Читать книгу Christmas Kisses Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Louise Allen - Страница 20

“YOU LOOKED AMAZING TODAY,” Cecilia told her as she ran a makeup pencil over McKenzie’s brow with the precision of an artist working on a masterpiece.

“Thanks to you and the fabulous work you did getting me ready for the mayor’s float,” McKenzie agreed, trying to hold perfectly still so she didn’t mess up what her friend was doing to her face.

“I have to admit, I had fun. Then again, I had a lot to work with.”

“Yeah, right,” McKenzie snorted. “Let’s just hope you can pull off another miracle for tonight, too.”

“For your work Christmas party?”

“Yes.” She cut her eyes to her friend. “What did you think I meant?”

“You’ve never asked me to help doll you up in the past for a mere work party.”

“This one is different.”

“Because of Lance?”

Because of Lance. Yes, it seemed that most everything this week had been because of Lance. Lots of smiles. Lots of hot kisses. Lots of anticipation and wondering if tonight was the night they’d do more than “mouth-to-mouth.”

“I suppose so. Can’t a girl just want to look her best?”

“Depends on what she’s wanting to look her best for.”

“For my party.”

“And afterward?”

“Well, I’m hoping not to turn into a pumpkin at midnight, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“No pumpkins,” Cecilia promised. “Wrong holiday. But what about that mistletoe this morning?”

“What about it?”

“You’ve gone to dinner every night this week, ridden on a Christmas float with him, and you are going as his date to the Christmas party. That’s big, McKenzie. For you, that’s huge. What changed?”

“Nothing.”

“Something has to have changed. You were saying no to the guy left and right only a week ago.”

“You were the one who said I was crazy for not going out with him.”

“You were crazy for not going out with him. He seems like a great guy. Lots of fun, hot, and crazy about my bestie. I like him.”

“You’ve only been around him twice,” McKenzie reminded.

“During which times he helped save a man’s life and made you laugh and smile more than I’ve seen you do in years.”

There was that.

“I was in character.”

“Yeah right.” Cecilia threw McKenzie’s words back at her. “If I’d been you, I’d have used that mistletoe for more than a kiss on the cheek.”

“I’m sure you would have.”

“But you didn’t need to, did you?”

“I’m not the kind of girl to kiss and tell.” Which was hilarious because Cecilia had been her best friend since before her first kiss and she’d told her about pretty much all her major life events. Plus, she had already told Cecilia that she and Lance had kissed.

Cecilia leaned back, studied McKenzie’s face, then went back to stroking a brush across her cheeks. “Even if you hadn’t already told me that you kissed Lance on the night of the Christmas show, I’d know you had.”

“How would you know that?”

“I can tell. The same as I can tell that, despite our conversation the other day, what you still haven’t done is have sex with him.”

Could Cecilia see inside her head or did her friend just know her that well?

“And how is it you know that?”

Cecilia’s penciled on brow arches. “Am I wrong?”

“No,” she admitted. “I’ve not had sex with him.”

Not that he’d made any real plays to get into her bed. He hadn’t. Which surprised her.

“The tension between you two is unreal.”

“Tension? We weren’t fighting today.”

“Sexual tension, McKenzie. It’s so thick between you two that you could cut it with a knife.”

There was that. Which made his lack of pushing beyond their nightly kisses even more difficult to understand.

“I see you’re not denying it.”

“Would there be any point?”

“None.” Cecilia leaned back again and smiled at what she saw. She held a hand mirror up for McKenzie to see what she’d done. “Perfect.”

McKenzie stared at her reflection. Cecilia had done wonders with her face. McKenzie rarely wore more than just mascara and a shiny lip gloss that she liked the scent of. Cecilia had plucked, brushed, drawn and done her face up to the point where McKenzie barely recognized the glamorous woman staring back at her. “Wow.”

“How much do you want to bet that when Lance sees you he’ll want to forget the party and just stay here and party with you?”

“Not gonna happen.” Not on her part and, based on the past week, not on his part either. But anticipation filled her at the thought of Lance seeing her at her best. “Help me into my dress?”

