Just Home for the Holidays - Deborah Cooke Page 0,19

our discussion of kisses. It was a lot more interesting.”

“If not pecks on the cheek, or kisses you’d give your sister, what then?” Of course, Chloe knew the answer. She’d had one of those kisses the day before and it felt like a thousand years ago. She was surprisingly willing to let rule number one bite the dust ASAP.

“Long slow kisses, the kind that melt your knees and show no signs of stopping.” Hunter closed his eyes, apparently rapturous, and tugged her closer. It was only reasonable for Chloe to put her hands on his shoulders.

Then hang on.

“In public?” she asked, her voice a little more breathless than usual.

“Anywhere. Anytime. People aren’t shocked, you know. They love any sign of true love, especially over the holidays.”

“But it isn’t.”

“They don’t know that. And we’re making it plausible, aren’t we?” He touched the tip of his nose to hers. It was cold but his eyes were sparkling.

“You’re trouble.”

“I try.” He lifted a brow. “I could dip you.”

“You wouldn’t.” Chloe protested before she realized Hunter would take it as a dare. She found herself spun around, dipped low, and being kissed thoroughly before she could blink. Her hat fell in the snow and her hair swept around her face.

But then there was that kiss. Hunter’s mouth was warm and firm, and he tasted faintly of peppermint. Her heart stopped, then she closed her eyes. God, he was a good kisser. She just hung on and enjoyed. Mandy was probably looking but Chloe couldn’t have cared less. This kiss was an education in itself. What if she kissed him back? On impulse, she wound her arms around Hunter’s neck and did just that.

She felt Hunter’s surprise for a teeny tiny moment, then he deepened his kiss, spinning her back to her feet and backing her against a light standard. Chloe didn’t care. She kept her eyes closed and enjoyed.

“I like how you say hello,” he whispered when he lifted his lips from hers.

Chloe laughed. “I hope I don’t know anyone here, besides Mandy.”

“Does it matter that much what strangers think?”

“No. You’re right.” She grabbed the ends of his scarf and pulled him closer for a quick kiss, liking how his eyes widened in surprise. “So, rules one, four and five have already been crossed out.”

“Early progress,” he said with a nod. “But don’t assume I’ll take the rest in order.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Oh, I dream of it all,” he assured her, then laughed as her cheeks burned. He looked down at the bag she was carrying, eyes bright. “Buy anything for me?”

“You hate Christmas. Why would I buy anything for you?”

“An excellent point, although women have tried to reform me before.”

“I don’t think you can be reformed.”

“It’s like you can read my secret heart.” He clutched a fist to his chest and she smiled at him. “I’m going to be putty in your hands.”

Chloe was laughing as he turned to lead her back into the throng.

“And here I thought the Christmas market might be a diabolical plan to warm me to the season’s delights,” he said.

“I’d arranged to come to it before you put yourself on my schedule,” Chloe reminded him.

“True, but I’d expect you to pounce on opportunity.”

“Don’t you have any presents to buy? For that sister and niece?”

“I could. It would astound them. Usually I just call on Christmas Day.”

Chloe heard something in Hunter’s tone that warned her she was getting close to a secret. She put her hand in his, intending to coax a little more from him, but found Mandy and the girls in their path, watching them with obvious curiosity.

“This my sister, Mandy, and her daughters, Daphne and Alexandra,” Chloe said, because there wasn’t much choice. “This is Hunter.”

Hunter shook hands with Mandy, who gave him a good survey.

“I take ballet,” Daphne supplied and did a little twirl. Her hair was brushed into a topknot with a tiara clip wrapped around it.

“I don’t,” Alex said. “It’s stupid.”

Daphne gave her sister a poisonous look, but Hunter squatted down and avoided a war. He pointed at Le Carrousel Magique, a reproduction merry go ’round that was a fixture in the park. “You should pick your horse early,” he advised in an undertone. “So you can head straight for it when it’s time for your ride. You don’t want to get stuck with the cart.” He made a face and Alex giggled.

“The cart is lame,” she said and he nodded agreement.

He really had a touch with females of all ages.

Mandy meanwhile