Kissing Under The Mistletoe: The Sullivans (Contemporary Romance) by Bella Andre Read Free Book Online Page A

perfect focus on his work, on making his
long-held dream come true, it was right now.
    But thoughts of Mary had remained front and
center since the moment he’d set eyes on her.
    Placing his hand gently on her lower back, he
guided her away from his partners. She looked incredibly beautiful
this morning in a long-sleeved navy wrap dress and high-heeled
boots. There was a slim gold chain around her neck and another on
her wrist. Her dark, glossy hair moved over her shoulders like
silk, and her complexion was so perfect he honestly couldn’t tell
if she was wearing any makeup. She was both naturally sensual and,
at the same time, approachable and down-to-earth.
    He wanted to tell her that he’d thought about
her all night long, but he knew he needed to respect her request to
keep business and pleasure separate.
    “Do you have any questions for me about
what’s going to happen in the boardroom?”
    “I don’t think so. From what you explained to
me last night, and the documents you couriered over early this
morning, I think I have a good understanding of the selling points
for the Pocket Planner.”
    When they’d first met yesterday in Union
Square, she’d smiled so easily at him. Now, her eyes were guarded.
Jack silently cursed himself for putting those shadows there. She
must still believe he wanted her more for business than he wanted
her as a woman.
    She was wrong.
    “You don’t have to do this, Mary.”
    She blinked at him, confused. “I don’t
understand. I thought you needed me to help you.”
    “You’re perfect for the job,” he agreed, “and
we do need your help, but if it’s a choice between selling a
million Pocket Planners this Christmas and getting the chance to be
with you…?” Maybe it was out of line to reach up and stroke her
cheek with the back of his hand, but he’d never been this drawn to
a woman and he honestly didn’t know how to stop himself. “I’ll
figure out some other way to get this product off the ground.”
    When she put her hand over his where it
rested against the incredibly soft skin of her cheek, he could have
sworn his heart actually expanded inside his chest.
    “I’ve never done anything I didn’t choose to
do, Jack. Not when I was nineteen, and certainly not now at
thirty-two. If I didn’t want to be here with you, Howie and Larry,
I wouldn’t be. You’ve worked hard to create something great and you
deserve this chance at the big time.” Slowly, she lowered his hand
from her face and slipped her fingers from his. “I’m just asking
you to be patient so that we can see the business through
first.”
    He had so many questions for her. What had
happened in her past? Who had hurt her to make her so cautious, so
wary of his motives? But before he had the right to ask for
answers, he knew he needed her to trust him. Which meant he needed
to be completely straightforward with her at all times, no matter
what.
    “I’m sure you have your reasons for wanting
things to be that way, and I’m also sure they must be good ones,
but I have to be honest with you, Mary.” He was blown away by her
beauty all over again as she waited for him to explain himself.
“I’ve never been a patient man.”
    “You worked for ten years on your invention,”
she said softly. “I’d say that shows more patience than most people
will ever have.”
    “It’s one thing to wait ten years for chips
and wires and motherboards to fire correctly. But I knew ten
seconds after we first met that I wanted to kiss you, Angel.”
    Mary’s skin flushed, and her full lips opened
on a soft gasp at his impulsive declaration just as the
receptionist walked into the entryway and indicated it was time for
them to head inside to the boardroom. The young woman’s eyes
widened when she saw Mary.
    “Oh my gosh, you’re Mary Ferrer! You’re even
more beautiful in person.” The girl grabbed a notepad and pen from
a nearby table. “Could you sign this for me?”
    Mary’s cheeks remained flushed from