Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set Page 14

  Jackie giggled. Too much emotion had to come out somewhere and she felt like she could incinerate from the heat rolling off both of them.

  “So,” she said. “You’re saying I should make it worth your while?”

  Mitchell pulled her close, pressing her against his hard body and kissing her greedily. She returned his kiss with the same urgency. His hands fumbled with the zipper down the back of her dress and the closure at the back of her neck.

  “Um, Mitchell,” she said.

  He was in the middle of kissing her neck when he reluctantly stopped and said,

  “Hmmm?”

  “Lights? Windows? Free show for all?” she said playfully.

  “Let the world see that you’re all mine,” he said, tasting her lips.

  “I think there are other ways to show them that,” she answered.

  “Come to think of it, I want you all to myself. What are you doing after the party?”

  “I think,” she said, “that depends on what you’re doing.”

  “Good question.” Mitchell kissed her nose and pulled a serious face. “There’s something important we’ve never experienced together.”

  Jackie waited, his knitted brows making her nervous.

  He grinned. “There’s probably a long list, but right now I’m thinking sex. Indoor sex.”

  “Oh.”

  “And soon. Please,” he groaned, kissing the delicate skin of her throat. “I want to get that dress off you and finish what I started. Eyes wide open this time. Me knowing you and you knowing me.”

  “I like it.”

  “Which part?”

  “All of it. No mystery this time.”

  “None? Maybe a little mystery would be fun,” Mitchell said, grinning. “I might have a few tricks up my sleeve. I haven’t shown my whole hand quite yet.”

  A thrill raced over Jackie, desire throbbing through her. “Where are we going for this indoor, eyes wide open sex with possible mystery involved?”

  “Believe it or not, I do own a home here in Chicago. I’m even willing to be your date for Shelly’s wedding if you’ll spend tonight with me.”

  “You know about her wedding?”

  “I own the company,” he said, a crooked smile on his face. “Of course I know all about my employees.”

  “Right. Tell me five things you know about the girls in my office,” she teased.

  “Easy. I know Shelly’s in love. Leah and Teri can be easily bought. You all listen to Margie too much. You missed your flight in Key West. And you look fantastic as elves. Especially you.”

  Jackie reached up and toyed with a lock of his dark hair, saying nothing.

  “I could look up your social security numbers, too, if that would be more convincing.”

  She kissed him, her mouth lingering over his, touching and tracing his lips like she was memorizing them.

  “One more important thing,” he said. “My brother is crazy about you. Which reminds me…” He disappeared for a second into a room beside his office and came back holding a small gray kitten.

  “Jimmy brought him. He said he thought you liked him.”

  Jackie took the kitten and cuddled him. “When I held him at the animal shelter, I thought he would fit in so well in our office. He’s gray and needs attention.”

  Mitchell frowned. “Your office is gray and needs attention?”

  Jackie stood on tiptoe and kissed him playfully on the lips. “Have you ever been in our office? Even the coffee is gray.”

  “We’re going to have to do something about that,” he said. “Although my plans for you and your friends for next week would certainly have livened it up quite a bit.”

  Jackie groaned. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you were going to do to all of us next week.”

  “Let’s just say that my brother Jimmy has quite a few exotic animals in need of a good home. I thought that my most devoted employees would want to adopt a few of them in a show of goodwill for the holidays.”

  “You will stop at nothing, Mitchell Ames,” Jackie said. “You were starting to make me so desperate that I was considering sacrificing myself and running away just so you’d leave my friends alone.”

  Mitchell pulled her abruptly to him, nearly crushing the gray kitten between them. He kissed her tenderly on the lips then looked seriously into her eyes. “The only way to get me off your case is to stay right here in my arms,” he said.

  “That,” she said, “is a price I’m more than willing to pay.”

  “About next week,” he said seriously.

  “Don’t tell me. We have to wear our elf costumes to work? Free gift wrapping in the lobby?”

  “There’s only one present I want to get my hands on this Christmas,” he said.

  “So…no more torture for the accounting office?”

  “Well,” he said, “I have to admit I liked what you said about sacrificing yourself so I’d leave your friends alone.”

  “Oh?” she asked, turning her blue eyes and huge smile up to Mitchell’s face.

  “If you fly away with me to someplace warm next week, I probably won’t have any time at all to think about accountants or business.”

  “I guess I’d do just about anything for my friends,” she said with a grin.

  Mitchell pulled her close again. “When we were in Key West, I felt more complete than I ever have in my life. I thought it was the beach and the sun and you.”

  “And?” she asked softly.

  “I was right about one thing. It’s you. Even standing by the park bench in the freezing cold watching you smile through the snowflakes, I knew I had to have you.”

  Jackie’s throat felt tight and her eyes filled with shining tears. “I believe Santa approved,” she said. “He gave me your coat.”

  “And you?” he asked, his green eyes intent, “do you approve?”

  “Nothing has ever felt so right,” she said. “When we were in Key West, I told you that I could get used to living there. It’s an amazing place, but it wasn’t that. I belong with you.”

  Mitchell claimed her lips with a kiss which threatened to erase any chance of getting back to the party he had thrown in her honor.

