Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
I obliged—completely forgetting we had an audience.
He slid his tongue against mine for what felt like forever, making my breath hitch with every slow, teasing stroke.
Ahhhh… My knees began to buckle.
When he finally let me go, my heart thundered so loudly it was the only thing I could hear.
The lobby was silent. Every face stared at us in stunned disbelief.
Somewhere behind us, someone coughed, then whispered, “They’ve definitely been fucking long before this…”
“Mr. Reaves.” Nicholas looked straight at him. “Was that a good enough angle for you?”
“Um, yes, sir…” His cheeks were as red as mine. “I’ll, um… see you at the airport this weekend.”
“See you then.”
Nicholas grabbed my hand, pulling me away from the watching eyes and into the hallway.
“I hope you’re about to apologize,” I said.
“For almost making you come with a kiss?” He smirked. “I don’t think so. I’ll see you at the airport tomorrow—be on time or else.”
“How hard is it to say sorry?”
“For giving you a taste of what you needed for years?”
“Mr. Saint.”
“Tell me something.” He glanced at my dress. “Are your panties wet for me right now?”
I didn’t answer.
“It’s just a few days of play pretend.” He stepped back. “How hard could it possibly be?”
10B
JENNA
Iarrived at the private airport twenty minutes early. A few staff members stood behind the desk, chatting quietly, and Marshall sat nearby reading through a file.
When I approached the main gate, he looked up—and his jaw dropped. The charcoal dress fit better than I’d planned, the coat slipping just enough to make me regret it.
The staff members at the desk stilled, staring at me and making me feel insecure.
I stepped to the left, and all their eyes followed.
I moved to the right, and their gaze followed as well.
Nicholas walked through the far side entrance, strolling toward me with his eyes on his phone.
“Good morning, Miss Dawson.” He stopped right in front of me, his eyes still on his screen. “Do you have everything you need for the trip?”
“No.”
“Then I suggest you ask Francis to make a run to your place to get it while he can.”
“Do I look okay in this?” I whispered. “Everyone in here is staring at me.”
He finally tucked his phone into his pocket, slowly looking me up and down, his lips parting as the seconds passed.
“No, you don’t look okay in that.” His bluntness hurt. “At all.”
“I knew it was too much.” I stepped back. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll change.”
“You look sexy as fuck.” His eyes met mine. “Don’t change a thing.”
“Oh.” I blushed. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but a familiar voice echoed through the building.
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!” Mr. Reaves sang off-key as he rolled his luggage toward us. “Everywhere I gooo!”
The staff in the building resumed their tasks. Marshall returned to reading his file.
“Oh, come on, Mr. and Mrs. Soon-to-be Saint!” he exclaimed. “Sing along with me.”
“Hell no,” we said in unison.
“Well, then!” He laughed. “Suck the fun out of the trip early, then. I just can’t get enough of this season—and going home to see family.”
“Then why aren’t you going home to see yours?” we spoke in unison again, and he blinked.
“Excuse them.” Marshall stepped between us. “They’re not used to going home for the holidays.”
“Ah, I see.” Mr. Reaves nodded. “So, which family are we going to see exactly?”
“Just Jenna’s,” Nicholas said. “They have two guest suites ready for us.”
“What about your family, Mr. Saint?” Mr. Reaves furrowed his brow. “I know your father has passed, but your mother—”
“It’s nothing happening,” he said. “Just Jenna’s. All week. That’s it.”
“Does your mother know that you’re engaged at least, then?”
I doubt it…
“She’ll be at the wedding,” was all he could say, and that seemed to be enough to get Mr. Reaves to nod and return to singing Christmas carols.
A staffer walked over to him, offering him a cup of hot cocoa before ushering him to the plane.
“I have a car waiting for us when we land,” Nicholas said to me. “I have a backup one ready just in case you need to get away from him while we’re away.”
“What about when I need to get away from you?”
“You mean if?”
“I’m pretty sure I said when.”
“Okay, kids.” Marshall smiled at us. “Let’s be nice, shall we? Think about the money, because that’s all that matters now. Just pretend well, and we all get lovely bonuses. Lots of money. Money, money, money.”
“We heard you the first time,” we said at the same time before heading our separate ways to get to the plane.
“Happy holidays to you too, Mr. and Mrs. Saint! I love you! Looking forward to hearing nothing but good news while you’re away!”
11
NICHOLAS
My plane kissed the Washington ground at exactly three o’clock, tires hissing against the snow-covered runway.
Mr. Reaves clapped like this was a show.