Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée by Sara Orwig

disturbed,” he whispered, trailing kisses to her nape and hearing her intake of breath. He placed his hand against her throat and could feel her racing pulse, which gave him a stab of satisfaction.
    He straightened, dropping his hands to his sides. “You agreed to Christmas Eve with me and Christmas morning.”
    â€œI know,” she whispered, her reluctance obvious.
    â€œI promise to see to it you have a good time.”
    â€œYou can’t possibly promise that,” she said without conviction in her voice. He couldn’t keep from smiling at her.
    â€œIt’ll be a Christmas to remember forever,” he said.
    â€œWatch what you promise,” she warned, the frost returning to her gaze. “Now you go back and sit where you were unless you’re leaving.”
    He gripped her hand. “Come here.” Circling the desk, he held a chair facing his. “Sit here and stop keeping the damned desk between us. I want to talk to you before I go.”
    â€œHave you always spent Christmas Eve and morning with your father?” she asked as she sat, her question surprising him.
    Pulling his chair closer to hers, Nick shook his head. “No. There were a lot of holidays when he would go off to Europe with my current stepmother. I stayed with a friend,” he answered without thinking about his reply. His thoughts were on Grace because her disheveled appearance made him think of hot sex. Her hair tumbled around her face, cascadingacross her shoulders, a thick, wild mane that was a sensual invitation.
    Her lips were just-been-kissed red. Desire glowed in the depths of her gaze, making it difficult to think about their conversation when what he wanted to do was draw her back into his embrace and continue kissing her.
    â€œYou never had to stay at the boarding school?”
    â€œNo. When I was young, I think Dad arranged with a friend’s family to get me invited, probably showering them with presents for taking me in. When I was older, I had friends who would invite me because they knew I wasn’t going home.”
    â€œThat’s dreadful, Nick,” she said, staring at him as if he had sprouted two heads. “I’m amazed you spend your Christmases with him now if he abandoned you that much on holidays in your childhood.”
    Nick shrugged. “I didn’t until these last two years when his health failed. And now he’s lost Bart. I guess I love the old man and I feel sorry for him. He’s having a tough time. I don’t have anything to gain by going off and leaving him alone for Christmas. That would be selfish on my part. What he did is his own worry. What I do is mine.”
    â€œThat’s good of you,” she said in a strange voice, studying him intently. He wondered whether he had won her over slightly with his reply and hoped that was the reason behind the sharp stare.
    â€œChristmas Eve with us will be better than staying alone with a baby who’ll sleep a good deal of the time. Also, Dad would like to have a professional photographer out to get some Christmas photos with Michael.”
    She had to laugh. “Nick, a professional photographer? As I told your dad, it’s fine with me—as long as I get a picture, too. That will be wonderful and something I could never afford.”
    â€œSee?” he said. “Dad’s money can do things you like,” he reminded her lightly and she wrinkled her nose at him. “How about I pick you up around five o’clock on Christmas Eve?”
    â€œMake it half past five, please. I have a lot of party-planning to do, and I won’t have Clara to help with Michael.”
    â€œHalf past five it is. Excellent,” he said, wishing the weekend started tonight and he could be with Grace. “I’m looking forward to this holiday, something I definitely was not doing until a minute ago.”
    The pink deepened in her cheeks. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she