Christmas Wish Come True. Jaimie Admans
hesitated a moment, then walked the short distance and opened the door a bit, peeking out. “I’m not dressed. What do you want?”
A spark lit his eyes and her treacherous body responded, despite the warning bells blaring in her head. When he stared at her like that, every fiber in her came alive, hummed. Phillip had left her cold – it was a shock to her system. Just a simple look from Jordan could set her on fire, and make her feel beautiful again. Ignoring the reminder she’d given herself this morning, she opened the door wider for him to enter.
“I want to apologize,” Jordan started, hesitating as his gaze moved up her bare legs, to the fuzzy robe tightly cinched at her waist, accentuating the swell of her breasts. He cleared his throat and looked away. “The decorations look great, Isabella. It was thoughtful of you to do it – thank you.” He raked his hands through his hair, stepping back toward the door, about to exit. “I’d better go.”
Despite the apology, and his approval of her decorating efforts, Isabella suddenly needed – wanted – more from him. “Jordan.” The urgency in her voice made him stop. His eyes settled on her face, away from her current state of dress. “You’re welcome,” she said, softly now.
She moved toward him, throwing caution to the wind. She wanted to know he was attracted to her, not just seeking an escape from his past. His expression went from surprised to smoldering as Isabella loosened the tie on her robe. She heard his quick breath and her heart fluttered in response. Lifting his hand, she placed it inside the soft fabric covering her chest. She sighed, bending her head back slightly as he slowly rubbed his thumb across the soft skin of her breast.
“Dear God…” The hesitation in his eyes was momentary, then he was pulling her to him, crushing her mouth with his, forcing her lips apart. Isabella wound her arms around his neck as they moved toward the bed behind them. His hands caressed her, spreading electricity everywhere he touched. He moved his mouth to her neck, trailed hot kisses along her sensitive skin. When he reclaimed her lips, his tongue mingled with hers, stirring a fire deep in her core.
Oh my…
Isabella’s knees went weak, and she slowly pulled him down with her to the bed. She held her breath, waiting, anticipating. Wanting him to make love to her. She saw the raw hunger in his eyes – the hesitation warring with desire. He started to move in again – then stopped. His heated expression was replaced by an unreadable mask as he pulled away. His words were cold water, dousing their fire. “I can’t do this – Emily and Tyler will be back soon.”
But she knew it was more than the threat of Emily and Tyler’s return that stopped him. She recognized the flash of pain in his eyes – she’d seen it when he told her about Kim. He couldn’t do this. Not as long as Kim still haunted him.
Isabella closed her eyes and nodded, pulling her robe shut. She heard him close the door and mustered the strength to get dressed and comb her hair. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment over her blatant behavior. What had come over her? She’d never acted like this before. But no one, not even Phillip, had ever affected her this way. Thank goodness Jordan had the sense to put a stop to things before they’d gone any farther.
Oh yes, she wanted him – badly. But her reaction to him today was proof that Jordan could wipe away whatever footing she’d gained in her emotional salvage, since Phillip.
And she might never fully recover if she put her heart in Jordan’s line of fire.
“Miss Stevens!” Tyler’s excited squeal cut through the heavy snow that had begun to fall.
Isabella rushed to keep up with him as he ran through the Christmas tree lot. “Tyler, wait for me! I don’t want to lose sight of you.”
Jordan trailed behind, telling them to go ahead, and he’d load the tree as soon as they picked one out. Isabella didn’t argue, and he assumed she was just as uncomfortable as he was over their encounter a few hours earlier. Emily and Tyler had returned while Isabella was getting dressed from her shower, and thanks to her efforts at decorating, Tyler’s uncharacteristic excitement pushed their steamy kiss to the back burner. However, they had yet to look each other in the eyes since then.
Jordan took his time catching up to them. He wanted to think about what had happened between him and Isabella. The refreshing winter air helped to clear his head, without feeling as if the walls were closing in on him. Ever since Isabella had moved next door, he’d tried to be on his best behavior, both in spending time with Tyler, and in reining in his attraction to her. But he couldn’t fight the fact that he was completely uneasy – with all of it.
He’d put all his survival instincts on the shelf and was doing exactly what he knew he shouldn’t – looking forward to seeing them every morning, and every night when he came home from work. He couldn’t help but worry that he was coming dangerously close to forming some sort of attachment to them. And that couldn’t possibly end well for him. But he asked Isabella to move in, and he trusted her advice where Tyler was concerned. He had to put his nephew’s happiness ahead of his own. And as excruciating as it had been, he’d done that today.
It had taken all of his willpower to leave the ravishing Isabella lying there on her bed, all soft and willing, after that mind-blowing kiss.
Oh, man. This was going to be a long month.
Maybe if he concentrated all his attention and frustrations on trying to restore light and laughter into his nephew’s childhood, he’d forget about how much he wanted to kiss Isabella again, among other things. And, he might even be able to make Isabella forgive his actions this afternoon by trying to get into this festive Christmas outing. He’d do exactly what he’d agreed to do – make an effort.
And he’d pretend their hotter than hot kiss this afternoon had never happened.
***
Isabella trudged through the lot, keeping a close eye on Tyler’s red hat through the blowing snow. When she caught up to him, he was standing in front of what had to be the largest tree there. “Can we buy this one, Miss Stevens?”
The hope in his eyes warmed Isabella’s heart. He was doing better this week, rarely falling into his somber moods, acting like a normal six-year-old most of the time. She wondered if Jordan had noticed the change in him, as well.
“Well, it’s a big one, Tyler.” Isabella followed his gaze to the top of the nine-foot tree. She returned her attention to him, catching the touch of uncertainty fleeting across his features, not wanting to do or say anything to set his progress back even a little bit. “But, you’re right – it’s the only tree on the lot we could possibly consider taking home,” she reassured him quickly. To her delight, he threw himself at her, hugging her tightly. She bent to reciprocate, laughing gleefully.
“I see you found the one.” Jordan’s voice cut through the wind and their laughter. Isabella’s head jerked around at the warm sound of it, catching the surprise in his eyes as he witnessed their embrace.
“Uncle Jordan! I found our tree!” Tyler pulled away from Isabella, pointing and jumping as Jordan walked over to him, effortlessly scooping his nephew up into his arms.
“It’s big,” he said with false concern.
“Miss Stevens says it’s the only one we can con…sitter,” Tyler insisted, worried Jordan would disapprove of his choice.
“Ahh, but…” Jordan suppressed a smile at his nephew’s pronunciation, pretending to reason with him. “Miss Stevens doesn’t have to load it, unload it, or carry it into the house.”
Tyler wiggled in Jordan’s arms. Jordan put him down, then walked around the monstrous tree, rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger. Tyler watched him, intent on his uncle’s every move.
“Can we have this one, Uncle Jordan? Please?”
Jordan