Page 27 of Christmas Wish
“So am I,” she whispered.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll pull away,” he gritted, his gaze dark, mesmerizing, dangerous.
“Playing it safe is overrated,” she replied.
A low growl escaped from his throat as he closed the gap between them and lowered his head. Her lids fluttered closed as she parted her lips, the anticipation quivering through her.
Then his mouth covered hers and it was like a million watts of electricity sparking between them. Savannah wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with a ferocity she didn’t know she possessed. It was a hot, fast, wild tangle of mouths. Her hands twisted in his hair, drawing him closer, needing more of that fierceness … that passion. Goosebumps skittered over her and desire burned like fire in her veins. Images swarmed in her mind of them coming together, his wicked mouth scorching a trail down her body while his fingers pushed the right buttons inside her.
The kiss grew deeper, more frantic, as their lips fused together in raw hunger. Heat rippled off him as he ground against her, and she moaned at the intensity of that feeling.
Then he broke away and stepped back, her body immediately aching to be back in his arms. Disappointment rushed through her as she stared at him.
Savannah saw the muscles in Ryder’s jaw pulse as he scrubbed the side of his face. “That shouldn’t have happened.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We—”
“I gotta do some stuff.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he sauntered out of the kitchen.
Savannah watched his retreating back, telling herself she was glad, and even relieved, that he pulled away. Yet, a long buried part of her wanted him to come back and kiss her again—to crush her against him as his strong arms held her tight, taking them further. She picked up the mug of cool tea and dumped it down the sink.It’s just as well he stopped. Taking anything further with him would be a huge mistake. I can’t get involved with Ryder.The man had a dark edge to him that scared and excited her at the same time. At this point in her life, the last thing she needed was a complication, and Ryder had “complication” stamped all over him. Even if he was sexier than sin and could kiss like no other man she’d ever met, she couldn’t risk her heart—it already had too many cracks that still needed healing.
With Ryder’s kiss still burning hot on her lips, Savannah filled up the teapot again and put it back on the burner. The last thing she wanted to do was obsess about what had happened and all the feelings twisting inside her, so she walked over to the pantry and rummaged through it. She found a box of lasagna noodles and several cans of San Marzano crushed tomatoes. Cooking had always been her refuge when stress threatened to shut her down. During her marriage, she’d become a gourmet cook, especially since Timmy’s birth because that’s the way she’d dealt with the slow disintegration of her marriage.
Making a hearty Italian dinner would occupy her mind for the next few hours, and that’s exactly what she needed. She bent down and pulled out several pans and focused on creating the best meal ever.
* * *
“Damn, woman, yourlasagna trumped my mom’s,” Ryder said as he cleared off the dishes. “Do you have some Italian blood running through your veins?”
Savannah laughed, happy that Ryder had finally spoken to her. Dinner was awkward between them, but she focused on Timmy while Ryder’s penetrating gaze during the meal ensured that she wouldn’t forget he was there.
“I worked for a few years at a family-owned Italian restaurant in Cambridge. Luisa sort of took me under her wing. Her daughter had gotten married and moved to Oregon, and it killed both Luisa and her husband, Carlo, so I became their surrogate daughter. They were wonderful people, and I felt privileged that she shared her family’s recipes with me. So you’re Italian?”
“Yeah—on both sides. Last name’s Rossi. Why’d you quit waitressing?”
“I got married.”
“To Daddy,” Timmy chimed in, and she smiled and ruffled his hair.
“That’s right, sweetie.”
Timmy turned back around and watched the Christmas cartoon, and Savannah followed suit. As she stared at the screen, she was acutely aware of Ryder’s eyes on her. She pivoted her head slightly in his direction and caught him gazing at her chest. He quickly looked back to the TV and stretched out his good leg.
Savannah licked her lips and tried to concentrate on the show Timmy was watching. For the life of her, she had no idea what was going on and stared blankly at a slew of elves scurrying back and forth across the screen. She sneaked a peek at Ryder to make sure he wasn’t looking then lowered her gaze to the big bulge pressing against his jeans. Blood rushed to her head in fear of getting caught, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Then his hand dropped casually down on his thigh and she froze, knowing full well that when she looked up she’d meet his brown orbs.I can’t believe I let him catch me looking at his groin.Her tongue ran across her bottom lip as she debated what to do.
“If you don’t stop looking at my dick while licking your lips, there’s gonna be trouble, woman,” he said in a low voice.
Savannah snapped her eyes up and Ryder’s gaze traveled over her body briefly before landing on her face. They stared at each other for a long while, the sexual tension crackling between them at a frantic pace. Then Ryder stood up and turned away quickly, muttering something about having to take Brutus outside. The poor dog was stretched out on the floor next to Timmy, and Ryder had to whistle at least three times before Brutus scrambled to his feet.
When he came back about ten minutes later, Brutus padded over to the same spot on the floor and laid down, and Ryder made his way to his bedroom. Savannah figured that’d be the last she’d see of him that night, and a part of her—albeit a very small part—was sorry they’d kissed earlier that day. Things were just becoming comfortable between them, and they had to ruin it by kissing. From his actions alone, Ryder had made it clear that it had been a big mistake, andthatreally stung.
After watching two hours of cartoons, two cups of hot chocolate, and several Christmas cookies, Savannah bent down and kissed her son’s cheek. “Sleep well,” she whispered as he yawned.
She closed the light and left the door ajar then went into her room and slipped between the sheets. In less than a second, she’d fallen into a deep sleep.
“No! No! Fuck!”
Savannah bolted up in bed—she was disoriented. It took her a few seconds to work out that she was not in the trailer but in the cabin because of the snowstorm.Timmy!She jumped out of bed and rushed into his room. The hallway light spilled over his bed in a rectangle, and she went over and saw his arm hugging his favorite stuffed tiger. She pulled the blanket over his shoulder and smiled.I must’ve been dreaming.
