Page 15 of Enduring Christmas

"You did. Now hand over the note, Sweets."

CHAPTER FIVE

Xenobiaextracted the note. How would Luke react when he saw her answer?

She waited as he took his time unfolding the leaflets one by one until the rectangle sheet of paper separating her from what she thought she wanted and the man she felt a burning need to touch.

He bent his head, his long lashes sweeping up and down as he read the note.

"Maybe was not an option. Again, who taught you to fling?"

"True, but it's a woman's prerogative to create a path where there was none."

"We have a dilemma."

She gave him a grin, "I don't."

"How do we get from maybe to hell yes?"

"That's for you to figure out."

"Well, I've never been a man to waste time." He scooped her up in his arms.

"Hey," she protested, circling his neck to steady herself. "Why do you keep picking me up?"

"I like having you in my arms. You're a handful."

Okay, so what's a girl supposed to say to that? Not only did he love his little girl and tolerate her highly allergic pet, but also, he was romantic? Be still her fluttering heart.

"You should put me and my child-bearing hips down." A term her mother and aunts had thrown around frequently. Rook never mentioned her size or her figure. It was one of the reasons she had been attracted to him. He really saw her, or so she thought. Maybe, he'd never found her sexually appealing. How could her when he kept other women, plural.

"As your boyfriend, I disagree."

"You're really going to milk this boyfriend thing, aren't you?"

"Like a cow udder."