Mistletoe Madness Read online

  Jealousy waged a war with curiosity, as Izzy watched a little redhead in the world's shortest miniskirt approached him. The woman placed a hand on his shoulder and reached up to give him a kiss. Izzy watched as he turned his head to receive the peck on his cheek. He looked up and gave her a smile before talking to the woman and then grabbing their drinks to bring them over to her.

  Izzy waited for him to set her glass down on the table and sit in the chair beside her. "I see you found a friend."

  "Oh, Betty. She just joined one of my classes. Nice kid." He reached over to take her hand. "Don't worry. I'm with you. Now, why don't we finish our drinks, do one more turn around the dance floor, and head back to my place for a movie?"

  "You're so trying to divert my attention from the almost naked woman who is leaning against the bar giving me the death stare." She laughed as he cringed. "I don't blame her. You are pretty hot...for an older guy."

  "Seriously? Did you just call me old?" He portrayed hurt outrage.

  "If the loafers fit..." She laughed as he gently tugged her hair and leaned closer, his eyes intent on her mouth.

  "So, now I see why you nearly knocked my teeth out the other day." They sprang apart at the loud bellow coming from a mountain of a man who stopped at their table. He was tall, built like a brick house, and ruggedly male. His brown eyes twinkled with the effects of too much alcohol, and his wide grin showed a huge gap in his teeth.

  Bug Towers was a force to be reckoned with. An ex-SEAL from Dane's unit and an acquaintance of hers. She watched Dane to see what his reaction would be. He stood, and Bug raised his hands in self-defense.

  "Easy, boss."

  "At ease, Bug Man. You're remaining teeth are safe from me." Dane grinned, and she shook her head as they locked arms and hugged. "Want to join us?"

  "Oh, no. I would not want to interrupt you two." He placed a hand on her chair, his eyes full of no good. "So, Cortez. I didn't know you had a thing for SEALs, or I'd have unleashed some bug juice on you." He winked, and Izzy heard a low growl coming from the man sitting beside her.

  "Why do you think I didn't tell you? I love SEALs, but I'm not too keen on bugs."

  "Ah, honey, that's because you haven't tried mine, yet." He laughed as Dane grabbed her chair and easily pulled her closer to his. His warm arm wrapped around her shoulders, and he dropped a kiss on her forehead. She found herself caught and held in his dark green gaze.

  "Bug, you're pushing your luck. Move it along before you get yourself squashed," Dane said, grinning at her.

  "All right, Dane. I've had some fun. You two might want to go get a room, though. Good to see you, Izzy." He laughed and walked away as she could only nod her head at him.

  "Do you really need to dance more?" Dane's quiet question had a shiver of awareness sliding down her spine.

  "I think I'm fine for now."

  "I think we can do far better than fine." He stood up and took her hand to lead her out of the bar.

  In his truck he was quiet, which made her nervous. She cleared her throat and twisted her hands in her lap. "I haven't ever been to your place, which is ridiculous, isn't it? Since you've been to my apartment so many times. Two years and I never asked or wondered..."

  "Isabella, there are a lot of firsts coming up for us, but unless you want me to pull over and take you right on the side of the road, you probably should be quiet for five more minutes." He sent her a sidelong look filled with hunger. She let out a quick breath, her temperature rising as her tummy flipped. She let the silence settle for a minute before turning to watch him as he expertly drove on the slippery roads. "The side of the road? Hmm... The backseat does have tinted windows." She laughed as he growled in frustration.

  "Thanks, now I won't be able to drive this thing without imagining you naked in the backseat."

  "My work here is done then." She turned her head to watch the winter scenery as he drove out of town. Finally, he pulled into a long driveway that cut through trees laden with heavy snow on both sides. The plowed path finally ended in front of an elegant two-story house. She instantly liked the wraparound porch with the hanging swing. The double doors were flanked on each side with beautiful bay windows.

  Her view of the house was cutoff as Dane drove the truck into an attached garage. The door slid shut behind them as he shut off the engine and turned to her. "You all right?"

