Can’t keep your hands off me already?”, I ripped my hands away. Riley, Riley, Riley. But I didn’t push. “Hey, Riley.”. I mean, what if the circumstances called for it during the party and she flinched at my touch or something? He squinted right back, although his eyes were twinkling the whole time. Kennedy’s brows drew together. The DJ had stopped playing Christmas music altogether, and had moved on to funkier dance music. © 2020 Romance Novels Read Online. What instrument is it again that you play?”. It’s cool. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Noseybody. Other Books by Vi Keeland Chapter 1 Reese What a waste of smooth, shaven legs. It’s gonna be the highlight of my month. “You have a small freckle on your right breast, just…about…here.” He ran his fingertip along the scooped neckline of my dress. Um, what’s your name again?”, I glanced over his shoulder and pretended to wave at someone. “Seven years ago now. Would you like to try counting to twenty and see if that helps?”. How the hell did he even notice that? I huffed, “God, you’re almost believable.”, He shook his head. “Fantastic. I had to look down at my chest to confirm. Afterwards, he snuck up behind me while I was looking out a window at the backyard. Pleasure to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. “It’s not weird. “I’m not lying, Riley. It’s not good to let things fester.”, I got the feeling he was speaking from experience. That makes sense.” She took two hesitant steps toward me, and I wrapped her in my arms. I wondered if I’d manage to escape this party without another encounter. I think you look beautiful tonight.”, Kennedy looked back and forth between my eyes. “He’s a keeper, Riley.”, Once she was out of earshot, I groaned as I rolled my eyes. “Mmmm. You were worried about nothing. “I thought you said your family is from Rochester.”, “They are. “I don’t know. I’d known these women my entire life. It was going to take everything in my power to kiss her gently and not suck the lips right off her face right there in the driveway in front of her mother’s house. Mom has a collection box at the corner of the driveway. Instinctively, I pushed back away from Kennedy. While we waited, I looked around. Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds. Your name is…Kennedy...Riley?”, “Is it?” Kennedy grinned and looked down at me. “I don’t actually think you are ready yet, Riles.”, I shook my head. But maybe that’s a good thing, and I won’t run into you-know-who.”, “Are you kidding? “I was trying to help dry you off.”, His lip twitched, and he tilted the drink in his hand in my direction. “We’ll have to go sometime.”, My sister Olivia snuck up behind us. I’d love to go see a performance.” He pulled me into his side again. Despite this, I continued to stand there like a statue with a bad attitude. Sipping my drink, I found myself alone for the first time since we’d arrived. “You took damn long enough,” he said as he continued to dance. I’ve been really enjoying getting to know your wonderful daughter.”, Determined to stay in character, I beamed at him before turning my attention back to my mother. But, darling, you tell it so much better than I ever could. It made me smile. This was a piece of cake.”, I turned to face him. It’s gonna be the highlight of my month. Go ahead, pumpkin. Until…. Can you do that, Riley?”. It looks like the bizarro version of our dull Christmas party.” Liliana hooked her arm with mine. It makes her feel better. The Christmas Pact(6) Author: Vi Keeland. Did her lips get fuller since the flight? Wouldn’t it? Shoot!” I grabbed a thick stack of napkins from the bar and immediately started to blot at the mess. Riley tilted her head up to look at me, but made no attempt to leave my arms. Well, apparently…because I’d brought him here, hadn’t I? Mr. Noseybody had a ridiculously chiseled, masculine jaw, flawless skin, and incredible eyes—a shade of blue so light that they were almost clear—and those were currently boring into me. You seem to love being in my business.”, He grinned and pointed his eyes down to where my hands were still pressed against his shirt. They were buying this shit! “Cello,” she said, lifting her chin proudly. He couldn’t just photograph really well and be a disappointment in the flesh. Colon cancer. “Very nice. “Maybe I should be as clumsy as you, just so I can return the favor and help you dry off.”. The jerk’s mouth curved into a wicked grin. During a break in the conversation, I told the new Kennedy groupies that I needed to steal him away to meet a few people. “I just want you to be able to work out your stuff with your family. Vi Keeland My boss was a world-class dick. I’m Kennedy Riley. The warmth of her breath met the cold air and formed a misty cloud between us as our lips moved closer. As we entered the house, Mom insisted that we stop in the foyer so Kennedy could admire her decorations. “I’m not so certain you can. She nodded. “Thanks for the heads up,” Kennedy whispered in my ear as I passed him a glass of eggnog. I knew. As much as Kennedy bothered me, he was proving to be hard to ignore. I just want to hog her all to myself.”, My sister made an awww face and grabbed the dip. I watched in horror as a wave of White Christmas martini splashed onto the front of the man’s dark shirt and tie. I think you might have a different perspective after spending all day with my mom and then being at the party tonight.”. This is the worst date I’ve ever been on. Kennedy moved us through the sea of people until we landed in our own small section of the dance floor. At one point, he grinned and raised his glass in my direction. After maybe thirty seconds I felt her shoulders relax. