Holiday Hearts

Chapter 5

"What's it like working with your whole family?" They climbed the steps to the house and Shelby could almost feel the warmth radiating from inside. It was as if the house welcomed them back.

"It's nice, most of the time." Noel held the door and ushered her ahead of him. As soon as he'd closed the heavy oak portal, he helped her off with her cloak before doffing his coat. "We all get along and it's cool to know the company has been in family hands for over a hundred years."

There were five Holiday children and each of them played an integral role in the company. Noel's brother Val managed the IT department while his sister Summer handled sales and marketing. Sam was in charge of the new holiday décor product line, while sister Star was the head writer for the greeting card division. Even their mom ran the personnel department. None of them threw their weight around, which helped make Holiday a reasonable place to work.

And getting involved with Noel, even temporarily could ruin that. Shelby tried to keep that thought in her head.

"Do you want something to drink? I think I saw the liquor cabinet earlier." He stepped away from her quickly and she felt a flash of hope that he was trying to avoid temptation.

"Actually, what I'd really like is the rest of my chocolate cake," she said. "And maybe a cup of tea." She moved toward the kitchen where she remembered there being a fire in the old cast-iron stove. She'd bet anything there were tea fixings somewhere.

"Well, now this is weird," she heard him call from the dining room.

Pausing in the hallway, she detoured to see what he was talking about.

Weird didn't begin to cover it.

The table was perfectly clean.

No dirty dishes, no leftovers, nothing. Just a pristine white tablecloth, a fresh centerpiece of holly, ivy and red roses and unlit candles. On the sideboard was a crystal domed cake plate with the leftover cake. On a tray beside it rested a bottle of champagne, a dish of strawberries, two china plates and two crystal glasses.

"Maybe a drink is a good idea," she allowed. "This is too freaking weird to contemplate." She stumbled on her high-heeled boot and would have fallen smack into the cake if Noel hadn't caught her.

One look up into those intense blue eyes and she forgot all about why keeping her distance was a good idea.

He held her waist with both hands, drawing her inexorably toward him.

"Okay, I give up. We could take our snack upstairs and get more comfortable," he suggested huskily. "If we're going to be together for three days, I'm just not going to be able to resist you. Not unless you tell me to get lost."

"That's probably a really bad idea." But oh, it sounded so very good. Her hands weren't paying any attention to her words - they slid up to rest on his broad shoulders.

"Tell me you don't want this," he said. "All you have to do is say no and we'll be back to just working together to get home. No pressure, I promise."

"I'm not going to scream s****l harassment, Noel." She loved the sound of his name. "And I don't want you to get lost. It's just been a long time for me and I guess I'm a little nervous."

She watched his expression go from questioning to certain. He'd made up his mind and Shelby quivered with excitement.

"Maybe I can help with that." He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her.

The kiss started out soft and gentle, coaxing and teasing. As Shelby's hands crept up around his neck to toy with the ends of his black, silky hair, Noel tightened his grip on her waist until she could feel it even through the boning of the corset. That slight pressure sent a zing of sensation straight to her p***y and she knew she was soaking her lacy drawers.

She opened her lips and he was right there, sweeping inside in a show of dominance she could tell he was trying to restrain. She went up on her toes and tipped her head back, silently asking for more.

When they were both gasping for breath, he pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers. "Wow. Upstairs?"

She gave him a shaky nod. "Yeah. That would be good." Her heart was racing like crazy and she could see the pulse in his neck throbbing just as rapidly.

Taking his hand, she let him lead her toward the ornate curved staircase that dominated the foyer.

"Well, I always wondered what it was like to be Rhett Butler." With a wicked grin, Noel swooped her off her feet and into his arms and strode up the staircase.