ELEVEN

Jon opened his eyes, letting the last of the kiss linger on her cool lips. Her big brown eyes were like the decadent truffles he allowed himself during Christmas. Her hat had fallen to the side in their tumble and a mixture of platinum and honey colored curls sprang around her face. He tugged it free, letting his fingers toy with the ends that framed her face. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured softly.

A blush rose on her cheeks and she looked away. “The cold is affecting your brain,” she said and tried to untangle her legs from his.

Knowing he’d made her uncomfortable he didn’t push the issue. With practiced ease he dug the tooth ended part of his skate into the ice and got himself up. He reached down for both her hands and tugged her to her feet, locking his thighs and knees against the impact of her curvy little body. “There we go,” he said and brushed off the ice shavings that coated her red coat. “Want to try a circuit?”

Looking dubiously at her skates and the ice and the wincing when she felt the wet spot on her backside she shook her head. “I think I’ve done enough damage today, don’t you?”

“Oh, so now you’re taking the blame? ‘Bout time.”

Her eyebrow rose as she took her hat back from him, and tugged it onto her head. “For the klutzy part of me, absolutely. Car accident, um…not so much cell phone boy,” she said and pushed off in a wobbly glide, tugging on her gloves.

He grinned and skated after her, catching her hand in a gloved lock. “Stay with me. I won’t let you fall.”

Her eyes left the ice and met his. “I don’t think we’re talking ice anymore.”

“Stay with me tonight,” he said and rounded to skate in front of her, backwards.

“Show off,” she grumbled as their hands linked.

“You have no idea.”

Bella couldn’t stop her grin. “I don’t sleep with men on the first date. Not even the super charming ones.”

“Then go out with me tomorrow.”

“I have to go Christmas shopping.”

He swallowed back the instant flood of dread with that horrible word, but he wanted her. He hadn’t wanted anything this much in a long time. “I’ll come with you.”

The wide fringe of lashes that framed her chocolate eyes fluttered quickly and he knew he’d made the right choice. Keeping this woman off balance was the only way to get closer to her. “What?”

“I’ll come with you,” he repeated.

“To shop?” she asked stupidly.

“Who do you have to shop for?”

“My parents and younger brother,” she said warily.

“Perfect. Do you have to…” he trailed off. He remembered her saying something about being an author. “I know writing isn’t a nine to five job, but do you have something to work on tomorrow?”

Immeasurably pleased that he remembered she dropped her gaze to his mouth and the shadowed dip of a cleft in his chin then back up to his eyes. She nibbled on her bottom lip, “No…well, I always have something going on in my head, but nothing that has to be taken care of tomorrow. My editor usually lets me off the hook for the last two weeks of the year.”

“Good editor.”

“Only if I get her something really good. Damn, actually I’ll have to add Joanie to the shopping list.”

Jon grinned. “I’m excellent at bribing staff.”

“Why does that not surprise me?”

“Let me show you my New Jersey tomorrow. There are a few places that I can safely shop at without too much outside interference.”

Forgetting that he was a celebrity and not just a regular man, she laughed. “I didn’t even think of that. It must be tough for you to do your shopping.”

He pulled her closer, settling his hand on her hip and the other hand tucked hers into his chest. “Best compliment I’ve had in a long time.” He smiled, looking over his shoulder briefly as they made another round on the ice. “For the most part, I can walk around here without issue, but in the bigger stores it can be a bit of a pain.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” She asked hesitantly. God, did she really want to go shopping with this man? To let him into her world? He was a distraction.

She had her galleys to finish and a new manuscript was just approved for her to work on. It didn’t matter that she technically had a few weeks off. She was always working on some project. She couldn’t afford to let any man into her life right now, especially one that was as overwhelming as Jon.

“Nope, I have some last minute things I can do too.”

Her hand opened wide on his chest and the heat of him felt like it was burning through her glove. She could feel the muscles, firm but not overdeveloped. Her gaze dropped again to his mouth, remembering intimately just how amazing it felt on hers, then down to his chin and the bunched black material that covered his neck. He looked like any other guy on the rink, unless you looked a little deeper and saw the cashmere of his sweater and the fine wool of his coat hinting at the wealth he had. But looking even closer she saw the slight wear of the sweater where his beard scratched and the well loved edges of a scarf that peeked from the neckline.

“You’re quiet all of a sudden,” he said softly. “Should I worry that you’re over-thinking?”

What, was he a mind reader now? “Well it does come with the girl make-up, you know.”

