Magic at Midnight
Jeannette scowled at her friends mingling in the festive living room. Lori with her new husband Damien, and their daughter Jessica, had everyone's attention. The little girl was simply too cute for words. The couple looked as proud as two people could be. Two more of Jeannette's colleagues, twins Caleb and Connor Jackson, coo-ed and baby-talked to the newborn. The pair looked impossibly funny, big as they were, obviously wrapped around the little girl's finger.
Li and Nikki Zhu stood near the bar. The couple watched the byplay with obvious interest and amusement. The exotic-looking man had his arm around Nikki’s waist. All of them looked happier than anyone had a right to be. It was exactly what Christmas was all about.
And it was damned depressing.
Oh, she was happy for her friends. Their men loved them to pieces. Without reservation. Hell, Lori'd had another man’s child! Damien still wooed her, won her trust, and guarded her like a prized treasure. It was also obvious he couldn’t love baby Jessica more had she been his own flesh and blood daughter. They were all good men for her girlfriends. Jeannette wanted that for herself. She had promised herself a long time ago that she would never settle for “good enough.” She wanted the fairy tale. She wanted a man who sent her heart pounding with a mere look. She wanted to be inspired to go with him to the movie wearing her favorite knee-length leather coat...and nothing else. She wanted a man who possessed her and loved her as fiercely as she loved him. So far, nothing had even come close. While watching her friends made her painfully aware she’d be spending another New Year’s Eve alone, it also gave her hope. The four men were living proof that good, decent men still existed in the world.
Leaning against the doorframe, Jeannette was so absorbed in the shared camaraderie, she was unaware of a man’s presence behind her…until his arm snaked around her waist, his body pressed tight against her back.
“Don’t look so sad, cher .” The deep, rumbling Cajun accent wrapped around her middle like warm honey. Just like the man himself. Jacques Benoit was not the man she’d had in mind. While she could imagine all the kinky sex she could handle—and Lord, she wanted to participate in that with him—he was too much of a ladies man. He was nothing more than a walking, talking heartbreak-waiting-to-happen. Why in the world she’d come to this party— his party, in his domain was beyond her. She should have stayed at home where it was safe. Then again, what fun would that have been?
“I’m not sad. I was just thinking how wonderful it would be to have,” she gestured toward the group, “that.”
She’d known Jacques for years. They’d gone to college together, shared an apartment with three other people during med school, and pulled more all-night study sessions than she cared to think about.
“Hmmm...” Jacques rested his chin on her shoulder, apparently mulling over her comments. “I can see where that would be very pleasant indeed.” His warm breath fanned her ear, creating havoc with her insides. Heat pooled low in her belly and her skin erupted in chill bumps. This was decidedly uncomfortable. And naughty.
Instead of joining his colleagues in the festivities, Jacques seemed to be content to stay where he was, which only made Jeannette squirm more. “Don’t you have someplace else to be?”
He nuzzled her neck, seeming to mull over the question. “Mmmm...not that I can think of.”
“It’s almost midnight.” Was that her sounding so breathless? She absolutely could not show weakness in front of Jacques. If he smelled blood in the water, she was a goner. He’d take her, seduce her, and, well... take her . And she’d never be the same while he’d simply put another notch on his bedpost.
“Sure is.” He adjusted his hold on her, nestling into the curve of her much smaller body.
Jeannette tried to wiggle away but
Jeannette scowled at her friends mingling in the festive living room. Lori with her new husband Damien, and their daughter Jessica, had everyone's attention. The little girl was simply too cute for words. The couple looked as proud as two people could be. Two more of Jeannette's colleagues, twins Caleb and Connor Jackson, coo-ed and baby-talked to the newborn. The pair looked impossibly funny, big as they were, obviously wrapped around the little girl's finger.
Li and Nikki Zhu stood near the bar. The couple watched the byplay with obvious interest and amusement. The exotic-looking man had his arm around Nikki’s waist. All of them looked happier than anyone had a right to be. It was exactly what Christmas was all about.
And it was damned depressing.
Oh, she was happy for her friends. Their men loved them to pieces. Without reservation. Hell, Lori'd had another man’s child! Damien still wooed her, won her trust, and guarded her like a prized treasure. It was also obvious he couldn’t love baby Jessica more had she been his own flesh and blood daughter. They were all good men for her girlfriends. Jeannette wanted that for herself. She had promised herself a long time ago that she would never settle for “good enough.” She wanted the fairy tale. She wanted a man who sent her heart pounding with a mere look. She wanted to be inspired to go with him to the movie wearing her favorite knee-length leather coat...and nothing else. She wanted a man who possessed her and loved her as fiercely as she loved him. So far, nothing had even come close. While watching her friends made her painfully aware she’d be spending another New Year’s Eve alone, it also gave her hope. The four men were living proof that good, decent men still existed in the world.
Leaning against the doorframe, Jeannette was so absorbed in the shared camaraderie, she was unaware of a man’s presence behind her…until his arm snaked around her waist, his body pressed tight against her back.
“Don’t look so sad, cher .” The deep, rumbling Cajun accent wrapped around her middle like warm honey. Just like the man himself. Jacques Benoit was not the man she’d had in mind. While she could imagine all the kinky sex she could handle—and Lord, she wanted to participate in that with him—he was too much of a ladies man. He was nothing more than a walking, talking heartbreak-waiting-to-happen. Why in the world she’d come to this party— his party, in his domain was beyond her. She should have stayed at home where it was safe. Then again, what fun would that have been?
“I’m not sad. I was just thinking how wonderful it would be to have,” she gestured toward the group, “that.”
She’d known Jacques for years. They’d gone to college together, shared an apartment with three other people during med school, and pulled more all-night study sessions than she cared to think about.
“Hmmm...” Jacques rested his chin on her shoulder, apparently mulling over her comments. “I can see where that would be very pleasant indeed.” His warm breath fanned her ear, creating havoc with her insides. Heat pooled low in her belly and her skin erupted in chill bumps. This was decidedly uncomfortable. And naughty.
Instead of joining his colleagues in the festivities, Jacques seemed to be content to stay where he was, which only made Jeannette squirm more. “Don’t you have someplace else to be?”
He nuzzled her neck, seeming to mull over the question. “Mmmm...not that I can think of.”
“It’s almost midnight.” Was that her sounding so breathless? She absolutely could not show weakness in front of Jacques. If he smelled blood in the water, she was a goner. He’d take her, seduce her, and, well... take her . And she’d never be the same while he’d simply put another notch on his bedpost.
“Sure is.” He adjusted his hold on her, nestling into the curve of her much smaller body.
Jeannette tried to wiggle away but
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