“Definitely. I want to see what underwear you’re wearing.”

McKenzie’s face caught on fire. Busted. “What?”

“You heard me,” Cecilia brooked no argument. “I’ll know your intentions by your underwear.”

McKenzie sighed and slipped off her robe.

Grinning, Cecilia rubbed her hands together. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

“This doesn’t mean a thing, you know.”

“Of course it doesn’t. That’s why you aren’t wearing granny panties.”

McKenzie stuck her tongue out at her friend. “I never wear granny panties.”

“Yeah, well, you don’t usually wear sexy thongs either, but you are tonight.”

“Works better with the material of my dress. No unsightly panty lines that way.”

Cecilia had the audacity to laugh. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“Fine. I will. Think what you like.”

Cecilia laughed again. “Here, let’s get you into your dress, let me do any necessary last-minute hair fixes, and then I’m out of here before Dr. Wonderful shows up.”

“He’s not that wonderful,” McKenzie countered.

“Sure he’s not. That’s why you’re a nervous wreck and wearing barely-there panties and a matching bra.”

Cecilia laughed and slid McKenzie’s sparkly green dress over her head and tugged it downward.

“A real best friend wouldn’t point out such things,” McKenzie pointed out to the woman who’d been a constant in her life since kindergarten. “You know, it’s not too late to trade you in for a less annoying model.”

Cecilia’s loud laughter said she was real worried.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look?”

“Only about a dozen times.” McKenzie ran her gaze over Lance. He had gone all out and was wearing a black suit that fit so well she wondered if it was tailor-made. He’d washed away all traces of his Christmas parade costume. His hair had a hint of curl, his eyes a twinkle, and his lips a constant smile. “Have I mentioned how handsome you look in your suit?”

“A time or two.” He grinned. “I’m the envy of every man in the building.”

“Hardly.”

“It’s true. You look absolutely stunning.”

“Cecilia gets all the credit. She’s the miracle worker. I sure can’t pull off this…” she gestured to her face and hair “…without her waving her magic wand.”

“Your fairy godmother, huh?”

“That’s what I’ve called her this week.”

“She’s definitely talented,” he agreed. “Then again, she had a lot to work with because on your worst day, you’re beautiful, McKenzie.”

“That does it. No more spiked Christmas punch for you.” She made a play for his glass, but he kept it out of her reach.

“Is the punch really spiked?”

“It must be,” she assured him, “for you to be spouting so many compliments.”

He waggled his brows and took another drink. “I don’t think so.”

The Christmas party was being held in a local hotel’s conference room. There were about two hundred employees in total who worked for the clinic. With those employees and their significant others, the party was going full swing and was full of loud commotion from all directions.

Several of their coworkers had commented on how great they looked tonight, how great they’d looked in the Christmas parade, how excited they were that they were a couple.

Those comments made McKenzie want to squirm in her three-inch heels. All their coworkers now knew without a doubt that they were seeing each other as more than friends.

She’d known this would happen. She’d allowed this to happen.

Several of her female coworkers stared at her with outright envy that she was with Lance. She couldn’t blame them. He was gorgeous, fun, intelligent and charming. He didn’t seem to notice any of their attention, just stayed close to McKenzie’s side and tended to her every need.

Well, almost every need.

Because more and more she’d been thinking of Cecilia’s teasing. Yeah, her green dress fit her like a glove right down to where it flared into a floaty skirt that twirled around her thighs when she moved just right. But she hadn’t had to wear teeny-tiny underwear because of the dress. She’d worn them because…

“That’s the first time I’ve not seen a smile on your face all evening,” Lance whispered close to her ear.

“Sorry,” she apologized, immediately smiling. “I was just thinking.”

Which, of course, led to him asking what she’d been thinking about.

She just smiled a little brighter, grabbed his hand, and tugged him toward the dance floor. “Dance with me?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he teased, leading her out onto the crowded dance floor. “I’ve been itching to have you in my arms all evening.”

“All you had to do was ask.”

“Well, part of me was concerned about the consequences of holding you close.”

“Consequences?” She stared into his eyes, saw the truth there, then widened her eyes. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

“I guess it’s a good thing girls don’t have to worry about such things.”

