Page 18 of Mistletoe Mistake
"We've already established that you and I have different ideas about what's considered fun." His dark eyes glinted dangerously and my stomach flipped in response. How did he make me want him so badly with just his tone of voice?
Yet again, I forced myself to keep calm and to keep my eyes on him as I replied. "Well, if all goes well, we'll both be satisfied tonight."
His lips twisted into a smile, one that made me bite my lip in longing. I really couldn't wait to feel those lips on me again, and the idea that it might actually happen had my whole body throbbing in excitement.
"Very well, Gemma. I think we have a deal."
~Cole~
This meeting hadn’t turned out as I expected at all, but I couldn't be more pleased with the direction it had taken. The proposal Gemma made wasn’t my usual arrangement, not by any means, but in the end, I would still get what I wanted: Gemma in my bed by the end of the day, and I couldn't wait.
If I had to endure a little Christmas foolishness before then, it seemed a small enough price to pay. And she had agreed itwouldbe a payment, ensuring that once this evening ended, no further obligation would exist between us on either side, just the way I liked it.
Our business concluded, Gemma and I left her office together and found Jackson and Holly deep in conversation in their office waiting area. Holly was also an attractive woman, and I could see Jackson’s interest in her, so having them along shouldn't be a problem. They would keep each other occupied, and maybe Gemma and I could slip away a little early.
As Gemma explained our plans to attend this carnival this evening, Jackson glanced over at me in surprise and I could practically hear his thoughts. We never spent our time on these types of trips on pointless entertainment, and certainly nothing Christmas-related. However, once he got past his initial incredulity, he grew progressively more enthusiastic as Gemma and Holly explained to him what the evening would involve.
“Do we need to wear anything special?” he asked.
“I am not dressing up,” I quickly informed them all, trying to imagine what else might be involved that I didn't want to do. “Or singing.”
“You have a lot of rules,” Gemma complained good-naturedly, her green eyes sparkling again. All of her earlier nerves had disappeared and she looked confident and cool again while I smirked back at her. She had no idea of the extent of my rules. “But no, there's no fancy dress required. Just wear something warm.”
“To be clear, I am happy to both dress up and sing should the need arise,” Jackson offered, giving them both his most charming smile as I rolled my eyes.
As soon as we were out the door of their building, I silenced Jackson immediately. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Alright, I won't ask about our double date."
"It's not a date," I growled back. "It’s a business meeting. We’re getting to know them better before we enter into the contract."
"Whatever you say," he agreed with a laugh.
I ignored him as we made our way to our next scheduled meeting. Over the rest of the day, the idea of having Gemma and Holly design our new hotel made a significant improvement to my mood, not to mention the prospect of having Gemma in my hotel room later on. More than once, I found my mind drifting from the business at hand to the things I'd like to do to her when we were alone.
When work finally finished, we returned to the hotel to change. Jackson dressed down in jeans and a sweater, but I had only brought suits with me for this trip. Luckily, London wasn’t too cold in December, so I should still be comfortable, especially once I threw on my black cashmere peacoat and my scarf and gloves. Stealing a glance in the mirror as I left the suite, I had to admit I looked more like someone heading to a night at the symphony than to a funfair, but I didn't really care. I didn’t need to impress anyone. The way this night would end had already been determined.
The city’s Christmas lights twinkled above us as we took a taxi to Hyde Park, but I kept my eyes on the road, focused on the evening ahead of me. When we arrived, we found the entrance to the Winter Wonderland with no trouble, and Holly and Gemma were waiting for us there, as promised. I couldn't stop my eyes from devouring Gemma as she turned to greet us. Even in her warm winter gear, she was a sight to behold. A white knit hat made the red of her hair and the green of her eyes stand out even more while her black coat hugged the curves of her waist and hips, and her fake fur-lined boots came far enough up her calf to draw attention to her gorgeous legs in her skinny jeans. She must have changed out of the skirt she’d worn earlier to help keep warm.
Fuck, this evening could not go quickly enough. I couldn't wait to get her back to my room and peel each and every layer from her.
“You are both looking lovely this evening,” Jackson greeted them, giving Gemma a friendly smile and Holly a kiss on the cheek. “So, what are we doing first?”
“First up is mulled wine,” Holly instructed, taking his arm. “That'll keep us warm.”
"Lead the way," he invited.
We joined the queue of people to get in and I couldn't help noticing all the young couples around us, holding on to each other, and an unexpected nostalgia washed over me. I could almost see younger versions of myself and Samantha at a place like this, back when I had cared about having fun with someone.
“What are you thinking?” Gemma's soft voice cut into my thoughts, and I glanced down to find her looking up at me. “Not as bad as you feared?”
Quickly and firmly, I banished all thoughts of the past and moved on to cold calculation. “That remains to be seen. I was just trying to figure out where all these people are staying tonight, which hotels are closest.”
Jackson groaned. “Please, can we go one night without talking about work? Gemma, back me up here?”
“Gladly,” she agreed. “This evening is a work-free zone.”
Before I could protest, we made it to the front of the queue and Holly and Gemma stepped to the side for the security guards to check their bags. Once we were in, temporary pathways stretched out in front of us through the park, leading past fairground rides, food stalls and market stalls.