  "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

  "Because you stayed quiet for five minutes. I was hoping you didn't strain a jaw muscle or something," he teased as he unclipped her belt and then his own before getting out. She didn't have a chance to open her door before he was there lifting her out. He let her body slowly slide down his. Dane held her close in a warm embrace that had her knees shaking and her heartbeat pounding in excitement at his nearness. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with his scent as her hands clutched at his shoulders. He smiled down at her before taking her hand in his.

  "Let me give you a quick tour."

  Dane's home was a pleasant surprise from the tiny garage to the clean, modern kitchen that housed shiny stainless steel appliances. His living room was decorated with a strong male influence from the black leather couch and love seat to the matching easy chair. She stared at the seventy-inch flat-screen television mounted on a dark cherry entertainment center.

  "That was my birthday gift to myself." His expression when he looked at the television would have made her jealous if he hadn't turned to hold his hand out to her. "Shall we take this tour upstairs, Izzy?"

  "Sure, if you can pull yourself away from your b-day gift long enough." She smirked as he sighed heavily.

  "It's all right. Her little sister is upstairs waiting for us in the master bedroom."

  "Oh, I finally get to see the master suit?" She laughed as he hurried her up the stairs. He bragged about gutting his upstairs in order to make it a huge bedroom complete with his own personal gym equipment. His master suite, as he tagged it, was the hot topic of conversation at his surprise birthday party several months earlier. She and Bug had gone to a lot of trouble surprising him at the gym since he rarely left the building.

  At the top of the stairs he led her to the left down a long hallway. She pulled him to a stop as he meant to lead her toward a door at the end. "Hey, I thought you said you knocked all these walls out. Where is your master suite?" She stared at the newly hung sheetrock on the walls.

  "Well, I changed my mind. I redesigned it to have three bedrooms and a master bath." He rubbed his neck nervously. "The other rooms aren't done, yet. I'm storing my equipment in them. Are you disappointed that you won't get to see my master suite?"

  "A little bit." She had to admit.

  "I'll make it up to you." He winked as he bent to brush her mouth with a soft kiss that was sweet. Her breath was coming in short little pants by the time he pulled back to lead her down the hallway and into a decent-sized bedroom. Dane hung back to lean on the door frame as she wandered slowly around the room, her stocking feet sinking into a plush carpet. The little sister to his big television was a bit smaller and mounted on the wall facing a dark cherry sleigh bed covered by a gray and black comforter.

  The room gave off a clean and very masculine vibe, much like the man who designed and decorated it. Izzy touched the smooth wood of the footboard and walked over to check out the matching dresser with a mirror. She looked at her reflection for a second, noticing the color in her cheeks and an unfamiliar excitement in her eyes. In the mirror she met his gaze as he moved behind her. His warm hands spanned her waist as he rested his chin on her head.

  "What do you think?"

  "I love it. It's you...strong, male, and dominant." Her answer seemed to surprise him, but she wasn't sure it was in a good way. Her breath caught as she realized that in essence, she'd just confessed her true feelings for him. Hesitating for only a second, she then turned around in his arms to face him. Izzy slid her hands slowly up his chest, the cool, smooth material of his shirt smoothed under her palms as she tested the firm muscle
s that bunch beneath the fabric. His breath caught as his pectorals flexed beneath her fingers.

  "Izzy..." He lifted her up, gently placing her on the dresser as his mouth came down on hers. She reveled in his taste, tried to memorize his touch as his hands moved over her. The dress slid slowly down over her chest to reveal the black lacey bra she chose to wear. Dane's jaw clenched as his hungry gaze studied her curves before his mouth took the same journey.

  Izzy's breath caught when he finally lifted his head to pick her up from the dresser. Her legs wrapped around his waist as she held on tight until he placed her on the firm mattress of the bed. She lay there helpless as he pulled back to grip the bunched material of her dress and with a firm pull, peeled it from her body. The anticipation of having his naughty fingers moving on her skin made her grin as she lifted her arms. She folded them behind her head as she watched him fight the urge to laugh. He lost.

