Christmas with Him: The Tycoon's Christmas Proposal / A Bravo Christmas Reunion / Marry-Me Christmas. Jackie Braun

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СКАЧАТЬ the blanket of white, before bending down to scoop up a handful. “Snow made everything seem so clean, so perfect,” she said as she compacted the snow into a ball.

      “And your life wasn’t perfect.”

      “No. But whose is?” She shrugged off the melancholy of childhood memories and changed the subject. “You know, this is really good packing snow.”

      “So I see. Are you thinking of making a snowman or something?”

      “Or something.” When she smiled his eyes narrowed.

      “You wouldn’t.”

      “Wouldn’t what?” she asked innocently.

      He backed up a couple of steps. “You wouldn’t throw that thing at me.”

      “And if I do?”

      He folded his arms. “You do and you’ll be asking for trouble.”

      “Dawson, Dawson,” Eve said, shaking her head. “What did I tell you about me and challenges?”

      “That you never back—” The snowball hit him in the chest before he could finish. He gaped at her. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

      Eve bent down and scooped up a second handful. “Then this is going to come as a complete shock,” she said, tossing the snow right into his face.

      Her laughter followed the ball’s flight path, but her mirth was short-lived. Dawson didn’t even pause to wipe it off before he launched himself in her direction. She feinted right to avoid him and managed to get a full ten feet up the path before he caught up with her, grabbing her around her waist. Eve skidded on the walk, betrayed by her boots. Both she and Dawson wound up going down. Snow cushioned her fall. Snow and man. Somehow she wound up partway on top of him.

      “Are you okay?” he asked.

      “I think I broke my heel.”

      “Are you in pain?”

      She laughed as she clarified, “The heel of my boot. It got caught on something. What are you doing, anyway? We were supposed to be having a snowball fight.”

      “We still are.” And with that he brought up his snow-filled hand and rubbed it over her cheek. It wasn’t only the cold that had her shivering. Dawson had shifted so that he was now mostly on top of her.

      “You know, when I was a kid I didn’t believe in taking any prisoners. But I’ve decided to make an exception in your case. You’re too pretty to annihilate.”

      “So, I’m your prisoner.”

      “Yes.”

      “Hmm.” She pulled a considering face. “I guess this isn’t so bad.”

      “That’s because the torture hasn’t begun yet.” His gaze was on her lips.

      “Torture?” she repeated in a husky voice she barely recognized as her own. “What kind of torture?”

      “This,” he whispered just before his mouth met hers.

      CHAPTER TEN

      DAWSON could think of a million reasons why he should stop the kiss before it progressed any further. First among them was the fact that he and Eve were outside lying on the snow-covered ground. She apparently didn’t mind. When he started to pull away, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him in place, taking where a moment ago she’d been the one giving.

      Her arms weren’t the only thing wrapped around him. Her legs were, too. One was hooked over his calf, the other angled over his thigh, anchoring him in place. Their bodies fit together perfectly. He could tell that despite the layers of their clothes, and it fueled both his imagination and his desire.

      It had been a long time—a very long time—since he’d lain atop of woman. His body had no trouble remembering the pleasure. Need surged through him with tsunami force, shredding his control until it hung by a thread. Though Dawson knew he was playing with fire, he rocked forward slightly anyway.

      Eve moaned.

      He did it again.

      This time they both moaned, and that last frayed thread of his control snapped. It was only when Eve’s icy hands moved beneath jacket and sweater and came into contact with the bare skin just above the waistband of his jeans that reality came slamming back.

      “This is insane,” he said as he came up for air.

      There didn’t seem to be enough of it, especially when he glanced down at Eve. She was still lying in the snow, dark hair fanning out around her head. In the moonlight her eyes glowed with an arousing mix of awareness and humor.

      “Absolutely insane,” she agreed on a chuckle. “My butt is numb.”

      Parts of Dawson had lost all feeling, too. Unfortunately, his back wasn’t one of them. He discovered this when he levered away from Eve and rolled to one side. Long into the night, and in more ways than one, he would be paying for this spontaneous and very sensual tussle.

      Grimacing as he rose, he reached down to help Eve to her feet.

      “Are you okay?” she asked.

      “I will be.” After a couple or four painkillers. He’d also be calling Wanda for a therapeutic massage first thing in the morning.

      They entered the house through the French doors that led from the patio directly into the kitchen. Dawson always hated entering the house in the evening when his staff had gone home. The place was so quiet and seemed so … lifeless. Eve chased away the gloom by stamping her feet and giving her damp hair a toss.

      “Ingrid has gone home for the night, but I can make some coffee or a cup of tea, if you’d like.”

      “Your housekeeper doesn’t live here?”

      “No.”

      “What about your driver?” she asked.

      “His rooms are over the garage.”

      “And that masseuse I saw the first day?” she asked as she removed her scarf and unzipped her jacket.

      He chuckled ruefully. “At the moment I wish she lived here, but no. I prefer my privacy.”

      “Nothing wrong with privacy,” she agreed. After tucking her scarf into the sleeve of her jacket, she draped it around the back of one chair. “Do you have any hot chocolate?”

      “I … don’t know. Possibly.”

      “I’d prefer that to tea or coffee if you have it. Chocolate in any form trumps all else,” she said.

      “My sister has made the same claim.”

      “Ooh, and little marshmallows. I love those little marshmallows.”

      “I can’t make any promises, СКАЧАТЬ