His eyes remained locked with hers, half teasing, half serious. “Would that be a problem for you, McKenzie?”

A problem?

Her chin lifted. “I’m not frigid, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“It wasn’t, but it’s good to know.” He pulled her close and they swayed back and forth to the beat of the music.

“You smell good,” she told him, trying not to completely bury her face in his neck just to fill her senses totally with the scent of him.

“I was just thinking the same thing about you. What perfume are you wearing?”

“Cecilia sprayed me with some stuff earlier. I honestly don’t know what it’s called, just that she said it was guaranteed to drive you crazy. Of course, she didn’t tell me that until after she’d hit me with a spray.”

He nuzzled against her hair. “She was right.”

“Feeling a little crazy?”

“With your body rubbed up against mine? Oh, yeah.”

She laughed. “I’ll let her know the stuff works.”

“Pretty sure if you had nothing on at all I’d be feeling just as crazy. Actually, if you had nothing on at all, my current level of crazy would be kid’s stuff in comparison.”

She wiggled closer against him. “Well, that makes sense. We’re both just kids at heart.”

“True, that.” His hands rubbed against her low back. “Were you thinking about our coworkers just a few minutes ago?”

She knew when he meant and at that time it hadn’t been thoughts of their coworkers that had robbed her of her smile. No, it had been thoughts of what she was anticipating happening later in the evening. Not that she was sure that’s what would happen, but she’d questioned it enough that she’d shaved, lotioned, powdered, perfumed and dressed in her sexiest underwear.

Because all week Lance had kissed her good-night, deep, thorough passionate kisses that had left her longing for more. She hadn’t invited him in and he hadn’t pushed. Just hot good-night kisses night after night that left her confused and aching.

Mostly, she just didn’t understand why he hadn’t attempted to talk his way into her bed. Or at least into her house. He’d still not made it off the front porch.

He might not push for more tonight either. She was okay with it if he didn’t. It was just that something had felt different between them today on the Christmas float, and afterward when they’d weaved their way from one booth to another. All week she’d felt as if she was building up to something great. From the moment he’d picked her up at her house this evening and had been so obviously pleased with the way she looked and how she’d greeted him—with lots of smiles—the feeling had taken root inside her that tonight held magical possibilities that she wasn’t sure she really wanted in the long run, but in the short term, oh, yeah, she wanted Lance something fierce, thus the itsy-bitsy, barely-there thong.

“Should I be concerned about how quiet you are?” he asked.

“Nope. I’m just enjoying the dance.”

“Any regrets?”

His question caught her off guard and she pulled back enough to where she could see his face. “About?”

“Coming to the party with me.”

“Not yet.”

He chuckled. “You expecting that to change?”

“Depends on your behavior between now and the time we leave.”

“Then I guess I better be on my best, eh?”

“Something like that.”

Not that she could imagine Lance not being on his best behavior at all times. He was always smiling, doing something to help others. Never had she met a man who volunteered more. It was as if his life’s mission was to do as much good as he possibly could in the world. Or at least within their small community.

The music changed to an upbeat number and they danced to a few more songs. The emcee for the evening stopped the music and made several announcements, gave away a few raffle items.

“Now, folks.” The emcee garnered their attention. “I’d like to call Dr. Lance Spencer to the stage.”

Lance glanced at her. “Do you know anything about this?”

McKenzie shook her head. She didn’t have a clue.

Pulling McKenzie along with him, he headed up toward the makeshift stage. She managed to free her hand just before he stepped up onto the stage. No way was he taking her up there with him. Who knew what was about to happen? Maybe he had won a raffle or special door prize or something.

“Dr. Spencer,” the emcee continued, “I’m told you make a mean emcee.”

“I wouldn’t say ‘mean,’” Lance corrected, laughing.

“Well, a little birdie tells me you’ve been known to rock a karaoke machine and requested you sing to kick off our karaoke for the evening.”

Lance glanced at McKenzie, but she shook her head. That little birdie wasn’t her.