  "What you think?" she asked in a husky voice meant to tempt him.

  "I love them. They are so you; soft, sweet, and endearing." He laughed as he gripped the elastic of her black granny panties and ripped them from her. Izzy held him as he fell on her and rolled so they faced one another.

  "Told you there would be lots of firsts." He twirled her panties on his index finger a couple times before flinging them across the room.

  "Don't tell me those are the first granny panties in your master suite?" She gasped.

  "The first and the last." He stopped her next question with a hungry kiss.

  They got him out of his clothes in record time, but then Dane seemed to slow his movements down. Hurried touches turned to slow exploration and needy kisses became deeper, soul-searching kisses that threatened to steal her sanity as her body throbbed with need.

  "Dane, you're going too slow. I need you." She wanted to scream in frustration as he slid a leg over hers to keep her from rolling toward him. His hand caressed her breast teasingly. Her breath hissed out as she sank her fingers into his shoulders. "Now," She demanded as he only kissed her neck.

  "Easy, Iz. We have all night together. I want to know you." Those words from anyone else would have made her punch him, but the serious focus in his gaze as he looked at her body made her stay still and absorb his touch. "I want to memorize this...you."

  "I'm all yours, Dane. You don't have to memorize me. I'm here for as long as you want me." She saw him freeze as her words washed over him.

  "I wish that were true." His words were so soft she barely heard them. Reaching up, she then cupped his rough cheek.

  "It is. I'm not going anywhere." Her words seemed to unlock something within him as he groaned and rolled over her. He gave into both their desires and thrust into her with less control and more desperate need. Izzy couldn't help wanting to cry at the beauty of being with him. He wiped a tear off her cheek and kissed her tenderly before he began to thrust within her. She knew in some distant corner of her mind that this wasn't just sex. This was different...more. She held him tightly as their bodies moved in a perfect rhythm that lifted them up inside a storm of sensations until they finally fell back to the bed.

  Izzy was exhausted, completely wiped the hell out with no hope of moving to even cover herself as he rolled them to their sides, their legs still entangled. Dane kissed her cheeks before leaving the bed to shut off the light. She lazily watched him with her heart full of love as he came back to her and used the comforter to cover them. Izzy sighed tiredly as he settled her in the crook of his arm to cuddle her close. She wished she could purr like Teeny when she was happy.

  "You're mine, Izzy." He sighed, but she couldn't tell if he was happy about it or irritated. She didn't have the energy to ask him before she let herself give in to sleep.

  Chapter Ten

  Work at the Satin Bow on Christmas Eve day wasn't really a necessity. Izzy didn't expect the customers to flock into her store, but there was no way she was going to miss out if the wayward patron needed a last-minute party dress or an emergency fitting. It was the holidays, the time of year for overeating and lazing about the living room to watch football. There were always the Christmas procrastinators to count on as well.

  "I knew you'd be here on Christmas Eve," Kitty said as she hung up her winter coat and pushed the sleeves of her favorite cashmere sweater up in preparation to get down to work. Izzy blew her bangs out of her eyes as she lifted her head to peer at her business partner over the computer screen.

  "I wanted to check out the outcome of our holiday sales. Your idea of gifting sales at the Dress Party was pretty inspired."

  "I like to think all of my ideas are inspired. They just aren't always legal." Kitty sat down on one of the stools. "So, how did we do?"

  "We made out like bandits, Kitty. I think we sold more of our older stock than we expected. It didn't hurt that Mrs. Reginia Bland decided to use the eighteen hundred's as her theme for this year's holiday extravaganza. It moved a lot of our centennial designs right out the door."

  "I think Dane helped move a lot of stock on Saturday. Who knew having a sexy guy in here handing out sincere compliments would boost sales so well? You know, we might want to hire a guy or two next year. Big, strong, healthy males with gorgeous... eyes." Kitty grinned and wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

  "That could be arranged, sales rocked this year." Izzy smiled.

