Fallin' in Love (4 page)

"Do you think Santa would consider that naughty?" she asked. "Or nice?"

"Yes," Luke answered. He held his arm out and she scooted into his embrace. "I do too."

"Which part was your favorite?"

"Umm, I think that part with your hands—"

She laughed and then slid her hand under the sheet. "Oooh, this is nice."

"No argument from me."

He pulled her closer, his lips against her forehead, holding her tightly. Not that she was planning on leaving any time soon. She enjoyed arousing him, especially so soon after their last encounter.

She didn't have a chance to tease him about his eager response, though, because in the next instant he had pulled her atop him. He glanced at the nightstand drawer so she leaned over to open it.

His chuckle made her turn back to face him. "That's what you meant, right?"

"Yeah, but you're holding on to me like it'll keep you from falling off."

She laughed when she realized her hand was gripped around him just as he'd described. "Hey, you don't like my sexy moves?" She squeezed him at the same time she deliberately tilted back toward the nightstand.

"No, you're good," he said in a raspy voice.

"You mean nice."

He laughed. "Whatever. Just hurry up so we can be naughty again."

She opened the drawer and gasped. "It's like condomania in here. Was there a Buy One Get Ten free sale?" She grabbed a nearby packet. "Oooh, flavored ones too."

"For my favorite sous chef."

"We'll definitely put those to good use later. But for now—"

She unwrapped a condom and rolled it onto him in an instant. He sucked in his breath, and that, along with the spark of wickedness in his eyes, made her insides go crazy with desire.

He grabbed her waist and slowly slid her onto his hard length. She sighed once more, and then leaned forward to kiss him, following the slow effortless rhythm he set for them. He tangled his fingers in her hair, opening his mouth for hers, and then drove her to the very edge of madness, one sexy stroke at a time.

S
econd week of December

"No," Mia groaned. "It's too early. Let me sleep five more minutes."

Luke nuzzled her ear, and then her neck. "You said that fifteen minutes ago. Time to get up."

"I'm self-employed, remember?" She did her best to keep the down comforter tight around her so he couldn't pull it away. "I get to set my own schedule."

"I know," he continued in his low sexy voice. "But I have to go to work in a few hours. I'd like to spend some of them with you while you're awake."

She turned onto her back and gave him a suspicious look, her eyes narrowed. "You're the reason I need all this extra sleep."

He puffed his bare chest out with obvious pride. "I am, aren't I?"

She couldn't help but laugh. She tossed the covers aside, and then yanked them back up with a yelp. "It's freezing! How can you walk around without a shirt?"

He dropped down onto the bed next to her, on top of the covers. "What are you talking about? It's wicked hot in here. C'mere. I'll warm you up."

"I'm not falling for that one."

"Hmm, it's always worked before." He climbed under the covers with her, and pulled her naked body tight against his. "Feeling warmer now?"

She nodded, her thoughts already imagining what they'd be doing in just a few minutes. . .

"Great!" He threw the covers completely off and then grabbed her hands, tugging her out of the bed. "Time for a snowball fight!"

***

"A
snowball fight?"

Mia's delighted laughter caused his body to respond, as it usually did, and he almost said he was kidding, just so he could tumble them both back into bed. But now that he knew she would be there every night, and he would wake up to see her each morning. . .

"I'll go easy on you," he teased.

"Oh no you won't! I've got brothers, remember? I've learned all their tricks. And come up with a few of my own."

"I can't wait to see what you've got."

She dashed over to the dresser, pulling out sweaters and jeans, her face lit up with excitement. Why had he suggested she cover up every bit of that delicious bare skin? But then he remembered how great it would be to peel off those layers afterwards—in front of the fireplace.

"Is it snowing again?" Mia asked.

Luke glanced out the window, watching the flurries turning to a steady snowfall. Normally he didn't care much for winter, or snow, but Mia had made him reconsider that, as well as a lot of other things.

In the next instant he heard the back door slam and saw Mia, bundled up in coat and boots and knit hat, getting a headstart on making snowballs. Two seconds later he was out there with her.