Always in the spirit of things, Lance shrugged, and told the emcee the name of a song. As the music started, microphone in hand, he stepped off the stage and took McKenzie’s hand again.

“I need a singing partner.”

Her heart in her nonsinging throat, McKenzie shook her head. He wasn’t doing this. She didn’t want to make a spectacle of them by pulling her hand free of his, but her feet were about to take off at any moment, which meant he was either coming with her, hands clasped and all, or she’d be doing exactly that.

“Come on,” he encouraged. “Don’t be shy. Sing with me, McKenzie. It’ll be fun.”

By this time, the crowd was also really into the spirit of things and urging her onto the stage. She heard a female doctor whose office was right next to hers call out for her to go for it.

McKenzie’s heart sank. She wasn’t going to be able to run away. Not this time. She was surrounded by her coworkers. Her hand was held by Lance.

She was going to have to go onstage and sing. With Lance. Nothing like a little contrast to keep things interesting.

A singer she was not.

She closed her eyes.

What had been a great night had just gone sour. Very, very sour.

She blamed Lance.

Lance realized he’d made a mistake the moment he’d put McKenzie on the spot. Unfortunately, his request wasn’t something she could easily refuse with their coworkers now cheering for her to join him. She could either sing or be seen as a total party pooper—which she wasn’t and he knew she’d resent being labeled as one.

McKenzie’s eyes flashed with fear and he wasn’t sure what all else.

He’d messed up big time.

Faking a smile, she stepped up onto the stage with him. He still held her hand. Her palm was sweaty and her fingers threatened to slip free. He gave her a reassuring squeeze. She didn’t even look at him.

Lance sang and McKenzie came through from time to time, filling the backup role rather than taking a lead with him, as he’d initially hoped. Mostly, she mumbled, except during the chorus. With almost everyone in the crowd singing along, too, maybe no one noticed.

McKenzie noticed, though. The moment the song was over, she gave him the evil eye. “For the record, I don’t sing and if you ever do that to me again, it’ll be the last time.”

“That’s funny,” he teased, planning to keep their conversation light, to beg her forgiveness if he needed to. “I just heard you do exactly that.”

“Only a tone-deaf lunatic would call what I just did singing.”

“I thought you sounded good.”

“You don’t count.”

“Ouch.” He put his hand over his heart as if she’d delivered a fatal blow. “My references say I count.”

She flashed an annoyed look his way. “You’re really going to have to get over those references.”

“Or use them as a shield against the walloping you seem determined to deliver to me.”

“Not everyone enjoys being the center of attention.”

“Tell me the truth. You didn’t have fun onstage just then? Not even a little?” he coaxed.

McKenzie stared at him as if he was crazy. He was crazy.

“I detested being onstage in front of my coworkers.” She frowned as they moved onto the dance floor. Her body remained rigid, rather than relaxing against his like it had during their earlier dances. “For the record, I really don’t like people staring at me. Put it down to bad childhood memories of when my parents thrust me into situations where I got a lot of unwanted attention.”

When he’d gone after her to sing with him, he’d never considered that she might not enjoy being onstage. He’d just selfishly wanted her with him.

“I’m sorry, McKenzie. If I’d known how you felt, I wouldn’t have put you in the spotlight that way. I definitely would never intentionally upset you. It was all in fun, to kick off the night’s karaoke. That’s all.”

“I know you didn’t intentionally pull me up there to upset me,” she admitted. “I just prefer you not to put me in situations where all eyes are on me. I have enough bad childhood flashbacks as it is.”

“What kind of childhood flashbacks?”

“Just situations where my parents would yell and scream at each other regardless of where we were and no matter who was around. Way too often all eyes would be on me while they had a knock-down, drag-out. When people stare at me, it gives me that same feeling of humiliation and mortification.”

“I’m sorry your parents did that to you and that I made those negative feelings come to surface. But, for the record, maybe you’re finally getting past those old hang-ups because you were smiling.” She had been smiling. Mumbling and smiling.

“I was faking it.”

“Ouch.” His hand went to his chest and he pretended to receive another mortal blow. “Not good when a man’s woman has to fake it.”

