Sweet Christmas Kisses (72 page)

Kim quickly glanced around, looking for Sasha and found the dog on Rock’s desk, sitting in her tote with her head peeking out, being quiet like a good little girl.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she went back to hanging ornaments. Things were getting a little fuzzy, but what the heck. Happy holidays! That wine seemed to hit the spot.

Marie spun around with the empty box in her hands and Kim ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the nurse’s elbow from jamming her in the face and possibly giving her a black eye. Casting a wicked look in Marie’s direction, Kim grabbed her wine glass off the coffee table and moved to Rock’s side, wedging him between them. She needed a referee before she turned the witch-in-white into a Chianti-flavored candy cane.

She tossed back the rest of her wine and pointed the empty glass at the tree. “Rock, what do you think of my progress so far?”

He stopped adjusting another branch and smiled. “It looks perfect, honey, but then I know I can always count on you to do the right thing.”

She looked into his gorgeous brown eyes, unable to curb the persistent smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as another surge of elation spread through her. Did he say
honey
? Hey, he’d never called her
that
before...

“Diona,” Zelda snapped and held up the Royal Albert teapot she’d purchased at the Mall of America yesterday. “Brew some more hot water for my tea.”

Everyone turned toward Zelda, and for a moment, an awkward silence prevailed.

Oh, she means me!

Kim shoved her glass at Rock then almost jumped over an ornament box standing between her and the empty teapot. She’d been so preoccupied with her complaints against Marie that for a moment she forgot the main issue—pretending to be Rock’s wife.

“More hot tea coming right up,” she said, staring straight ahead, as she marched into the kitchen. She couldn’t look anyone in the eye, especially Zelda, for fear she’d give herself away.

A couple minutes later, she returned with a steaming teapot and an attitude adjustment, resolved to put up a confident front in spite of her faux pas. Her good intentions didn’t last long.

That gangly nurse stood too close to Rock to pass for merely being friendly as she reached up to place a lighted star atop the tree. She could obviously make the distance but chose to put on an act, trying to look helpless when her arm, supposedly, wouldn’t stretch that far. After rising on her tiptoes a couple times, Marie groaned in frustration, prompting Rock to put his current task on hold and give her some assistance. Her green eyes grew wide when his fingers brushed hers as the star changed hands. She leaned in his direction, her face moving close enough to his to kiss him, her gaze focused on his mouth.

“Excuse me!”

Kim charged past Roscoe, ignoring his yowl and the big orange paw that suddenly took a swipe at her when she blocked his view of the tree. She set down the teapot with a thump then literally stomped over to the tree, elbowing her way between her man and her nemesis.

“I need to straighten these ornaments,” she said to no one in particular, but just the same, her tone of voice carried a firm warning for a certain pain-in-the-patootie to stay out of her way. She reached for a shiny red bulb, but almost had it knocked out of her hand when Marie turned sharply, jamming her hip against Kim’s. Lightheaded from the wine, Kim didn’t realize she’d lost her balance until the objects around her began to tilt.

“Whoa.” Rock steadied her with his hands on her shoulders and repositioned her to face him. “Guess what I found.”

Still a bit dizzy, she looked up and saw a sprig of mistletoe dangling above her head.

“Look at me.”

She stared into his dark eyes and forgot everything else, captivated by the tenderness and devotion he held for only her. Instinctively she slid her palms up his chest, circling his neck. He responded by sliding his wide hands around her waist, gently pulling her close.

“Merry Christmas, my darling.”

Their faces were but a breath apart. His gaze dropped seductively to her mouth as he angled his head and placed a deep, passionate kiss upon her lips.

She was stunned at first, taken completely by surprise. She’d expected a peck on the cheek, but the moment their mouths melded together, her pulse shift into high gear, crystallizing her senses and sending a message loud and clear to her brain that this was no ordinary smooch. No kiss had ever made her heart flutter so fast, had ever made her body respond
like this
.

Zelda cleared her throat.

Kim ignored it as the stress of the last few days ebbed away and the sheer pleasure of being in Rock’s strong arms gave her a secure feeling she never wanted to end.

