Page 69 of Mistletoe and Christmas Kisses

She guessed sending her to Philadelphia washisway of loving.

He drained the last of the whiskey. “Don’t do this,” he warned.

She pushed her coat off her shoulders, her gaze locked to his as it dropped to the floor. Yanked her shirtwaist from her skirt. Was manipulating the bone buttons down the front when she heard his glass hit the floor. With a muttered oath, he lifted her off her feet, leaving her slippers behind. Five paces until they met the wall, which he crowded her into without finesse, his body a hard, heated press.

Then he ravaged.

Within moments, their clothing littered the heart pine planks. He brought her down atop the heap, tangling his hand in her hair and tilting her head to bring the kiss to a cavernous level. His hands roamed her body, doing everything she loved. Teeth on her nipple, fingers delving inside her. Mere seconds, and she was aflame. Writhing, panting, moaning. Intertwined, she wasn’t sure where she left and he started, so when he lifted her hips and surged inside, she experienced nothing but joy. Unadulterated, mindless joy.

Pleasure.

Waves and waves gushing through her as she screamed, sank her nails in his back and held him as she rode it out. Desire was blinding, wondrous, incalculable. However, when he paused mid-stroke and looked deeply into her eyes, cradled her face and whisperedI love you, she should have recognized he was saying goodbye.

* * *

Two agonizing days later, Caleb gripped the ferry railing as the vessel made a gentle turn toward Pilot Isle’s dockside and the roofline of his warehouse popped into view. Settled against a glorious backdrop of azure sky and foam-capped surf, the sight of the treasured structure he’d built with his own hands brought no pleasure. A moist gust stung his cheeks and slipped inside his coat, chilling a body already frozen from the inside out.

A heart frozen from the inside out.

He tugged his hat low and gazed into the churning gray froth, drew a breath tasting of woodsmoke and the sea. He needed a drink, or five. Leaving Macy in his bed and sneaking out at dawn had been cowardly—and probably the biggest mistake of his life.

Refusing that residency would be the biggest mistake of hers.

At least he’d left anote. One he’d carefully composed while watching her sleep, about the most painful goddamn sentiment he’d ever put to paper. Although he had a gut feeling his hastily written missive might have made her angry when he’d only been trying to explain. Balance out telling her he loved her and why he thought she should leave him in the same breath.

The bell clanged to announce the ferry’s arrival, and Caleb lifted his head, scanning the wharf with his heart in his throat. Maybe…just maybe…

Nope, she wasn’t there. Only people waiting were a crowd of fishermen with their gear thrown over their shoulders, looking to hitch the next crossing back to the mainland. After what he’d said to her, Macy wasn’t likely to be waiting on him ever again.

Being away from her for fifty-five hours had proven one thing, he didn’t want to be alone anymore.

But he’d gone and messed up the perfect relationship with the perfect woman, so he was sure as hell going to be. Because Macy wasitfor him. He didn’t want anyone else, would never want anyone else. She made him feel like the luckiest man in the world. However, he couldn’t live with her remorse, if she had any about choosing him. So he’d given her up. If he’d had the courage to fight for her, she might well be standing on that warped dock right now, her hair glistening in the sun, that keen gaze trained on him in a way that made him feel like the only person in her universe.

He could hold her hand as they walked home, as he told her about his trip, and his agreement to build five new boats for a dealer in Raleigh who was selling them quicker than Caleb could roll them out. He needed to hire two more builders to complete the order—and this should have made him very happy.

Instead, he felt like he’d never be happy again.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Macy realized the people surrounding her as she sobbed on their upholstered settee were part of the Garrett package. If she forced the stubborn ass she was in love with to realize he was not only good enough for her butexactlywhat she wanted, what sheneeded, she also got his family.

His adorable, argumentative, tenacious, devoted family.

Family. The word, so long denied, made her heart clutch. Made a fresh wave of tears streak her cheeks. When she wasn’t a crier, had never been a crier.Oh, how she hated Caleb Garrett! She’d sniffled all the way down Main Street, garnering more than her fair share of looks. Well, she’d tell those old biddies that waking up alone after being told you were loved for the first time wasvery bad indeed. For two days, she’d tried to process the situation and find a sensible solution.

Find a way to claim her man.

In an overbearing show of masculine high-handedness, which was horribly unlike Caleb, he’d left a note listing all the reasons she was going to take the residency, then snuck out before sunrise like a rat. Blind rage had lasted about five minutes as she stomped about the warehouse looking for objects to break, then abject wretchedness kicked in when she found a sketch of her slipped in a hidden nook of his desk.

Still a weeping, pathetic mess two days later, she’d sought out her only friends. Who unfortunately happened to be the coward’s sisters.In-law.Damn small towns, she seethed.Damn you, Caleb Garrett.When she got her hands on—

“Let’s start at the beginning.” Elle uncurled Macy’s clenched fist. “I’m sorry to say, as a preface to anything you tell us: the Garrett men are known for mucking things up, however brilliant and handsome they may be.”

“He left…a note. Anote!” Macy ripped the waded sheet from her pocket and threw it to the floor. The vellum was moist from her tears, which brought a renewed flood of fury. If she ever saw the man again, she was either going to kiss him or kill him. Maybe both. She certainly couldn’t murder himhere, in a house resembling a Sears, Roebuck & Co. Christmas advertisement. Gorgeous tree. Garland looped around every post. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg riding the air. At any moment, someone was going to press a warm cookie into her hand, she just knew it.

Savannah went to one knee and smoothed the note on the settee. She raised a brow as she mouthed the words while she read. “He bought you a train ticket to Philadelphia?”

“Ah…” Elle pressed a handkerchief into Macy’s hand. “You got the residency.”