He grinned and her stomach flipped and settled at the crinkles in the corners of his indescribably blue eyes and the crooked line of his jaw. Maybe a fling? That couldn’t hurt her, right?

“I think I’d like to read your writing. If it sounds anything like the way you talk it’s probably very entertaining.”

She wrinkled her nose, “Probably too girlie for you.”

“I’m a sensitive guy.”

She couldn’t stop the laugh. “I just bet you are.”

“Oh and Izzy?”

Sighing against his version of her name, yet somehow it seemed so right that she couldn’t be upset. “Yes, Slick.”His quick laugh made her insides heat.

“We’re skating.”

She looked down at their feet, gliding in perfect synchronicity and then back into his eyes. “Well would you look at that,” she said in a little bit of awe. You’re screwed. Shut up!

“It’s just like dancing. We have a natural rhythm.”

Oh hell, Bella, you’re toast. “Looks like you’re right.” They made a few more turns around the small rink they carved out of the lake. The rest of the lake was covered in snow and the pretty landscape of an untouched area. A few houses dotted the outer rim, but for the most part, this little spot of the world was still undeveloped.

The swapped skates for boots and picked their way back across the property to the parking lot. “I had fun,” she said breaking the comfortable silence.

“I did too, Isabella Jordan.”

“Ahh, so you can say my name.”

“You’re still Izzy to me.”

She let him open the door for her, even let him lean in and steal a light kiss before she climbed inside. And when he got in his side he smiled and leaned in for another, this one a little deeper, a little more familiar. She was learning his taste and found that it could be quickly addicting. Her breathing wasn’t quite even when he finally pulled back. “You are evil.”

He sat back in his seat and started the car. “Maybe just a little.”

She snapped her seat belt and consciously made an effort to steer the conversation toward the mundane things of family and Christmas plans. Anything to stop her from thinking about that mobile, tempting and all together distracting mouth of his. It wouldn’t hurt to go on a few dates, right?

And when she gave him the last of the directions to her small house, he leaned in for another kiss. “Sure you don’t want to let me in?”

He could have sounded sleazy. Like any other guy that wanted a piece of tail, but somehow it only came out charming. And far too tempting. “Want doesn’t have anything to do with it. You and naked are high on the wish list for my Christmas presents.”

He smiled and his blue eyes sparkled. “All right then, don’t want to disappoint,” he reached for his belt.

She stopped his hand with a laugh. “I’m a three dates at least kinda gal before I get naked.”

His eyes swam with heat and hinted at a little something darker when he leaned in. “Does this count as the first date?”

She hummed against his mouth as he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue along hers as he opened her. It was effortless, the way his lips brushed along hers until she was nearly willing to do anything he wanted. The cab of the truck turned into an oven as wool bumped against wool and her sanity slowly leaked out her ears. His hand cupped her jaw, his thumb caressing the line of her throat as he flipped her hat off again.

She groaned as he pulled her in. His other hand finding the loose buttons of her coat and edged under her sweater. Her brain melted like snow under a summer sun as he teased the skin along the top of her leggings. He didn’t go any further, but he may as well have for the reaction her body had.

Jesus, Bella you’ve let yourself go far too long without a man.

And said body was letting her know that the three date rule was far from necessary. Swearing, she tore her mouth from his and put as much distance between Jon and her person that she could manage in a truck. “That better not be an ounce of smug in the smile you’re about to flash at me.”

He bit on his lower lip and savored her taste. “Nope,” he said smugly.

Bella let her head fall back on the headrest for a moment then reached for the handle. “Tomorrow,” she halted trying to form some words and failing miserably. “What time?”

“I’ll be here at nine, we can get some breakfast and then shop until we drop.”

“Right,” she tried to work the handle but her fingers were too stupid to work it. He opened his car door. “Oh no you don’t,” she turned back to him. “You’ll just kiss me stupid again if you come around and let me out.” She finally got the door to open and smiled at him. “There we go, see? Independent woman, hear me roar!”

Jon laughed and shut his again. “See you at nine, Izzy.”

She just nodded and he called out to her before she could close the door. “Hey!”

Her big brown eyes met his warily. “Yes?”

“Do you have plans on Friday night?”

“Umm,” she stared at him blankly. “I don’t think so.”

“Good, that should be third date. I want you to meet some of my friends.”

“Uh,” she blinked and nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“You’ll like it, I promise.”

Her mouth quirked, “That’s a saying for the ages.”

He just waggled his eyebrows. “Night, Izzy.”

She slammed the door and he watched to make sure she got into her house before pulling away. Glancing at his watch he headed toward the highway. Barnes and Noble was still open.