In other words, the old bat could wait.

Zelda cleared her throat again with pronounced impatience.

Something behind them crashed. The clang startled Sasha, sending her into a barking frenzy as Roscoe dived off the table and scuttled under the tree. Kim gave startled cry and yanked herself away from Rock’s arms. He refused to release his arm around her at first and looked shaken as though it had upset him to let her go.

Marie had dropped a cluster of silver bells on the floor, but it had obviously caught on the edge of the coffee table on the way down. She stood with her arms folded, her oversized glasses perched on the end of her nose, looking put out.

That did it.

Kim literally got in her face. “What’s your problem, anyway?”

“Now, now, darling,” Rock said softly and pulled her away from Marie. Spinning her around, he nudged her in the direction of their bedroom. “Don’t get upset over something so small. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

Kim looked back at the mess in the living room. “But, what about the—”

Rock pulled her into the bedroom and shut the door. “Marie can finish up.”

He walked her to the bed and drew back the covers.

“Wait, wait,” she practically shouted and backed away, waving her arms. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to jump into this bed with you while your mother is sitting out there—”

“We aren’t jumping into anything right now.
You
are going to take a nap. I would never take advantage of a woman in your present state.”

“Look, I’m not tired anymore and I haven’t had much wine—”

He picked her up like a fragile doll and gently placed her in the bed. “Sweet dreams, my darling.” He kissed her on the forehead and pulled the covers over her.

The last thing she heard was Rock shutting the door behind him.

I’ve got a secret...

Kim reclined in bed, staring at the weather report on television while struggling to hold down her dinner. She didn’t know what had brought it on, but the meatloaf and mashed potatoes she’d served for the evening meal now smoldered like a Yule log in her stomach. She shouldn’t have eaten that second lemon curd tart while watching
Christmas Vacation
, either. Topped with real whipped cream, it had tasted heavenly with fresh brewed coffee, but now the rich dessert soured in the back of her throat.

Maybe it was the wine, she thought with regret as she swallowed hard, wincing at not only how much she’d unwittingly consumed that afternoon while decorating the tree, but ultimately at what a fool she’d made of herself in front of everyone when she’d pitched a fit at Marie.

Ugh, I’ll never allow myself to engage in such pettiness ever again.

Rock came out of the bathroom wearing his Joe Boxer pajama bottoms and a milk-white T-shirt that clung to his damp body. Suddenly the snow totals and wind chills on television were no longer important as her gaze lingered on his taut, muscular chest, taking in the perfect symmetry of his physique, a tribute to his daily workout. Damp, wavy black hair fell thick across his forehead. A day’s growth of beard shadowed his face. His dark eyes, shuttered with thick lashes, regarded her lazily.

No wonder Diona had fallen in love with him.

Their gazes lingered briefly when a sudden sparkle in his eyes reminded her that her actions were giving him the wrong idea. Embarrassed, she glanced away and focused on the bare wall. But something didn’t look right. Wasn’t a picture or a plaque supposed to be hanging in that empty spot above the loveseat?

A wave of nausea washed up the back of her throat, overriding her thoughts.

“You cooked another awesome dinner tonight,” Rock said evenly and walked over to the bed, acting as though the day had gone without a hitch.

“Thank you,” she managed to reply.

“I ate too much again, though.” He picked up the remote and pressed the power button, turning it off.

“Someone had to pick up the slack for Marie. I don’t know how she can live on two tablespoons of mashed potatoes. That’s all I saw her eat tonight.”

“She’s finicky.” He raised one brow as he placed the remote back on the nightstand. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I—I’m fine,” she said, not knowing why she had a problem telling him the truth. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”

“Me, too.” He punched up his pillows, taking care not to disturb the dog perched on the one separating them. Instead of growling at Rock, Sasha leaned over and licked his hand. He gently patted her on the head then pulled back the covers and slid into bed. “I took a sleeping pill to make sure I get some decent shut-eye tonight. My schedule is booked tight tomorrow so I’ve got to get plenty of rest.” He smiled and extended his palm. “Good night, darling. Sleep well.”

