy. Years ago, with Ben, on the beach. That was a different time, a different connection.
Now she didn’t have to say the last time was over two years ago with a man she lost, now she could say it was the night she found Kenner again, when she wasn’t even looking for him. She was going to love a second time, she just knew it. After freshening herself in the bathroom, she rejoined him in the party, and Kenner wasted no time grasping her hand, claiming her as his.
A sense of peace came over her when he pulled her in arms in the ballroom to dance. She rested her chin on his shoulder while they swayed to the romantic holiday tune. He held her close, and she knew people were wondering what was going on between them, but if he didn’t care, neither did she.
“Kenner,” said Meryl as she and Bob waltzed up next to them. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re quite smitten with my interior decorator! Give the girl room to breathe, please. This isn’t a bump and grind club.”
Thea stifled laughter as Kenner granted his hostess’s request and placed several inches between their bodies. “Thea and I were acquainted before you introduced us, Meryl.”
“Why on earth didn’t you say anything?” she asked, looking at Thea.
“I barely recognized him,” Thea lied, much to Kenner’s amusement.
Meryl, ignoring her husband’s soft plea to leave them alone, responded with an understanding, “Oh, I see. Women usually have a hard time forgetting our Kenner. I’m sure he’ll spend the rest of the night making sure you don’t do it again,” she teased.
They both chuckled, and the Mallorys waltzed past them to speak to another couple.
“Regardless of the night at The Dame & Dapper, you and I were meant to meet,” she said, musing out loud. “Meryl was going to introduce us tonight.”
“True.” His mouth skimmed her ear. “But I would’ve been on my best behavior in here, and that incredible night might’ve never happened.”
Then she was forever grateful she’d forced herself out of her apartment and gone to the lounge. “You’re wrong.”
“I am? I hate when that happens.” He kissed her cheek.
She giggled, meeting his gaze. “It would’ve happened. Tonight.”
He smiled, moving her in a turn, and bringing her back in, close, with no space between them.
“Remember Meryl’s warning. This isn’t
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