Colliding With You Page 14

  Then again, so would coming on Jesse’s cock.

  Jesse closed the door behind him as he carried in the rest of the bags. It didn’t take long to unpack the groceries or any of the other things he’d bought. He hadn’t meant to buy so much, but once he made up his mind, there was nothing to stop him.

  He would make sure Cori’s Christmas was everything she wanted it to be.

  Not one day had gone by when he hadn’t reminded himself that it was his big mouth that caused her argument with her father. She may have forgiven him for the slip, but he hadn’t. No matter how long it took him, he would make it up to her. Hopefully, today would help.

  Eyeing the bag with the take-out food, he thought he was off to a good start. It was one of her family traditions he could mark off the list he’d memorized. There was more to come, but for now, he needed to make sure she ate. She had to be starving.

  How had the quick trip into town he’d planned turned into five hours? Had the traffic not been terrible, he would have made it in four. Still, he was gone longer than what he told her he would be.

  Had Cori used her free time wisely and did as he asked? He hoped so. Sleep deprivation caused a lot of physical and emotional changes in a person. It took him a few months to figure that out when he and Theo were performing in New Orleans. Once he got in a couple nights of solid sleep, he always bounced back. Cori would too. He had no doubts.

  After he disposed of the grocery sacks, he made his way through the cabin, approaching the staircase with haste. He’d been looking forward to seeing her ever since he left. Whenever they were apart, she consumed his thoughts.

  As he paused on the bottom step, the weight of what was happening hit him. He was getting in too deep. Not one time could he recall reacting to a woman the way he was reacting to Cori. He couldn’t think of one he’d ever rushed to see or any that stayed on his mind for longer than a day.

  His behavior was getting careless. There was no guarantee she wanted anything to do with him further than a working relationship. Yeah, they were friends, but they could be more. He wanted to be the one consuming her mind, her body, and her heart.

  Would she be willing to give it to him? That was the million-dollar question and the same one that had him throwing on the brakes. He had to slow things down. He made a promise and keeping it was important. A man was only as good as his word.

  Before he continued up the staircase, something caught his attention in the den. The Christmas tree was partially blocked from his sight, but he saw enough to know the lights were on. He heard wood crackling too. Cori must have started a fire.

  Poor girl. She wasn’t used to the cooler temperatures. Savannah never grew too frigid this time of year, but the weather in Tennessee was harsher. As mild as it had been when they left, her body didn’t have time to adjust.

  Advancing down the hall, he stepped into the den, searching for the beautiful face he’d missed seeing over the last few hours. He spotted Cori on the sectional, not far from the fireplace. She was curled on her side, nestled in the corner, and to his surprise, asleep.

  He trailed his eyes over her body, noting the blanket covering her from the waist down. One of her calves was partially exposed, revealing her skin. It seemed to glisten in the light from the fire. Her legs were perfectly toned, and the definition was easy to see, even when she was resting. Guess there wasn’t a single part of her body that didn’t turn him on. She was a goddess, pure and simple.

  His hand itched to touch her, to slide his fingers over her skin and savor its silkiness. The longer he stared, the harder it became to control the urge. He wanted to lose control with her, make her his for a night, and rock her fucking world. She needed it rocked.

  No. Cori didn’t need pressure from him. If she decided she wanted him, all she had to do was say the word. Until then, he’d let her relax and unwind from a stressful week. She had a mess of feelings to sort out, and not just the ones concerning him, if they even existed.

  They had to exist. He hadn’t missed the way her body stopped trembling when he stood behind her earlier. She didn’t flinch when he swiped the hair away from her face, but those big eyes said plenty. They were penetrating, the kind that could see the human soul and know the truth without asking.

  Cori knew he wanted her. He did nothing to hide it. Even though he’d struggled to maintain control and keep his promise, she wasn’t objecting to his little displays of affection.

  As much as he wanted to rush this, he wouldn’t. His best choice was to go back into the kitchen and put away the food. He didn’t want to eat without Cori.

  He’d rather be eating her . . .

  Fucking hell. He had to stop thinking like this. If not, he would fuck everything up and cause Cori to quit. Then what would he do? Stalk her like Maggie had him?

  It couldn’t get to that point. Cori was three times the woman Maggie tried to be. He knew that from the moment they reconnected. It just took spending time with her for him to remember why he’d always liked her.

  Cori was sugar and spice, a hell of a lot of nice, and everything he could want in a woman.

  Forcing himself to look away, he retreated out of the room, taking cautious steps so he wouldn’t wake her. Maybe he should bypass the kitchen and head straight outside. The brisk wind would help him get his head on straight.

  Creaking resonated through the den. He tensed his muscles and froze in place. A few more steps and he would be clear of the room. Hopefully, the noise didn’t wake her.

  Just as he peered around to look, Cori began stirring. The urge to scurry out of the room overcame him, but he didn’t move. He took a bigger risk of waking her if he did, and—

  “You’re back.”

  Too late.

  “Hey. Sorry for waking you. I was trying to be quiet.”

  She pushed herself into a sitting position as she yawned. “It’s okay.” She searched for the clock on the wall. “I’ve been asleep for a little while.”

  He walked back into the den and neared the edge of the couch. “Why were you sleeping on the sofa? Is your bed not comfortable?”

  “Oh, it’s super comfy, but I wasn’t sleepy after my bath. I decided to come in here, start a fire, and do a little reading. The last thing I remember was my eyes getting heavy.”

  “I’m glad you got some much-needed sleep.”

  “Me too. You were right. I feel better.”

  It was music to his ears. She was cheerful, and the spark in her eyes had returned. He hated that anything ever dulled it in the first place.

  As she stood from the couch, she folded the blanket and laid it on the cushion. “Are you just returning from town, or have you been here awhile?”

  “I just got back. Sorry I was gone so long. It’s a little crazy at the stores, and traffic is horrendous.”

  He motioned for Cori to follow him into the kitchen. “Are you hungry?”

  “A little.”

  “Good.” He found the take-out bag and lifted the trays of food from inside. “Is Chinese okay?”

  Her eyes lit up. “Are you serious? Of course it is.”

  “Glad to hear it. I figured we could eat first then gather some more wood for the fire. Did you know they’re calling for snow tonight?”

  “Snow?” Her mouth gaped. “That would be amazing. We rarely see much of it, especially on Christmas.”

  It wasn’t like Savannah never saw snow. It fell in the area on occasion. But to experience it during Christmas . . . That was a special treat.

  He hoped like hell the forecast was true.

  As Cori went about making her plate of food, he grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and set one in front of her. “After we finish with the firewood, I thought you might want to make some of these.”

  When she glanced at him, he grabbed his phone from his pocket and pulled up the text of a recipe he’d asked his mother to send him. “This is my great-grandmother’s sugar cookie recipe. They’ll melt in your mouth.”

  “You want t
o make cookies?” She blinked a few times as he nodded. “Jesse, I can’t believe—”

  “Hang on.” He turned to get a few more things from the cabinet then set them on the counter. “I got some marshmallow lover’s cocoa, some extra marshmallows, eggnog, a DVD full of classic Christmas movies, and to top it off,” he grabbed one last item, “I figured we’d hang these by the fireplace before we go to sleep.”

  Her eyes widened at the sight of the red and white stockings. “Jesse . . .”

  It wasn’t just the tears he saw forming that pinched his heart. It was the way her voice cracked with emotion. Guess all the time he spent running from store to store trying to find everything to make her evening special paid off.

  “It’s perfect.” Without so much as a clue, she launched herself toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Jesse.”

  He was paralyzed. It took a moment to realize Cori was pressed against his body, hugging him. Once he did, he slid his arms around her. Damn, she felt good.

  “I want you to enjoy Christmas, Cori, even if you’re spending it with me.”

  She eased away. “No one has ever gone out of their way for me the way you have. It means more to me than I can say. I’m glad you’re the one with me, Jesse.”

  He lowered his gaze to her mouth. God, he wanted to kiss her, but her words left a gripping sensation in his chest. She had no idea what he would do for her. Hell, he didn’t realize it until recently. Whether something happened between them was irrelevant. He would always be there for Cori, would always have her back.

  Chapter 14

  Classic Christmas music blared through the cabin as Cori cleaned the mess she and Jesse created in the kitchen when they made cookies. She stacked the dishwasher with everything they’d used while he put away the ingredients. All that was left was to wipe down the counter on the island.

  As she turned toward it, she noticed Jesse pouring two shots of brandy. He’d set their glasses of eggnog close by and sprinkled them perfectly with nutmeg. Guess he’d been listening earlier when he asked about her family traditions. Jesse hadn’t just listened to her. He took it to heart and did what he could to give her those same memories.

  This year, they included him and only him.

  He had no clue that he was the reason she couldn’t go to sleep while he was gone. Many things had happened within the last twenty-four hours. Hell, the previous week had been intense. The party had been the climactic moment. It was the moment everything changed and he spoke words that were unbelievable.

  She could still hear the sound of his voice when he admitted to liking her in high school.

  Had he been honest? His actions said yes. Everything he’d done for her since the day he hired her proved as much. Part of her worried it was all a game. Was he doing this in hopes that she’d sleep with him?

  The thought had crossed her mind. Shit. It had been on her mind since Cassie and Theo’s wedding. It’s why she laid down rules before accepting his job offer. She thought it would deter her from pursuing him as well. It didn’t work. She wanted him more now then she did weeks ago.

  Wiping down the counter on the island, she looked away when he turned toward her. Hopefully, he hadn’t caught her gawking. She couldn’t resist. He was an attention grabber—a six-foot, tatted and toned, make your panties wet, all-consuming vortex, and she was caught in his path.

  “Here you go.” He set one of the shots in front of her. When she looked up, he shook his glass at her. “We’ve completed a few of your family traditions. Now let’s put a spin on one. A shot of brandy in your eggnog, and a sidecar of brandy for holiday joy.” When he raised his shot glass and brought it closer, she did the same. “To new Christmas traditions.”

  “To new traditions with old friends.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” He winked at her as their glasses clinked together. A second later, the amber-colored liquor disappeared from his glass. Hers did the same, and the instant it slid down her throat, her face tingled with warmth.

  Once she set the glass on the counter, Jesse picked it up and slid her eggnog toward her. She took a sip as he rinsed out the glasses. The creamy liquid teased her tongue. It mixed with the rich liquor that caused her body to heat. Damn, it felt good to drink.

  As she placed her cup back on the counter, she reached for the dishcloth to finish cleaning the island, but Jesse beat her to it. “I’ve got this. Would you mind taking the stockings into the den?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Don’t forget your eggnog.”

  Gripping the cup in her hand, she found the stockings on the counter then moseyed toward the den. The fire crackled as the flames danced toward the chimney. She noticed the hooks that Jesse had placed atop the mantle. In a few hours, they would hang the stockings, even though she didn’t expect anything to be in them come morning. He bought them so she could carry out another tradition.

  After she placed the stockings on the mantle, she gazed at the fire, feeling the effects of the brandy. It coupled with the heat, warming her from head to toe. If this is where he planned to watch the movie, she’d be out in no time.

  Glancing toward the double doors that led to another deck, she took in the dark blue sky. The moon caused a hazy glow and provided enough light to see some of the treetops in the distance.

  She approached the door slowly as memories poured through her mind. When she still believed in Santa, she used to sit by the window and watch the sky for any signs of his sleigh and reindeer. Many of those memories included the moon, as well as billions of stars.

