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Yeah, damn it.
Sylvia laughed. We could go sledding.
Now? He opened her door for her.
No, silly, she said and bumped his chest with her shoulder.
After it snows.
He took the bag of food containers from her, set them on the
backseat, and pulled her into his arms. That means the date wasn t a
bust, and you want to see me again?
She nodded.
He kissed her, letting his tongue seek hers, taste her. She d
reapplied her lipstick when she went to the restroom before they left. She
tasted of cherries, raspberries and strong coffee. It was a million times
more satisfying that their dessert had been, and he was loath to let her go,
but they were in a parking lot, and her nose was ice cold when it bumped
his. He pulled his head back but kept her wrapped in his arms.
You ready to go home? he asked.
She shook her head. No.
He kept his smile of pleasure to himself. No? But wouldn t you get
in good with the brothers if you returned two hours before your curfew?
She narrowed her eyes at him, which made him laugh.
Okay, okay. It s too late to catch a movie unless we drive even
farther from Everland. We can t go back to your place Well, we could if
you want to.
She shook her head. No. I don t want to go there.
My dad installed a huge flat screen television the year before he
died. We could go back to my place, make some popcorn, and pretend
we re in a movie theater.
She grinned and nodded. That sounds fun.
Okay. My place it is. He shut the door after she sat down, and
then rounded the hood to the driver s side, wondering how in the hell he
was ever going to keep his hands to himself with her in a house that held
his bedroom his bed.
Chapter Five
Sylvia was giddy, and she couldn t decide if it was because Richard
was taking her home, or from the two espressos she d had after dinner.
She wanted to blame the coffee, but she didn t think lying to herself was a
good idea. As Everland came into view when they crested the final hill,
her tummy fluttered as if it d been invaded by butterflies.
She d spent all day yesterday and most of today wondering how
the evening would end. If they d find things to talk about during dinner.
If Richard really liked her. When he d said he wanted nothing more than
to make love to her, it had taken all her control not to jump in his lap right
then.
And now he was taking her to his house.
They drove through town, down Main Street, quiet and quaint at
this time of night, and she glanced at the vacant ice cream shop as they
passed it. That was her dream, right there. When Dairy Queen moved into
Newmarket a little over a year ago, The Pint Pantry had lost too much
business to stay open. Their homemade ice cream and gelato had been too
expensive to produce for them to compete with DQ prices. But the little
shop would be perfect for her café. She d eyed that building almost daily
since Pint closed.
What? Richard asked.
She looked at him. Hm?
You sighed. Are you tired?
Oh, no. Sorry. Downtown Everland is just so pretty at night,
especially at Christmastime with all the colored lights.
Yes, it is. He grinned at her then turned onto the highway that
led past the big Princeton estate, his uncle s home. It wasn t long until
they pulled up in front of the smaller Princeton estate. The building was a
hundred years old, made of red brick, with thick white columns
supporting a deep balcony. It was similar in style on the outside to the
other Princeton mansion, but on a smaller scale. Soft lights glowed from a
few windows inside, and yard lights that looked like old-fashioned gas
lamps lit the snow-covered lawn and cobblestone driveway.
We ll just park out here instead of the garage, Richard stated.
You can leave your food in the backseat if you want. It ll freeze in no
time.
Sylvia laughed and got out.
You need to stop doing that, he said as he came around the hood
of the car.
What?
Getting out before I can open the door for you.
She laughed. Sorry. If I waited in a car for my brothers to open the
door for me, I d be there all night.
But I m not one of your brothers. Richard kissed her quickly too
quickly and took her hand to lead her up the wide stairs to the front
door. He used a key on his keychain to unlock the massive door, and then
held out his hand for her to enter.
It was exactly as she remembered from years past. Christmas
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