Holiday Spice by Abbie Duncan Read Free Book Online Page A

carry the bags inside, Brad stashed the perishables away in the refrigerator and set about making coffee and slicing the pound cake. While they waited for the coffee to brew, Brad started a fire in the den and told her to make herself at home.
    Jenna found that she loved simply watching him move. His body had always been fit but he seemed to be even hotter now than when they were in high school. And there was something else too… like he was waiting on her every need! That was just too much for her to comprehend.
    As they sat enjoying their coffee and pound cake before the fire, they caught up on what each other had been doing since college. Jenna had gone to work for a publishing company as an editor just after graduation but recently, she had decided to go freelance. It gave her more freedom and she had enough contacts and clients now that she didn’t need the drudgery of an office job.
    Brad was also his own boss. He had worked for an architecture firm for a while until he felt that he wanted to be more creative in his designs. Now he worked for himself and had a partner. The two of them each worked out of their homes most days, unless they had a job that required some special travel.  They both loved the flexibility of their mobile lives.  It’s why Brad was able to be here housesitting for his parents.
    Finally, the conversation died down and the two of them went quiet, just watching the flames in the fireplace dancing around. Brad cleared his throat and looked at Jenna.
    “You know, I’ve missed you so much, Jenna. I’m still not completely sure what happened between us but I never stopped thinking about you.”
    “R-R-Really?” she stuttered.
    The tension in the air was thicker than the slice of pound cake they had just shared.
    “Yes.  In fact, I think that’s why Karen and I never got married… I just wasn’t in love with her.”
    They both breathed heavily, captivated in the moment.  Unsure what would happen next.
    “It’s always been you,” Brad exhaled.
    Jenna didn’t quite know what to say at first. Her heart was pounding so loudly that she was pretty sure he could hear it.
    “Brad, I’ve missed you, too. But you remember why we broke up. You cheated on me with Karen. I mean, I’ve moved past that, but please don’t deny the reason that we aren’t together.”
    “Wait a minute,” he said. “What are you talking about? I never cheated on you with Karen. Never.”
    “I came over to your house the morning that I was supposed to leave for college. I wanted to say goodbye one more time. Your parents weren’t here and Karen answered the door wearing a towel. She said that you were in the shower but she would tell you that I stopped by.”
    “No, no, no!” he exclaimed. “That never happened! I mean, she and I never did anything together! She did show up while I was taking a shower but I only talked to her through the door. When I got out, she was gone! Oh my god, Jenna! Is that why you wouldn’t talk to me again?”
    Jenna was stunned. Could he be telling her the truth? She searched his face for any trace of deception and could find none.
    Jenna looked away.  Dazed.    Angry.
    Oh that bitch Karen! How could I have been so stupid? I knew she was capable of doing almost anything to get Brad!
    Slowly, she turned to him as tears began to fill eyes. She was going to apologize to Brad but never got the chance. Instead, their mouths suddenly met.  Hungry for all the time they had spent apart.
    As their tongues tangled together, their hands began feverishly exploring familiar territory, finding that some welcome changes in their journey.
    Brad wasted no time in hitting all of Jenna’s hot spots such as her neck and earlobes. As he teased those areas with his mouth and tongue, he slid his hands underneath her sweater. His hands on her bare skin felt like fire branding her. Oh god, she had missed so much! Now, she couldn’t seem to get enough of him.
    His thumbs slipped under her bra and