"Get ready for an epic snowball fight," he warned. "I never lose."

"Neither do I!"

***

M
ia ducked behind the wooden deck, the same one they'd had dinner on that first day she'd met Luke, when she'd had to remind herself she didn't do summer flings. Now she was lying in wait, ready to bombard him with snowballs.

She never would have expected that two-week interlude to turn into something this wonderful, this lasting.

She crept around the edge of the deck, spying Luke at the other corner. She raised her arm to let the first snowball fly his direction. . . only Hellboy next door started barking as if she was an intruder. She turned around to shoosh the dog, and got hit in the back with one, then another, snowball.

"Hellboy, you traitor!"

Luke jogged to Mia's side, grinning. "I think he wants to come over here for a play date."

He strode to the fence and scooped up the pup from his little doghouse. Hellboy gave Luke's face several appreciative licks, as if he'd just been rescued from the wilds of Siberia, not the latest in heated igloo-shaped doggie abodes.

"If you weren't so adorable," Mia said, scratching behind the dog's ears, "I'd be upset that you made me lose that snowball fight." Hellboy whimpered once more, and tucked his head against Luke's chest. "Oh, now you're trying to make me feel bad."

Luke laughed. "Let's build the beast his very own snowman."

"Or a snowshoe!"

"Perfect. He'll wonder what the hell happened when he starts chewing on it."

Luke set Hellboy on the ground, but the dog liked snow about as much as he liked being on a leash. He lifted one paw quickly and then set it back down. The look he gave Luke was not a happy one.

"Oh, poor thing. It's probably too cold for his feet." Mia glanced at the setup in his own yard. "He's used to a little more luxury than we have here. Maybe I can find him a blanket."

Luke picked Hellboy up once more and tucked him snugly inside his parka. "I don't care how adorable Mia says you are, you are the most spoiled animal in the world."

Hellboy woofed in protest, but it was muffled since the dog wasn't willing to expose more than the tip of his nose.

Mia laughed at Luke's expression of mock exasperation. He couldn't fool anyone—she could see how tender he was with the mischievous pup.

"I'll be right back."

She rushed into the house and returned with a basket. After she set it on the deck, she mounded several blankets into a pile. Luke placed Hellboy atop it, and the hellhound turned around a few times until the whole thing was finally to his liking.

Luke scooped up some snow and patted it into a rounded shape. "See, buddy? It's a ball. Made of snow."

He tossed it into the yard, but Hellboy just watched it sailing through the air, refusing to budge from his comfortable perch. He even added a disinterested yawn.

Mia bit back a smile. "I think he's more of a summer kind of dog."

"Clearly."

Luke grabbed another handful of snow, only this time he was grinning at her.

"Oh, no. Don't even think of hitting me with that."

Mia started to back up, glancing over her shoulder, to make sure she didn't trip over anything in her haste to get away.

"This?" Luke's lips tilted up mischievously as he continued to smooth his gloved hands around the snowball. "It's just a bunch of snowflakes. That's all."

"Wait, this sounds like a recipe I might need to write down."

He laughed, his eyes sparkling. Mia's heart began racing, and she tried to convince herself it was the adrenaline rush from the continuation of their snowball battle. But it was more than that. She fell a little more in love with Luke each day. He was fun, and funny, not to mention insanely sexy, and she adored how tender he was with Hellboy.

She'd lost her heart, to both of them, a long time ago.

Luke continued his slow approach.

"I'm warning you," she said, laughing. "There will be consequences."

"Mmm. What kind of consequences?"

"Terrible ones." Mia backed up a couple more steps. "Dire even."

Luke pretended to shudder. "Oooh, like me doing the dishes for a week?"

"Worse. Like me doing the cooking for a week."

He halted.

"Hah! I knew that would work."

He started moving forward again, closing the space between them. "I like the sound of that. Nobody ever cooks for me."

"Wait!" Mia held up both hands, neither of which had a snowball in them unfortunately. "I surrender. Just please, be merciful."

