Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,183

he protest? His face was against Lorelei's cheek. Despite the cold, her soft skin was delectable against his.

Desmond knew he would have to release her from his arms soon, yet he relished the impromptu embrace.

"I must thank you for your quick-witted rescue," she breathed, little puffs of air accompanying her words.

"I owed you nothing less after your quick-witted rescue of me last night."

She chuckled, slowly extracting herself, though it seemed her expression was wistful when she turned to look at him. "It is not at all the same. I selfishly wanted to kiss you beneath the mistletoe."

"I would kiss you now, the lack of mistletoe be damned, if we were not standing in the middle of the village, with everyone's gaze pinned on us."

Her eyes sparkled with mischief once more. "You may kiss my hand without causing a scandal."

He lifted her gloved hand to his lips, lingering over the kiss, nearly forgetting they were not alone. She kept her eyes locked with his, daring him to be as bold as he could with the socially acceptable contact. He could feel the excitement racing through his veins.

Somehow he finally ended the kiss, giving her hand a light squeeze. "Lorelei the temptress. I shall always want to cause a scandal with you."

She shivered as she removed her hand, dropping it to her side.

"Auntie, are you cold?"

She managed a bright smile for her nephew. "Yes, dearest, just a bit." Her heated cheeks belied the words. "We should return home. Goodbye, Lord Hartstone. Mr. Mayfield."

"Do not forget the musicale," Martin said.

"I am looking forward to it," she said. She took Caroline and Henry's hands in hers and headed down the street. She turned to glance once more at Desmond.

He tipped his hat in acknowledgment. He hoped she could read the promise in his eyes. He was looking forward to every moment the future brought to them.

The smile she bestowed seemed to say she felt the very same way.

Lorelei sat on the chair next to her sister's bed. Beatrice was propped up against the pillows, eating a hearty soup Lorelei had prepared for her. The children scampered around the room, impatient to start making paper chains to decorate their house.

"So much for my efforts to reduce some of that excess energy they possess. I was certain the excursion into the village would have that effect."

"It is not your fault. Their supply is endless." Beatrice smiled. "I often wonder if it feeds upon our belief that we can deplete it."

Lorelei grinned. "I am more determined than ever to be the victor in this battle."

Beatrice finished the soup, handing the empty bowl to Lorelei. The children took that as their cue to jump on their mother's bed. They snuggled close to her, ignoring her warnings about catching her cold. "Did you enjoy going to the village today?"

"Yes!" Caroline nodded her head fiercely. "That man was handsome."

Henry's forehead wrinkled with confusion. "Which one? There were two men."

"The one that kept smiling at Auntie," the little girl answered with a giggle.

"Oh, yes," her brother said. "He smiled at her a lot. Especially when he caught her and held on to her."

Beatrice gave her a questioning look, accompanied with a big smile. "Seems like Auntie Lorelei has some interesting tales to tell me."

"There might be one or two." She lowered her voice. "Though I will save the best ones for when it is naptime."

"I am tempted to send them off right now."

"Shh," Lorelei said with a laugh, "you will inspire a mutiny if you do."

Fortunately the children were too impatient to sit still for long and jumped down from the bed, intent on finding another form of entertainment in the next room.

"I want to hear more of this mystery man that has you smiling secretively when you think nobody can see it."

Lorelei instantly removed the smile from her face. "I have no idea what you mean."

At her sister's knowing glance, they both broke into laughter. "You managed to escape my questions last evening—"

"Because you were sleeping!"

"And then you scurried off this morning with the children before I could learn any details about last night's event."

Lorelei narrowed her eyes in a mock glare. "It almost seems as though you do not appreciate my compassion for your illness. I did not wish to tax your strength."

"You are taxing my patience by avoiding my interrogation."

"Perhaps I am," Lorelei admitted with a grin. "I was not entirely sure after last evening that I would pursue anything with Desmond."

"Why not? Were his kisses so terrible?"

"His