The Christmas Catch by Ginny Baird Read Free Book Online Page B

Nine

 
    As they sat by the fire enjoying their wine, John noted a CD
on an end table. He picked it up with pleased surprise. “ A James Taylor Christmas . Hey, is this yours?”
    “In my mind I’m going to
Carolina,” she said with a smile that made him want to drop everything and go
there with her. John liked James Taylor, but probably hadn’t listened to his
music in years.
    “Mind if I put it on?” he asked.
    “Sure. The stereo’s right over there,” she said, pointing to
a cabinet near the bar.
    “What’s Christmas Eve without music?”
    “You’re right,” she agreed. “We should have thought of it
sooner.”
    John inserted the CD and a sappy yet sexy rendition of Baby It’s Cold Outside began to play.
“An oldie but goodie,” he said.
    “With a new twist.”
    Rich dark waves spilled to her shoulders as her cheeks took
on a gentle glow. She was gorgeous in that pretty white sweater and jeans, her
deep brown eyes sparkling in the soft light. Outside the windows, snow fell
lightly, gently streaking the darkness. It was John’s best Christmas Eve in
recent memory. Maybe ever.
    “You look really nice tonight,” he said, his voice growing
raspy. “Beautiful.”
    “Thanks,” she said, her eyes locked on his. “I was just
thinking that you look great too.”
    John sensed inside that he shouldn’t do it, but an even
louder inner voice said he’d be a fool to stop himself. Here he was, alone with
a gorgeous woman on Christmas Eve, and John could think of only one thing he
wanted—to close the distance between them. He’d been longing to hold her
all week, and now he had the perfect excuse. He approached her and set down his
wine. “Care to dance?”
    John held out his hand and she took it, letting him guide
her off the sofa and into his arms. She was so warm and feminine against him, the
light scent of her wildflower perfume in the air. Firelight cast shadows on the
wall as they gently swayed to the music. John pulled her close and she sighed
softly, while his heart beat like big kettledrum. He had the feeling he was
falling, sinking into depths he’d never known. As long as she went there with
him, he didn’t care if they ever came back.
    At last, the CD ended and she looked up. There was a longing
in her eyes, deeply beautiful. John led her to the threshold separating the
great room from the kitchen. His voice was husky with desire as he spoke below
the mistletoe.
    “It’s not such a silly tradition.”
    “No…” she said, tilting up her chin.
    John brought his mouth to hers and kissed her sweetly at
first, and then with the all-consuming passion he’d restrained these past
several days. He wrapped her in his embrace and she moaned, molding into him.
That was all the encouragement he needed to cradle her head in his hands and
deepen his kisses, his hands eager to explore her body. She was all woman, and
she was all his. He ached to carry her to the sofa and drive home that point,
making her cry out with pleasure and delight.
    “Mommy!” a small voice called.
    Tyler bounded down the steps, Mason barking loudly and
following after him.
    John and Christine broke their embrace as John hitched his
belt and Christine quickly straightened her sweater. Tyler sensed their
interaction and halted his descent. “Oh,” he said, absorbing the scene.
    “Ty!” Christine said, flushed. “What are you doing up?”
    “I heard something outside.”
    “It was probably just the wind,” Christine told him.
    “No,” Ty protested. “I think it was Santa and his reindeer!”
    John and Christine exchanged glances.
    “We’d better go and check,” he said.

 
    Christine and John leaned out the bedroom window, spying
nothing but a craggy old tree scraping the shutter.
    “It was just an old oak, little fellow,” John said
reassuring Tyler. “I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm.” Christine’s heart warmed
at how natural it seemed for John to interact with her boy. He really was very
good with