Kiss Me Katie! & Hug Me Holly! by Jill Shalvis Page B

but I can’t live with it. I hope you can accept that.”
    Like hell. “You don’t know me very well yet,” he said mildly.
    â€œI meant what I said. I understand you, but I don’t have any no intention of taking that understanding any further.”
    â€œBecause of your past.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’m sorry, but that’s just absurd.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œBut what? All pilots are crazy, wild thrill seekers? No. Some of us value our lives greatly, no matter what you think. Some of us plan to be around for another hundred years.”
    â€œA hundred?”
    He had the sudden and ludicrous picture of himself at 130 years old trying to make love to Katie.
    Oh, yeah, no doubt, he could do it. He let out a little laugh and she glared at him.
    â€œWhat?” she demanded.
    He grinned.
    â€œYou’re thinking of something dirty,” she accused. “I know it.”
    â€œIt was that old-age thing you just laid on me. I was wondering if you’ll still want me when we’re really ancient.”
    â€œI don’t want you now!”
    â€œOh, sweetheart, don’t tell a lie I can disprove with one touch of my mouth to yours. You know you want me, don’t you?”
    She glared at him as if he were no better than pond scum, which pretty much gave him his answer.

10
    I T WAS THE DAY before Christmas and not a creature was stirring.
    Except Katie.
    She was more than stirring, she was frantic. Somehow she’d fallen woefully behind in all her paperwork, not to mention year end preparations.
    Somehow.
    She knew exactly how. She’d wasted the past few weeks making an idiot of herself on a regular basis. Then yesterday she’d spent most of the afternoon in the air.
    In the air.
    It gave her a secret thrill even now. It worried her, how she’d acted. One smile from Bryan and she’d followed him wherever he’d wanted to go.
    So much for being the grown-up, mature one.
    The airport was hopping with travelers. The staff watched the clock, and for some reason they all looked so darn merry it drove Katie crazy.
    â€œYou may not have heard,” Julie said halfwaythrough the morning, “but we’re about to have one of those happy holidays. Lots of hugs and kissing and making jolly. It’s called Christmas. You might have heard of it?”
    â€œFunny.”
    Julie studied her for a moment. “You need another Christmas party,” she decided. “More mistletoe.”
    When Katie’s head whipped up, Julie’s eyes were sparkling with amusement. “You could have told me you kissed Santa. I had to hear it through the grapevine. Was it yummy?”
    â€œWho told you?”
    â€œHolly. She said—”
    â€œDon’t tell me.”
    â€œâ€”that you jumped Santa.”
    â€œOh, my God.”
    â€œDid you really try to kiss him again? Is that how Matt got a concussion?”
    Katie closed her eyes and groaned.
    â€œCool!” Julie grinned. “You’re a goddess among us office women, you know. We’re all trying to figure out what we’ll use at the Valentine’s Day party to kiss whoever we want.”
    Katie sighed and bore the moment. But as soon as she was alone again, she picked up the phone and dialed her mother. “Hey, Mom. Yes, I’ll bethere tomorrow night for ham, wouldn’t miss it. Oh, and, um, Mom? Why didn’t you ever marry again?”
    Her mother was silent for a full ten seconds. “Well that’s a loaded question.”
    â€œI know, I’m sorry,” Katie said quickly. “I don’t mean to pry, I know Daddy really destroyed your heart—”
    â€œDamn right he did. No one should die that early.”
    â€œI meant because he was never there for you.”
    â€œWhat on earth ever gave you that idea?”
    â€œWell—” Katie let out a little laugh “—he was always flying.”
    â€œBecause that