  The kitten woke up and mewed, protesting being crushed between them. Jackie laughed and put the kitten gently back into his box. She took Mitchell’s hand.

  “Showtime,” she said. “The way the rumors were spreading when we left, you may be facing a firing squad if we don’t get back to the party with good news soon.”

  “With you at my side,” he said, “I’m not worried in the least.”

  “Hoping the rotten tomatoes will hit me instead of you?”

  “Nope. It improves my image to be seen with you. You are, by far, the most beautiful woman at the party.”

  “Can I ask a favor?”

  “Anything.”

  “Ask the orchestra to play Jingle Bells for us.”

  He groaned. “Just because some buffoon got musical with his boat horn in Key West, don’t tell me we’re going to be stuck with that as our song.”

  “Afraid so.”

  “Hell of a story to tell our children.”

  Jackie wrapped her arms around Mitchell’s neck and wished the elevator ride would last a lot longer than it did. They stepped out together this time into the music and lights of the party. Someone must have quelled the rumors in their absence, because the party rang with good cheer.

  No evil glances shot their way as Mitchell took her hand and led her past the tables of people eating gourmet food, past her friends who smiled at her from the dance floor, and up on to the stage by the orchestra. Jackie stood next to Mitchell and looked out at the happy faces, the twinkling lights, and the raised glasses of champagne.

  She squeezed his hand and their eyes met.

  She felt as warm as a tropical breeze across a sparkling ocean.

  Epilogue

  The fireworks that lit the sky over Key West on New Year’s Eve were brighter and more colorful than Jacki
e had ever seen. Her bare toes hugged the sand and the warm breeze from the ocean caressed her face.

  “I can’t wait until this show is over,” Mitchell said as his lips brushed her ear. “I have a picnic basket and a blanket in the K car.”

  “Are you suggesting we spend the night here on Blue Bottle Beach?” Jackie asked playfully.

  “Nope,” he said as he pulled a small black box from his pocket. He opened it, and Jackie saw a diamond that caught the fire and sparkle of every explosion in the sky.

  “I’m suggesting we spend a lifetime here.”

  Jackie caught her breath and watched the colors of the Grand Finale dance across Mitchell’s face.

  “I’m afraid,” she said, her voice cracking and shifting, “there’s a company policy against marrying your boss.”

  Mitchell laughed. “I make the policies. I can change ‘em anytime I want.” He got down on one knee.

  Jackie held out her left hand, fingers spread. “Maybe I could get a job working for your brother.”

  “He owns half the company. He might let you rent out mopeds or find homes for stray animals.” He slipped the ring on her finger. “But I think I’m going to keep you pretty busy.”

  A last stray firework exploded with white streamers in the night sky. She stared at the sparkling ring and then lifted her shining eyes to Mitchell’s.

  “Will you marry me, Jackie?”

  “I will,” she said. “Oh, yes.”

  Her words were sure and clear on the still night air.

  The official fireworks show ended, but Jackie and Mitchell found another way to celebrate the New Year as their bodies entwined like the twisted palms on Blue Bottle Beach.

  THE END

  Amie Denman

  Amie Denman lives in a small town in her native Ohio with her husband and two sons. Her two cats and 90-pound yellow lab are kind enough to share a sunny office where she lets her imagination run wild. Reading books was her favorite escape as a child, and she remains a romantic at heart.

  Please visit her at www.amiedenman.com

  Also by Amie Denman

  The Gull Motel

  Will Work For Love

  He’s on Her Trail

  Her Lucky Catch

  Her Lucky Prize

  ALL THAT’S UNSPOKEN

  Constance Phillips

  Hailey Lambert came home for the holidays to help her father. Instead, eight years later, she is forced to face all that was left unspoken between her and high school crush, Nate.

  After eight years, Hailey is back in Caseville Michigan. Just months after her mother’s death, her siblings want to put their father in a nursing home and rent out the family farm. If that wasn’t enough, the prospective tenant is Nate, the high school crush she left behind the day after they acted on their mutual attraction.

  After high school, Nate Jenkins planned to leave small town behind, but life dealt him a different hand of cards to play. He’s now back in Caseville, raising his daughter, and running his family’s diner. His daughter’s speech disorder has been improved by therapeutic horse riding and if he can lease the old Lambert farm, he can get her a horse of her own. The only standing in the way is Hailey, the same woman who left him eight years ago without even saying goodbye.

  Can they get over all that’s unspoken between them?

  Chapter One

  The squeak of the barn door rolling down the metal rail cut through the silence of the night air. It wasn’t as heavy as Hailey remembered, but then again her fondest memories of the barn were from when she was a lot younger.

  Her cousin Rhonda laughed as she walked past her then went straight to the light switches, flipping them on. “Quiet or we’re going to get caught.”

  “I think we’re old enough to be in the barn after dark.” Hailey pushed the door closed to block the biting wind. Still, it slammed against the walls, causing the aging building to moan and creak in protest, mimicking the mood of her heart as she remembered the events of the last year.

  “Think fast!” Rhonda pulled a beer can from the pocket of her coat and then tossed it in Hailey’s direction. “Uncle Bill isn’t going to ground us for sneaking beer?”