Luke tossed the snowball from one hand to the other, several times. "So, just to be clear on the terms of surrender. You'll cook for the next week—"

"Unless it kills you off sooner," she said with a laugh.

"I'll take my chances." He grinned and then spun around, heading toward Hellboy.

"Hey, aren't you going to get in your shot?"

He turned around, his face the picture of innocence. "Oh, this? I made it so I can get the snowman started."

"What?!"

He started running, although he was laughing so hard, Mia was amazed he could keep moving.

"Don't forget. You still have to cook next week!"

T
hird week of December

"Are you sure it's okay?"

Luke set down his fork and smiled at Mia. She was so cute when she worried about him. "It's more than okay. It's awesome."

"It's sweet of you to try to make me feel better. But you don't have to. I'll hold up my end of this agreement."

"I'm not trying to make you feel better. I swear." He linked his fingers with hers across the table. "I think this is the best chicken I've eaten in ages."

"You don't eat your own food at the restaurant?" she teased.

"There's hardly time most nights. And besides, everyone gets tired of their own cooking. It's nice to have someone else do it once in a while."

"Well, I did have excellent help. Your recipes, for one thing. And you as my sous chef."

"See? We're a winning combination."

"Don't forget Hellboy. He's an essential part of the team."

He pretended to frown. "I don't think I want to know what he added to the meal."

"It'll be our secret." She smiled. "Now for dessert."

"Can't wait."

Mia got up and headed for the kitchen. Luke couldn't resist pulling her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling in that sexy way that never failed to excite him. He leaned in for a kiss. She responded as she always did, with delighted surprise, as if she couldn't believe they could kiss each other as much as they wanted.

He couldn't believe his luck either.

"I don't see any mistletoe here," she said, her voice breathy with desire.

"That's because you closed your eyes."

"Should I keep them closed?"

"Umm, yes." He kissed her eyelids, and the tip of her nose, and finally her lips. "This is the best dessert I've ever had."

She giggled. "You haven't tried my creme brulee yet."

"Creme brulee? And the house didn't burn down? I'm impressed."

"I thought you might be." She opened her eyes, slowly, and her smile hit him in the gut, as it always did. Her next words completely wound him up. "Let's go have dessert in the bedroom."

"Okay then. Should I get the—"

"Not at all. You're the dessert tonight."

***

"H
ellboy, you are the worst Santa's elf ever!" Mia grabbed the ball of ribbon before the dog could reach it, but then he raced over to the box of gift wrap and tugged on the end of one of the rolls. "Stop that."

She glanced around, trying to find something to distract him, but then he yawned so wide it should have unhinged his jaw. He plopped down into the basket that had become his bed whenever he came over for a visit.

In fact, his visits were more frequent, usually every day. He didn't seem to realize that he actually lived next door. Mia loved him so much, she didn't want to give him the news that he wasn't a full-time resident.

Even though he was.

"Okay, you stay there and nap again while I finish wrapping this. I need to get it done before Luke gets home."

She sat back and admired the proof copy of the cookbook containing his recipes. They'd been working on it together, but he didn't know she had gotten it printed, wanting him to see it completed before they went any further with it. She knew he'd be surprised. She only hoped he liked what she had accomplished.

She carefully wrapped it in the cook-themed gift wrap she'd found in a specialty store. She even tried to tie a beautiful bow with the red satin ribbon she'd bought, but it wasn't quite as elegant as she'd envisioned.

"I'll tell him you did this part," she said to Hellboy.

Mia got a blank stare in return.

"Okay, okay. I'll tell him I did it."

She heard the front door click shut, and spun around to see Luke standing there, smiling at her. "Did what?"

"Nothing." She hid the package behind her back. "I thought you'd be home a little later."

He closed the gap between them. "I couldn't wait to see you." He kissed her, as if he had been waiting for years. Mia melted into him. . .until she remembered she was still holding the gift.

She moved away and tucked the present in the pile of gifts surrounding the tree, making sure he couldn't see exactly where she put it.