  "It would also help if they know their way around a needle and thread too. If I never have to pin another petti skirt, I won't be sad." She leaned against the counter, her bracelets making a jingle noise as they hit the surface. "Do you think we'll have a lot of merchandise coming back after Christmas?"

  Izzy shrugged her shoulders with a heavy sigh. She hated the holidays for more reasons than the loss of her mother. Sales soared before the holiday season and sank like the Titanic the day after Christmas. Some people were fickle hypocrites. The spirit of gift giving was lost in the consistent refunds. Grandma bought you a pretty scarf, smile and thank her, then drag it back to the store the next day in exchange for a video game. That's why she liked gift cards. Not many of those got tossed back without being used!

  "I guess we'll see next Monday. I'm hoping it won't be as bad as last year, but I have Abbey and Marissa coming in to work with us, just in case. They weren't too happy about it, but they'll like their paychecks at the end of the week." Izzy always made it worth their while with a Christmas bonus and home-made cookies. It brought them back every year on Christmas vacation and summer break. "Let's hope they stick around for a little while. I dread having to hire someone else when they head back to college."

  "I know." Kitty reached over and tugged on Izzy's long braid. "Hey, have you heard from him?"

  Unease crept over her at the mention of Dane Jordan. He hadn't contacted her since he breezed into the shop and did the charm act on their customers. He'd kissed her cheek and gave her a hug goodbye but hadn't asked to see her that night. It was Christmas Eve, and she didn't have a clue if he was going to make their date for her family's party. Sleep eluded her the night before when she expected to hear from him, but he didn't call, didn't text, and didn't come over to see her. She had the nagging feeling that he was regretting the change in their relationship. That or the epic lovemaking session in his sleigh bed scared him as much as it did her.

  "Nothing, yet. He's been AWOL for three days. I thought giving him his space was the way to go, but I'm not sure, now." She stood up and grabbed her purse to sling it over the back of her chair. "Enough talk about men. Why don't we order an early lunch? We can have it delivered here so we don't have to close. Instead, what do you think about having an early day and close at two?"

  "Whoa... What about those last-minute gifters? We'll be missing out on all of those sweet sales." Kitty teased her.

  "Last year we had one sale. Mr. Austen spent two hours of our time, finally bought a scarf, and then went across the street to pick up a box of chocolate-covered cherries to wrap in it for his wife. I think we'll be able to afford the loss." She went to the hats and began r
earranging them.

  "Look at you. You can't sit still for one second. You're worried about him."

  "I'm not worried." She saw the skeptical expression on her friend's face and sighed. "I just don't know what he's doing. He hasn't tried to contact me about tonight. I don't know what to expect from him. Well, I do. He made sure I knew the score." She huffed.

  "What's the score?"

  "Oh, you know. I got the standard speech from him on our first date. He'll be the perfect boyfriend for a couple weeks until he finds someone else or until he decides it's getting too real with me. He won't want to hurt me, so he'll bail out." She shrugged a shoulder, feeling far from casual about it. She was frustrated and angry with him, but she couldn't do anything about it. After all, it wasn't like he was lying to her. He hadn't promised her a rose garden or a happy ending. He'd practically warned her right up front that he'd be dumping her ass as soon as he was ready to move on. It was on her for wanting more from him. Just like all the rest of his women.

  "Damn it! It isn't fair." She thumped a shoe down roughly and turned to straighten up the scarves that were tangled together. "You don't warn a woman that you won't be here forever and then do everything in your power to give her the sweetest, most spectacular sex session of her life." She growled and tossed the scarf away from her, only slightly aware that Kitty had once more straightened the shoes and stepped behind her to untangle the scarves that she had made a worse mess. "It wasn't even sex." She turned on Kitty with a pointed finger. "I've had sex. Fast, slow, on the edge of boring, hot, and horny sex. This was..." She swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked back tears of emotion. "It was making love, Kitty. I didn't know what it was before Dane."

  Kitty moved quickly to wrap her in a comforting hug. "Sh... I know." She eased them back and lowered Izzy onto one of the chairs. "Have a good cry, then we'll talk about this."