She shot him a wink, tightened her hold on his lapel, and drew him the short distance to her lips.
Have mercy! He wanted to keep her!
The kiss lasted only a moment.
Much too brief.
But enough of a taste to leave him wanting much more than a kiss.
He wanted her heart too.
***
Just a kiss.
That was all it had been.
And a little kiss too.
Charlie stifled a frown as she and Arran left another house after visiting a family on the Wish List. He hadn’t mentioned the little lip-on-lip moment, so she’d refrained as well. Of course, with the teasing Luke employed the rest of the evening—and a few days later—maybe Arran wanted to forget all about it.
Or maybe he already had. After all, they’d kissed to spite Luke.
Hadn’t they?
Heat rose up her neck at the tangible recollection of his mouth against hers and the way his palm slid up her back, surrounding her in his comforting strength and his warm and wonderful cardamom scent. The cursory moment only awakened her aspirations for another opportunity. If one small kiss left her quivering from the lips down, what would more thorough practice do?
Her cheeks flamed and she walked toward her truck, lost in a wonderful memory.
Maintain your composure, Charlie. It was just a kiss.
Nothing serious.
Just a kiss? When was a kiss everjusta kiss?
Her mind revolted against falling for the prince. But his teasing humor drew her in, and his kindness completely unraveled every logical argument to steer clear.
Why on earth did they have to work together on something with “mistletoe” in the title? It just made things worse!
She caught him looking at her as they moved to the truck, his smile big enough to snag at her pulse. He had a fabulous grin. Very Captain America–like.
Ack! Stop it, Charlie! You are becoming a lady. And drooling isdefinitely notladylike.
No wonder his online history had a string of women in his wake.
Her body instantly cooled. Like her? Was she just another to fall under his charming spell as he traveled through whatever healing process he was on?
Her eyes wilted closed. Of course! As good-intentioned as he may be, why on earth would he think twice about her beyond a kiss or two? He was returning to his lifeas a prince! Not taking up a goat farm in North Carolina. No matter how many jigs he danced.
Charlie took those crazy fairy-tale thoughts back in hand.So, Charlie, no more kissing the prince.
“There’s only one more family on our list.” A dimple flickered at the corner of his mouth, and the sight somehow sparked another heat wave through her body.
Clearly, good sense was no match for a prince’s kiss. She inwardly groaned.
Oh, why did she have to like himthatway? If he’d stayed inebriated and nauseous, it would have been much easier not to like him.
“And who would that be?”