She blinked in surprise at his genuine sincerity before slipping her hand in his. “Yeah, good night,” she whispered as they shook hands.

Rock turned off the light and turned his back to her then pulled the comforter over his head and exhaled a deep sigh.

Kim lay in the darkness, listening to the tempo of his breathing slowly relax as he slipped into a deep sleep. What happened to the sexy guy who tried everything he could think of to seduce her on their first night together? When did he change into a sensitive, caring man who not only respected her privacy, but her dog’s personal space as well?

That’s what you wanted, she thought, wondering why the realization had immediately produced a surge of disappointment.

A tiny, wet nose pressed against the side of her face, creating a sweet diversion from her thoughts. “Nighty-night, baby doll,” she whispered and rubbed Sasha’s chin with the tip of her finger. Sasha responded with a lick on her nose and inched close enough to lie against Kim’s cheek.

Minutes turned into a half hour then an hour as Kim lay with her eyes closed, trying to go to sleep. Her stomach began to gurgle for the umpteenth time. She sat up in discomfort, clutching her arm around her waist as a groan escaped her lips.

I need some Seven Up, she thought, hoping the lemon-lime soda would settle it down. Rock probably had something more potent in his medicine cabinet, but she didn’t want to disturb him by rummaging around in his bathroom, possibly dropping things on the marble floor and disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the room.

She sat up and slowly pulled the covers off as her bare legs swung over the side of the bed. Her pink chenille robe lay across the end of the mattress. Groping in the dark, she snatched it and shoved her bare arms into the soft, thick fabric before goose bumps could travel up her skin. The thin, sleeveless nightgown she wore tonight offered little warmth outside of Rock’s down comforter.

“Stay, Sasha,” she whispered and placed her hand on the dog’s tiny chest. “You be a good girl and keep Rock company. I’ll be right back.”

Without looking back to make sure the dog obeyed, she tiptoed across the carpet and slipped out the door. The hallway looked eerily deserted in the shadowed light, but at the same time, she didn’t feel alone. No matter, she had to get something to calm her stomach.

The icy marble flooring chilled her toes as she tied the sash around her waist and padded toward the family room, wishing she’d taken the time to locate her bunny slippers and put them on. Nearing the patio doors, she caught a whiff of cigarette smoke and her ire grew at the Robertsons.

Don’t they ever give it a rest?

A wave of cold air surrounded her like a frigid blanket, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. In the silvery light, the drapes covering the sliding glass door to the balcony wafted slightly.

Well, no wonder the floor feels like an ice rink, she thought. Someone left the patio door open...

She reached out to pull the curtain aside but stopped short, forgetting all about closing the door.

“Mercy, it’s cold out here,” Zelda’s British accent cut through the night. “I’ll never complain about the heat in St. Petersburg again.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying all along. Why should we sneak out here to have a drink and freeze our butts off while she has the run of the house?”

Wha-what?

Kim started at the introduction of a completely new voice. It sounded familiar, but she couldn’t identify it. With slow caution, she gripped the fabric, peering past the edge of the drape, all the while struggling to refrain herself from the urge to gasp.

Marie and Zelda sat at the patio table, bundled up in coats and blankets. Zelda reposed regally like a queen on her throne wrapped in her full-length chinchilla. She held a goblet of white wine in one hand, a lit cigarette in the other. Marie wore a fur-trimmed bonnet, sans the oversized spectacles, making it difficult to recognize her, but her gray wool coat gave her away. She raised a stemmed glass of wine to her lips.

“You know I can’t smoke in the house.” Zelda took a quick drag on her cigarette. “Have patience, my dear. It won’t be long now.”

“It’s been too long already!” Marie set her wine glass on the table with a thump and glared at Zelda. “She’s getting on my nerves.”

Zelda chuckled as she drank her wine, making a wry sound, as if to imply that Marie’s complaint was an understatement.

Marie swatted a gloved hand through the air, chasing away a few errant snowflakes. “We should have confronted her today when she tried to start something. It would have been a pleasure to throw that imposter out.”