Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
“Christmas is a time for family, Shane. I have a few close friends. Tomorrow, I’ll volunteer at a shelter a few towns over. Mrs. Cooper and a couple of other widows come with me. We spend the day being busy, and on Boxing Day, we cook a big dinner at the community center. Everyone brings potluck, and we have a great meal.”
The words were out before I could stop them. “You deserve more than that for Christmas. You deserve to be spoiled and loved.”
“I am loved, just in a different way. You have your family—what a gift that is. Treasure them. Spend as much time with them as you can. Visit more often.” Tears glimmered in her eyes. “One day, you won’t have them, and you can never go back.”
“I do treasure them. I love spending time with them…”
“Why do I sense a but?”
I sighed, perched my hip on the table beside me, and scrubbed my face roughly. “I love my family. I really do. But I get tired of being the odd man out. Always the fifth wheel. My parents have each other, Elly and John are incredibly close, Alan worships Tracey. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled they’re all happy. It’s just, at times, it’s hard to take being surrounded by so much love and not have the same thing.”
“You don’t have anyone in your life?”
“No. I’ve spent so much time on my career that everything else just fell by the wayside. Now that I finally have a life outside of work, I haven’t met anyone significant.” I lifted my shoulder. “I’ve dated, but I’ve never found that person who makes me want to change my life for them, you know?”
She nodded. “Yes. I know what you mean.”
“I have no idea why I told you all that. I’ve never said it out loud to another living person.” Leaning forward, I tucked a strand of hair behind Callie’s ear. I met her gaze—her warm, understanding gaze. “Somehow, you make it okay for me to be honest.”
“We all feel like that at times. There were times I resented my dad—hated him, even, for being sick and making me change my life plans. But the feelings were just the result of being sad or lonely. They always passed, and I loved him. Just the same as you love your family.”
“Yes,” I breathed out, amazed at her wisdom. “I’m surrounded by people, yet I feel so…lonely. I smile and laugh and do everything I can so no one knows, yet inside I’m…”
“Sad?”
“Yes.” I clasped her hand. “You too?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes captivated me. They were so beautiful. Once again, I had to reach out and touch her. “Why do I hate the thought of you being lonely or sad?”
“I don’t like the thought of you being that way either.”
I pulled her in, and she slipped between my legs, her hands clutching my shoulders. “Can I say thank you properly, Callie?”
“Yes,” she whispered in a shaky voice. A shiver ran down her spine as I slipped my hands up her neck, cupping the soft skin of her cheeks.
Slowly, I leaned in, pressing my mouth to hers.
Our lips touched.
Time stood still.
I yanked her close, sliding my tongue into her mouth, and groaned as she sighed, her breath filling my lungs. Our tongues danced, tasted, and teased. I stroked her cheeks with my thumbs, tilted her head, and deepened the kiss. She fit perfectly against me, her softness molding to my harder form, as if she was made to be in my arms. She moved her hands restlessly along my upper arms, clutched my shoulders, then moved them down and wrapped them around my waist. She burrowed her fingers under my shirt, touching the warm skin of my back. I grunted into her mouth in approval. I wanted to feel her hands everywhere. I slid my hands down her hips and gripped her ass, pulling her closer, feeling the heat of her through the fuzzy pants she wore. I glided my hand down her thigh and, with a tug, hitched her leg high, bringing us even closer.
She whimpered into my mouth, pressing her fingers into my skin, sliding them under my waistband. Her touch left a trail of fire on my skin. “Callie,” I groaned.
“Shane,” she responded on a soft breath.
“I want you,” I stated honestly. “I want you on that pretty bed downstairs surrounded by the colors of Christmas. I want you surrounded by me. And it’s been a long time since I wanted that.”
Our gazes locked and held. We both knew what I was asking. One night. I would be gone tomorrow and heading back to my life in Calgary once the holidays were over. But I wanted this night with her more than anything I could remember wanting. There was something about this girl—a draw I couldn’t fight. One I didn’t want to fight.