She sighed. “It would never work. The town closes down at nine at night—when Hollywood is just waking up. The highlight of the season? The Christmas party at school. Santa comes, the kids have a blast, and the whole town shows up. Do you remember how bored you were? If you don’t, I do.”
“I don’t care about any of that anymore.”
“You say that now, but wait until you have to drive thirty minutes for a Starbucks. Or twenty to the closest bar. You wouldn’t be happy here.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re continuing to tell me how I feel—yet not listening to a word I say about the subject. I’m not the same kid you knew. I’d be happy because I’d be with you. Can’t you believe me?”
Could she dare to take a leap of faith? Could she not? Her heart sped up as she thought about what they could have together. What they could be to each other. There was no denying he was right about her feelings for him. They’d never died, and now that she’d spent a night in his arms, they never would. If anything, they’d get stronger. It would be much stronger than a desire, but a need. Even now, she longed to close her arms around him and make love to him again. And again. And again.
If she said yes, she could have that, and so much more. If she said yes, she’d have his heart and his love. She’d have Mark Delaney.
“Yes,” she whispered, unable to make her voice louder. She cleared her throat, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed there, and tried again, this time in a louder, surer voice. “Yes.”
“Thank God,” he said, his eyes shining. “If you’d said no, I might have made a fool out of myself crying in your lap, begging you to change your mind.”
She choked on a laugh. “No crying necessary.”
He tugged her close and melded his mouth to hers, his tongue touching hers as soon as she parted her lips. She pulled him closer, laying back on the mattress and bringing him with her, needing to feel his weight on her. Needing to feel him. He tore his mouth free and smoothed her hair off her face. Looking deep into her eyes, he asked, “What are you doing tomorrow? Got any plans?”
Didn’t he know she had different plans for those lips than mere words? Disappointed he stopped kissing her to talk, she blinked up at him. “Uh, no?”
She watched his mouth form the words, but had a hard time focusing on the actual words themselves. She shook her head, forcing herself to pay attention. He smiled down at her. “… And you do now. You’re flying to California with me.”
Huh? “I c-can’t fly to California. I have to watch Tinkerbell.”
“I’m sure I can get Eve to do it. Come to my premiere with me.” He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “We’ll buy you an amazing dress.” He kissed the other corner of her mouth. “And killer shoes.”
This time he pressed a long, hard kiss to her lips, his fingers trailing down her side, and getting close to her br**sts. By the time he pulled away, she forgot what he was asking for in the first place.
“And we’ll tell the whole world I’m taken by the most amazingly gorgeous, kind, caring, generous woman in the world. I’ll tell everyone I am in love, and couldn’t be happier,” he vowed. “I’ll even jump on a couch to let everyone know how happy you make me.”
She choked on a strangled laugh. “Oh, God, please no.”
“Fine. No couch jumping.” He brushed his lips against hers, teasingly soft. “But only if you say you’ll come. Will you come?”
She cupped his cheeks, unable to believe that any of this was happening. All of her dreams, coming true right before her eyes. Tears blurred her vision but she blinked them away impatiently. She wanted to see him far too badly to allow anything to obscure her sight. “Yes.”
“Good.” He moved to kiss her again, but she put her fingers over his lips. “Did you really have a lot of one night stands, or did you make that part up?”
He raised a brow. “Define a lot.”
“Mark,” she said, her tone holding just enough threat to make him tell her the truth. “Tell me.”
He turned a little bit pink. “I might have exaggerated a little bit to make you want nothing to do with me. I haven’t sworn off sex or anything, but it wasn’t a different woman every night like I insinuated. So, I guess I did lie to you tonight.”
“That’s one lie I can live with.” She grinned up at him. “And you’re right.”
He raised a brow. “About?”
She took a deep breath and met his eyes. “Me and my feelings. I do love you. It sounds crazy after being apart for so long, but I loved you back then—and I love you now.”
His eyes watered, and he kissed her forehead. “Okay, I was wrong before. I thought I couldn’t be happier a minute ago, but then you said you loved me. Now? Now I couldn’t be happier.”
She blinked back tears. “Then come here, and let’s see how much happier I can make you. I have a few ideas on how I could—”
When his lips closed over hers, cutting her off, she clung to him. She couldn’t believe her lonely Christmas turned into the best day of her life. Couldn’t believe the snowstorm had not only brought her the white Christmas she always loved to see, but it had also brought her an unexpected present, too.
Mark was officially her best Christmas gift ever.