A Savannah Christmas Wish

“Daniel.” She backed up but didn’t move fast enough.

The world spun, and he threw her over his shoulder.

Her breath whooshed out. “Hey!”

“You’re going home.” He crouched and swept up her shoes.

“Put me down.” She wiggled and squirmed. When he didn’t stop walking, she pounded his back.

“Cut it out.”

Her stomach gurgled. “I don’t want to be sick.”

He swore again, but stopped. Sliding her body over his shoulder, he cradled her against his chest. “When will you think before you act?”

“When you learn to lighten up.” There wasn’t any heat behind her words.

He stared down at her. “I’m an adult.”

She smiled. “The water felt wonderful.”

He sighed. His shoes made squishing sounds as he carried her.

“I’m sorry you got wet.”

He grunted.

She looked at his chin. It was such a nice chin. And his lips were full and firm. He probably kissed even better than he had ten years ago. She touched his dimple. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you doing, Fitzgerald?” His voice was deeper than normal.

“Apologizing.” She sighed.

He lifted her higher and his hand pressed against her breast. “Sorry.”

“S’okay.” She kicked her feet. Had a guy ever carried her anywhere? She burrowed in closer. “Am I too heavy?”

He grunted again.

She leaned her head back to look at the Spanish moss in the trees. “I think Savannah wouldn’t be Savannah without the moss. And the flowers.”

“Savannah wouldn’t be Savannah without the architecture.”

“Spoken like a man who builds things.”

He juggled her body and opened the door. As he climbed the stairs, his breath came out in pants. He set her down in front of her door. “You had to pick the third floor.”

She waited for him to open the door. And waited.

“Key?” he asked.

She blinked. “My keys are at Abby’s.”

Daniel banged his head against the door.

“Don’t.” She grabbed his shoulders. She’d touched him more tonight than she had in the last ten years.

“Wait.” He dug his keys out of his pocket.

“You label your keys.” She stared at his key ring. Who did that? “With a label maker.”

“Be glad. This way I don’t have to search.”

He unlocked her door and pushed it open.

“My hero.” She fluttered her eyelashes. Since he’d carried her like Rhett Butler, she could give him a little Scarlett.

“Yeah, yeah. Get in there.” He pulled her inside and the door clicked behind her.

“No, really.” She took his hands, serious now. “Thank you for seeing me home.”

There was something hypnotic about his brown eyes. It was the gold flecks she only saw when she stood so close they shared the same air.

He slid his hands up to her shoulders. “Not a problem.”

She couldn’t rip her gaze away. When he stared at her mouth, her tongue touched her upper lip. A shiver raced through her body.

“Daniel?”

He stepped closer—or she did. The gold in his eyes darkened and disappeared.

She stood on her aching toes and kissed him.

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_f4775fa0-d718-540b-84e7-c27cb9b2b790)

After women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world.

Christian Dior

DANIEL KISSED BESS BACK. She tasted of champagne and cake. He wanted to get closer—much, much closer.

He spun and backed her against the door. She hopped up and wrapped her long slim legs around his waist.

“Yes.” She fused their mouths together.

Her lemony perfume enticed him to do things he shouldn’t. Kissing Bess was irresponsible, but he couldn’t stop. Pins clinked on the floor as he freed her hair. He buried his fingers in her coppery curls and meshed their mouths together, sucking at her sweet tongue. Her firm breasts were magnets for his hands and mouth, but her bra thwarted him.

“Pull me away from the door,” she begged.