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry. Without giving it any thought, I kissed the top of her head. “Kennedy Riley. I hate these glasses to begin with, and I’m so jumpy tonight.”, “Jumpy, huh? Though Riley didn’t seem like she was in a rush to go inside. Story of my life lately. “So how did we meet?”, I smiled. “You do look nice tonight. I just know it.”, “Not if you trust me and just follow my lead. Kennedy extended his hand to her. “Welcome home, Riley! But what fun would that have been?”, Miriam Saunders, the highest ranking of the three, pointed at Kennedy. A warmup would be totally justified. “Your father was a freaking colonel, and your mom’s Mahjong friends are a retired major and two captains in the Army.”, I smiled sweetly. I’d get caught up in staring at him across the room, then turn away as soon as he noticed. I’d always loved that song—that is, until Kennedy Riley entered my line of sight, charging toward me as he snapped his raised fingers to the beat. The silence that ensued was very telling. “Great to meet you, Abby,” Kennedy said as he shook her hand. “Me, too! “Looking for someone, Riley? The Christmas Pact(3) Author: Vi Keeland “God, how many people work at the other office? Oh. Sure enough, it was really tiny, but I did have a small freckle on the inner curve of my right breast. Check!Riley Kennedy's emails keep getting crossed with her male colleague, Kennedy Riley. I was visiting them.” He swallowed hard and added, “My grandmother, actually.”, The major squinted. “Her squad?”, “Mom plays Mahjong. “Still here. She winked at me on the way back out to the living room. She gave me a look that said you’d better fill me in later. I’d always loved that song. I should’ve told you that when you changed earlier.” His eyes wandered down my body and back up, snagging on my cleavage and lingering there. “Oh. I steered him into the kitchen, closed the door, and turned to face him. You’ve been laying on the charm pretty thick there, Neil Armstrong.”, He chuckled softly. Check. I wasn’t sure if it was her shampoo or perfume, but a waft of something floral hit me, and I inhaled deeply to capture it all. Your mom is such a good cook, Riley. Vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur, and crème de cocoa with crushed peppermint candy cane lining the rim. God I wanted to devour that damn mouth. The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, narrated by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York, is a short novella similar to a Hallmark movie in which a young professional finds a certain young man from another division at her company annoying. My mouth gaped open in shock as I looked from Kennedy to the squad and back again. He laughed because he had no idea. This guy was seriously nuts. While Abby and I were one year apart, Olivia was nine years younger. Because it is quite the story. I suppose eventually she won’t think quite so highly of me, though.”. He’s doing much more important things in Africa.”. “How are things at the Philharmonic? I felt Kennedy’s eyes on me, but I just kept walking. Hot romance audiobook. “Jules? We somehow managed to survive the annual Kennedy family Christmas Eve brunch. Once again, he was amused at my expense. I didn’t know if it was the way he bit his bottom lip at one point or what, but all of a sudden I totally lost it, bursting into hysterical laughter. He then proceeded to tell an elaborate story about how he’d been visiting his grandmother who lives across the hall from me, and I’d been cooking leftover pizza in the oven for breakfast. Eggnog. “I’m sorry I never mentioned it, Mom.”, “Despite the fact that you know little about me, Mrs. Kennedy, Riley has certainly told me so much about you.”, My mother waved her hand, prompting us to move into the living room. You tell them the story.”, Kennedy cleared his throat. Contact us - [email protected], House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1), The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #. “Oh gosh, I see someone I actually like over there who I need to speak to. Yet Miriam shook her head at me and tsked. Before I knew it, his arm was wrapped around my waist and he was dragging me onto the dance floor. And now he was laughing, too. The only thing moving was my head as it turned to watch Kennedy while he circled around me. It’s a shame you didn’t take after her.”. “Pizza for breakfast? Let’s get you two inside where it’s warmer.”. Mom has a collection box at the corner of the driveway. The Christmas Pact(8) Author: Vi Keeland. She had really gone all out with the garland and red bows this year. “I apologize for spilling the drink on you. When I looked up, he read the confusion on my face. But his little plan had worked. “I like your mom. Check. The more I insisted on not moving, the more energy he put into his dance moves. I found myself thinking that maybe I should kiss her. Even through her thick winter coat, I could feel the start of her curves. My. Her cute little pert nose was pink from the cold, and she pulled her jacket tighter. Of course, he had to be even better looking in person. Complete with the white horse and city streets of New York. We’d been sneaking looks at each other all night. I put a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. That’s half the fun of it. I stood a solid five foot five without heels, and tonight I was sporting an extra three inches, maybe four. Well, you’re about to meet my family and understand all those facts firsthand. I wouldn’t be so cocky just yet. I need you. And they’re going to eat you alive.”. I closed my eyes. More big lies.”. They couldn’t possibly believe this stupidity. “It’s a little embarrassing.”, I arched a brow. Okay. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9… On 10, I took a deep breath and peeked one eye open. I’ll try to remember that.”. It’s a little embarrassing for her.”. Contact us - [email protected], House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1), The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #. “How do you do it?”, “Tell ridiculous stories and people believe you?”, He shrugged. I’ve considered smashing my head on the table a few times to keep awake. She nodded. I dug a few bucks out of my purse and tipped the bartender as I took my White Christmas martini. “Charming one, he is. RATING: Cinquain. “So you met our Riley while you were in town visiting your grandmother?”, “Mm-hmm. Nervous about meeting a certain someone?”.
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