All He Wants this Christmas_A single-dad Holiday Romance
Page 16
His mouth moved over mine, urgently deepening our kiss.
“Wolf.” He turned. For the first time, I noticed the men standing guard in the shadows.
“What?” he rasped.
“He’s on the phone.” He tightened his hold on me before letting go.
“Stay here.” He demanded, ripping off his mask. He was talking so intently on the cell his man had given him, that he didn’t notice my gasp or see me slowly inching to the stairs leading from the balcony to the wooded garden below. My prince charming was a beast, the most ruthless man in D.C.—maybe even the world. His face was all hard lines and sculpted bones, bred from generations of royals only breeding with the best in the gene pool.
He was magnificent. Terrifying. I fled like little red riding hood, desperate to escape before he took everything from me.
I was gone, running through the branches full of sparkling lights, fumbling in my purse for the valet ticket. His roar was so loud not even the ringing bells and cheers of midnight could drown it. Pounding footsteps and the shouts of his men quickly followed.
The wolf was stalking his prey.
But he was to be denied.
I got away, barely. Of all the things, it was a cocktail waitress who saved me. I yanked her by the arm, begged her to trade places as I raced inside a side door and into a coat room. She was worried about her tips until I grabbed a few hundred dollars in change and shoved them in her hands. Five minutes later, she was still struggling to get the zipper of the gown to go all the way up as I slipped out of the room with my ticket in hand.
Guards with radios flanked every exit. But I passed by unnoticed. For they were looking for the great beauty, cloaked in an equally beautiful golden gown, not a serving wench with a baggy uniform and a hanging head.
I handed the valet my ticket, and he arched a brow. “What? I punched out early.” I had challenged. He finally left to fetch my car.
The hair on the back of my neck rose, the wolf was ten feet behind me, questioning why the best guards on the continent hadn’t found me yet.
They assured him it was just a matter of time. Voices shouted with triumph. I had been spotted. I was about to be secured. He raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time, at the same time my Volvo stopped at the curb. I looked back one last time. He was on the second-floor balcony, holding his head in apparent agony when they brought the imposter to him. I pushed the doors open, jumped into my car and hit the gas.
My eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, half expecting a fleet of dark cars giving chase.
But I had escaped the most dangerous man in town. Thank God, he had taken off his mask. I was drunk on his scent, pulled under by his masculinity and almost did something stupid. I would’ve gone blindly, right into his lair. And I know with certainty once he found out who I was one of two things would’ve happened. He’d tie me to his bed: making me his personal sex slave, or leave me in a dungeon, holding me captive while demanding answers.
He’s the ruthless “Wolf of Washington, but I’m just an average woman; the plain Jane who ran away from him.
But I still had one night.
I danced, kissed and was held by him, for one night.
It’s with resolute certainty, I know without a doubt—his eyes will haunt my dreams for the rest of my life.
Year after year will go by, and as the clock ticks down to midnight on New Year’s Eve—I’ll remember the magic of the one I danced in his arms until the magic of time turns to dust.
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Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS