beautiful face as he toyed with one of her nipples. Her blonde hair was spread out across her pillow, her eyelashes dark crescents against her ivory skin. “I have to go to Spain. I can’t postpone it any longer.”
Alyson opened her eyes and looked up at Greg, her smile fading. “You’re leaving then?”
“Yes.” He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, his gaze still focused on her eyes. “Will you come with me?”
She blinked, an expression of wonder crossing her face. “To your villa in Spain?”
Greg reached beside him, where he’d set the Christmas stockings he had investigated earlier, while Alyson had been asleep. He handed her the one with the embroidered A and smiled as she gave him a questioning look.
He didn’t say a word, just waited as she slid her hand inside the velvet stocking. Alyson’s green eyes were wide as she withdrew an airline ticket.
Her eyes grew even wider when she read the ticket and said aloud, “It’s a ticket to Spain…and it has my name and tomorrow’s date.” She looked at him, her features stunned with amazement. “How did you manage this?”
“I didn’t.” Greg withdrew his own ticket from his stocking labeled with a G and handed it to Alyson. “These were in the stockings. They’ve been empty up until today.”
“Do you think perhaps Santa planned this?” She waved her hand, as if to encompass the entire suite. “For you…and me…”
Her voice trailed off as Greg caught her chin in his hand and brought his lips to hers. “All I know is,” he murmured, “I got all I wanted for Christmas when I got you.”
She smiled. “Funny, I was going to say the same thing.
He slid his fingers from her chin into her hair and wrapped a lock around his finger. “Since Santa’s planning has been great so far, I say we take the tickets and see what the future holds.”
“I agree.” Alyson snuggled up closer to Greg. “I can’t think of a better way to begin this New Year than with you.”
He caught her mouth with his and kissed her long and slow before pulling back and trailing his finger over her moist lips. “Happy New Year, baby.”
“Happy New Year.” She touched his cheek and smiled. “And here’s to whatever the future has in store for us.”
Fireman Beneath the Mistletoe
The Ladies Club
New York City
To Kate Reynolds, it was difficult to believe that outside The Ladies Club it was snowing, people were wrapped up in heavy winter coats and scarves as they shopped for gifts, and carolers were singing Christmas songs.
Inside TLC, the atmosphere in the elegant music room was hot, festive, and electric.
A sexy redheaded supermodel strutted down the runway in four-inch heels wearing a red satin lace-up bustier. The creation had a white faux fur neckline, made to look like a chic elf suit with matching Christmas green thong and garter belt, and fishnet stockings.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the MC announced over the pulsing music, “Santa’s Fantasy.” The redhead paused at the end of the runway, winked at the audience, and made her exit with a flash of perfect buttocks and long legs.
Kate’s pulse throbbed with the music’s beat as gorgeous men and stunning models strutted down the runway modeling her new winter and holiday line.
Her heart pounded as she heard murmurs of approval ripple through the audience as a gorgeous Brazilian brunette reached the end of the runway in a flimsy silver peignoir. Moonlit Dreams, one of Kate’s favorite designs, glittered and sparkled in the glow of the show lights, treating the audience to more than a hint of the model’s luscious curves.
Kate shifted on the settee in the back of the darkened room, an anonymous observer. No one would guess, she hoped, that she was the owner and chief designer of Shameless Fashions, a booming three-year old website business that was beginning to be discussed in the same breath as Victoria’s Secret. This was her first runway show, and it was