  Hailey looked at the label a moment before cracking it open. A rush of memories accompanied the sound and scent. “What were we? Sixteen?”

  “I think so. Wasn’t that the summer after my family moved to Saginaw? Your mom and Dad let me come and stay with you for a couple of weeks.”

  “Thanks for coming out here with me. I needed a break from all the holiday cheer,”

  Rhonda hoisted herself up on the gate separating the barn aisle from the open arena, straddling it as if it was a horse.

  Hailey leaned against one of the stall doors, and raised the can toward her cousin. “Merry Christmas.” She then took a long sip before continuing. “Jake and Kelly think Dad needs to be put in a nursing home, you know. They’ve been trying to nail me down to ‘talk about it’ since I got home yesterday morning.”

  Rhonda exhaled and slid back on the top of the gate until she was leaning against the wall. “I thought he was fine at dinner, a little tired maybe, but aren’t we all? My mom says he has moments, though.”

  “That’s what they say too. I haven’t seen any signs.”

  “On the drive up here Mom was saying she feels like she owes it to her sister to help Kelly, Jake, and you care for him.”

  Everyone in the family had mourned her mother together, but sometimes Hailey became absorbed in her grief and lost sight of the fact that Rhonda had lost an aunt and her mother had lost her sister. “She agrees with them, then?”

  Rhonda’s gaze dropped to the barn floor. “I’m so sorry. This has got to be destroying you.”

  Hailey took another long draw from the beer. “I know Dad’s taken Mom’s death really hard, but I haven’t seen anything that says diminished capacity. It can’t be dementia. Can it? He’s not that old.”

  Rhonda let her foot sway back and forth. The heel of her boot occasionally clipped the metal of the gate sounding like an old church bell. The look on her face was one of empathy, but she had no words.

  Hailey understood though, even took solace in the silent support of her cousin and best friend. “It is a lot on Kelly and Jake to care for him. Maybe it’d be easier on everybody if I moved home.”

  “No one expects you to abandon the life you’ve made for yourself in the city.”

  “What life? It’s been six weeks since I lost my job, and none of my interviews have panned out. Seems like perfect timing to me.”

  “The holidays are a really bad time to be looking for a job. You’ll get an offer right after the first of the year. I’m sure of it.”

  Hailey shrugged and set the beer can on the ground. She then stepped up on the bottom rail of the gate, and gripped the top rail, flexing her body and stretching out her back as she used to do when she was younger.

  Rhonda began laughing again. “Do not get this thing swinging while I’m sitting on it.”

  “What’s wrong with you? We used do this all the time. Are you too old now?”

  “Yes.”

  Rhonda’s simple word rode an infectious giggle. Hailey couldn’t help but laugh too. It was always like this when they were together, as if no time had passed, and they were still carefree children.

  It was the first time in months she’d been able to smile despite her problems and it felt good to set the weight of the world aside, if only for a few minutes. She hoisted her leg over, and joined her cousin on the gate, facing Rhonda. “But seriously, if I moved back to town, I could help take care of Dad. If it gave him an extra six months at home wouldn’t it be worth it?”

  Rhonda frowned. “Of course it would, but you don’t know that it would give him even an extra day. You need to get all the facts before you make such a big decision. Stop avoiding the conversation with your brother and sister. Sit down and talk to them.”

  Hailey nodded, gripping the rail in front of her. “I know, you’r
e right.”

  “I always try to think of New Year’s Eve as a big reset button. You’ll see. It’s time to close the door on all the crap you’ve gone through the past year and try to face the new one with a bit of hope. You’ll get another job.”

  “I hope your right.” Hailey paused and looked up toward the hayloft. “We had so much fun growing up here.”

  “Didn’t your brother catch you up in that hayloft with Jimmy Johnson?”

  “Nah! Not Jimmy.” Her giggle sounded child-like, even to her own ears.

  “Who was it then? I know it wasn’t Nate Jenkins. No matter how bad you always wanted it to be.”

  Hailey pressed her lips together. Some secrets were too precious to speak, even to Rhonda. The incident her cousin remembered wasn’t with Nate, but she’d had a moment here with him in the quiet of the old barn too.

  It was the Fourth of July the summer before they were all to leave for college. Her parents had encouraged her to have a bonfire with all of her friends from school.

  Late in the evening, Nate pulled her aside and asked her to go for a walk and right here—in front of the old gate—he’d asked her out.

  “Seems like a hundred years ago.”

  “You can’t go back in time.”

  “But wouldn’t it be nice if we could?”

  He’d been so nervous that night. Talked about the weather, the baseball game from TV the night before, and even how high the corn stalks were in the field before he rubbed his sweaty palms on the back of his denim shorts and asked if “she might want to” go out with him.

  “What would you do? Not go to college and law school? Marry Nate Jenkins? Work with him in the diner?”

  Hailey swung her leg back over the gate and jumped down. With a smooth movement, she reached down, picking up her drink. “Don’t say it like that. Nate’s a good guy.”

  “Lighten up. Did I say he wasn’t? I’m just saying you made the right choices. That’s all.”