“Exactly. So you should be careful what situations you put me into where I might have to fake other things,” she warned with a half smile. “I don’t sing. I barely dance. Take note of it.”

He pulled her to him, his hand low on her back, holding her close. “You dance quite nicely when you aren’t in rigor mortis. However, I’ll make a note. No more singing and barely dancing. Got it.”

“Good.”

“Also, for the record, when I put you in a certain situation, there will be no need for faking it.”

Her chin tilted up and she arched a brow in challenge. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ll use every ounce of skill, every ounce of sheer will, every ounce of energy I have to make sure I blow your mind,” he whispered close for her ears only. “My pleasure will be seeing your pleasure. Feeling your pleasure.”

“That sounds…fun. Maybe you should have tried your hand at that instead of pulling me onstage with you.”

He swallowed. Was she saying…?

“I want you, McKenzie. I haven’t pushed because I know you still have a lot of mixed emotions about being with me, but when you’re ready I want to make love to you. I’ve made no pretense about that.”

“Sex. You want to have sex with me,” she corrected, resting her forehead against his chin. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”

Lance’s heart beat like a drum against his rib cage. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

“I’d rather hold yours.”

That had her looking up.

“Kiss me, McKenzie.”

“Here? Now? On the dance floor? Around our coworkers? Are you crazy?”

He glanced around the dim room. The dance floor was crowded with couples, some of them stealing kisses. There were some single women who were dancing in a circle off to one side of the dance floor. One of the admin girls currently had the microphone and was belting out a tune. No one was paying them any attention.

McKenzie’s gaze followed his, no doubt drawing the same conclusions, but she shook her head anyway. “No. I’m not one of those girls who is into public displays of affection.”

“You kissed me in front of Bev’s Beauty Boutique.”

“That was different.”

“How was that different? Other than it being in broad daylight and in the middle of the square with half the town in the near vicinity?”

“I can’t explain how that was different, but it was.” Her lower lip disappeared between her teeth. “Don’t push me on this, please.”

He sighed. “It would probably have been a bad idea for you to kiss me here, anyway.”

“Why is that?”

Did she really not know how much she affected him? How much he was having to fight sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her out of the ballroom and straight to the first private place he could find where he could run his fingers beneath her sparkly green dress?

“I think I’ve already mentioned how much I want you and the effect you have on me.”

“But… Oh.” Her eyes widened as she moved against him.

“Yeah. Oh.”

To his surprise, her body relaxed and he’d swear the noise that came out of her mouth was a giggle. Not that McKenzie seemed the giggling type, but that’s what the sound had most resembled.

Regardless, her arms relaxed around his neck and just to prove how ornery she was and to his total surprise her lips met his in a soft kiss that only lasted a few seconds but took his breath and made his knees weak.

“There,” she taunted. “I kissed you in public.”

“Not sure what made you change your mind, but thank you.” He studied her expression and he’d swear there was a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I think. Because if I didn’t know better I’d think you were trying to set me up for embarrassment.”

There was the sound again. Definitely a giggle. “Would I do that after our conversation, with you pointing out the obvious differences in the way our bodies react?”

A grin tugged at his lips. “Yeah, you would.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Did it work?”

He pulled her close and let her feel for herself that his body was indeed reacting to her, making him uncomfortable in the process. Then again, he’d left her front porch this way every night the past week.

She tilted her face toward him. “I think it did.”

“You think?” He shook his head, then stroked his finger across her cheek.

He held her close until the slow dance ended then they moved to a couple of fast songs. Despite what she’d said, McKenzie could dance. She could definitely sing too if she wouldn’t let her own self-doubt get in the way.

Laughing, McKenzie fell into his arms. “Hey, Lance?”

“Hmm?” he asked, kissing the top of her head just because he could, because it felt right and wonderful.

“I’m ready.”

“Already?” He’d figured they’d be one of the last to leave, not one of the first. Still, if she was done partying, he’d take her home. Then he met her gaze and what she meant glittered brightly in her emerald eyes. “Really?”

She nodded. “Let’s get our coats, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Such good manners,” she praised.

Lance grinned. “Just wait until I show you what else I’m good at.”