Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
My lips twitch, but I keep a straight face. “Yeah, me too.”
“Maybe they’ll all show up in a few minutes,” she says.
“Maybe,” I say, but I doubt it.
“Are these the train tickets you bid on at the auction?”
Damn. Her memory is good. “Nope. I actually took Mia earlier today with those.”
“Oh! Did she love it?”
“She sure did,” I say, then tell her about our adventure as the train wound up the snowy hill, offering a stunning view of the snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees. I don’t tell Isla that when Mia and I got off the train, I made plans for our date tonight.
I peer out the doors to the platform as the train pulls in with a long whistle. “We should go outside,” I say, keeping my tone even, giving nothing away.
Isla peers behind us, surveying the empty depot once more, then shrugs and strides outside with me.
The train is three cars long. They’re all red and decked out with icicle lights and garlands. The words The Sleigh Bell Special are written on the side in a white scripted font.
A conductor with salt and pepper hair and crinkled eyes steps off the train and onto the platform, then strides over to us.
“You must be Mr. Bishop and the special guest,” he says, his tone filled with a certain elegance.
“Yes, we are,” I say, gesturing to the gorgeous brunette by my side. “My guest is Isla.”
“Lovely to meet you, Isla. We’re pleased to have you two all aboard tonight,” he says, then sweeps out his arm toward the train.
With something like wonder in her blue eyes, Isla steps onto the train then whirls around. “Rowan?” She’s looking up and down the empty cars. “Did you…?”
Pride fills me. “I did.”
When the conductor steps onto the next car, Isla closes the distance between us, wraps her arms around my neck, and licks her lips. “You arranged for a private Christmas train.”
She sounds enchanted, and I’m thrilled. This is exactly why I did it—to give her the best dates ever. She deserves that, especially after her ex. But then I flash back to what she shared about him. How he took her to off-the-beaten-path spots, like he was hiding her, since he turned out to be married to someone else at the time.
Shit. I don’t want her to think I’m hiding. That’s not the reason for this private train ride.
“But just so you know, I’d take you on a train in public too,” I say, cupping her cheek. “I’d take you on a train in private. I’d kiss you in front of everyone. I’d kiss you when we’re all alone.”
Her smile is bright, and…naughty. “Then you should really start.”
I give the woman what she wants—a kiss as the doors slide shut. We’re all alone as the car pulls smoothly away from the station. I keep a hand on the back of a train seat to steady us though. This kiss is soft, and slow, and it goes to my head. If I’m not careful, I could get addicted to her kisses.
Or maybe I already am, since we don’t stop for a few delirious minutes. She kisses me harder, till we’re both breathing hard, and trying to get closer.
Breaking the kiss, I take her hand and lead her to a pair of high-backed red seats, catching a glimpse of the inky night sky out the window, stars flickering above us as the train chugs up the hill.
“We’ve got twenty-five minutes,” I say in a low husky voice.
She bites the corner of her lips, clearly thinking. “Why do you think I wore a dress?”
“Because I told you to.”
She laughs. “Because I want the same thing.”
“Fine. That’s a better answer.” I run a hand down her hip, tracing her curves as I sit and she takes the spot next to me. But that won’t do. “Get on me, Isla. Now.”
Her eyes flicker with excitement. “Yes, sir.”
She scrambles, climbing onto my lap, her booted feet on either side of me. She sinks down, and lets out an appreciative purr when she feels my hard-on through my jeans. “Is this a dating gift…for me?”
I grab her face, drag her close. “Yes. Unwrap it, Isla. Right here on the train.”
She gasps, and I can hear the excitement in the sound. The wicked thrill she seems to get from these kinds of risqué encounters.
But she’s cautious too. She swings her gaze behind us, then peers all around, before dropping another kiss to my mouth.
This one is fiery, full of heat, and comes with the busy accompaniment of her hands. In no time, she’s tugging on my shirt, fiddling with the button on my jeans, then unzipping them.
A bolt of lust slams into me.
Did I book a private train for this? No, I booked it for her. But I’d be lying if I didn’t think she’d like being all alone in a public place together.