  For the first time in a really long time, she was gazing up at those stars with wonder. She didn’t expect to see the jolly man in a red suit or the tons of presents she’d asked him to bring. This wonder came from the beauty of possibility. The year would be over soon, as would the struggles she’d faced along the way.

  It wasn’t the best year on record, but at least she hadn’t utterly failed at life. Next year meant a new beginning and new opportunities. She would graduate, finish her dance apprenticeship, and hopefully make plans to open her own studio.

  As much as she anticipated those moments, they brought with them a stark reality. Come spring, she would be working on her career. That meant the job and all the time she was spending with Jesse would disappear.

  He wouldn’t be picking her up for work, waiting at her door with coffee and a sexy smile. She wouldn’t be keeping his schedule or accompanying him to his meetings, interviews, or parties. There would be no more taking her back to her dorm room or whisking her away on little surprise vacations to help her clear her mind.

  What was happening with Jesse would end. It was inevitable, and still, the idea caused an ache to spread throughout her body.

  “See any sign of Santa?”

  She spun in time to see Jesse advance her way. His gait was average, but he concentrated on her with every step he made. Not one part of her seemed to go unnoticed.

  “There’s no sign of Santa, just a sky full of stars.”

  His cologne rushed through her nose once he reached the doors. He faced the glass and stared into the distance. “See that glow near the horizon? That’s the lights from town. When I was younger, I thought it was a portal to space, and the stars were shooting out of it and into the sky.”

  Focusing on the horizon, she understood why he would think such things as a child. The stars were so bright that they seemed to explode from the lights.

  “That’s pretty creative for a kid. I can understand why you thought it though. The scenery is beautiful.”

  “Yeah, it is.”

  She caught him staring at her. It only lasted a second longer, then he faced the glass again. “I see some clouds coming in from the west. Perhaps we’ll get that snow after all.”

  “I wouldn’t mind,” she confessed. “Imagine waking in the morning and seeing snow everywhere.”

  “Good thing they’re only calling for six inches. I’ve seen a couple feet of snow at this cabin.
It was years ago, but it’s possible.”

  “I still wouldn’t mind.”

  He faced her once more. “Even if it meant being stuck here for a few days with me?”

  Her body warmed. She didn’t miss the way he took in every inch of her. He stopped at her lips, studying them a moment before looking into her eyes.

  She wasn’t sure she could speak. It took a moment for any thought to form. “I, uh . . . I don’t think it would be as horrible as it may sound. There is plenty to eat, we’ve stockpiled enough wood, and we don’t have anywhere to be for a few days. Besides, I kinda like hanging out with you.”

  “I like hanging with you too, Cori.” A few moments passed before he spoke again. “To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the holidays. I knew my sister had other plans, and she’s the thread that holds together our family functions. There wasn’t much to excite me this year. Then all this stuff happened with your family, and you agreed to come to the cabin with me . . .”

  He turned toward the door once more and grew quiet. Cori wasn’t sure if he would finish what he was saying. It sounded as if there was more, but he continued to take in the scenery.

  “I guess what I’m trying to say is that coming here with you and doing these traditions has brought back the thrill of the holiday. I have something to look forward to again.”

  “The same goes for me.” She lost her train of thought when he glanced at her. His eyes revealed what his words could not—his sincerity. It pulled at her heart. “I think a lot of people forget about the spirit of Christmas. It isn’t supposed to be about the presents, the decorations, or the extravagant parties. It’s about being with people you care about and celebrating the fact that they’re in your life.”

  His lips crooked. “You’re a wise old soul, Cori Clarke. I don’t think people give you enough credit for being as smart or as thoughtful as you are.”

  “I think you’re underappreciated too, Jesse. People see you as some sex symbol that’s out for a good time and nothing more. They don’t see a guy who’s intelligent, caring, fun, and down-to-earth. They definitely don’t see the guy with an enormous heart.”