Page 98 of Only for the Season

“Damnit. I can’t delay this trip until after the holidays. The launch is in January.”

“Will you be back before Christmas?”

Christmas is less than a week away. I don’t want to experience Christmas without him. I want to show him all the things to love about the day. Exchanging presents, kissing under the mistletoe, dressing up as a pirate for theSmuggler’s Hideaway Masquerade Dance.

“I will. No matter what happens, I’ll be back.”

“Good. Because I already reserved your pirate outfit for the dance on Christmas Eve.”

He blinks. “Pirate outfit?”

“It’s a masquerade dance. You have to wear a costume.”

“I’ll be back. I promise.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Worst case scenario, I fly back for Christmas and return to California the day after.”

Disappointment hits me. The week after Christmas is the slowest time of the year for the bakery. There are no special orders since everyone is usually still suffering from their gluttony over the holidays.

I was eagerly anticipating spending the time with Jeremy. This long-distance relationship stuff sucks. No wonder they don’t work.

“Hey.” Jeremy pinches my chin. “We’re going to make this work. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure of it.”

I blow out a breath. “Okay.”

There’s no sense worrying about the future when I don’t know what the future holds. I’m going to enjoy spending time with the man I love for as long as I can.

“When do you leave?”

He smirks. “The jet won’t leave without me. Which means we have time.”

“Time for what?”

“Me to show you all the reasons I plan to hurry back to Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

I tap my chin. “I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”

His smile stretches from ear to ear and shows off his dimples. “I have to show you.”

“If you must.”

“Oh, I must.”

He carries me to the bed and drops me on it. “You wasted time getting dressed. But now I get to enjoy stripping you.”

“Go ahead and do your worst, Scrooge.”

He playfully growls at the word Scrooge before getting to work on stripping me.

Maybe this long-distance relationship will work after all. Maybe I should stop worrying about the future. And maybe I should…

The thoughts fly out of my mind when Jeremy bites my inner thigh. I moan and concentrate on the moment.

Chapter 32

"Some things are worth the upheaval." ~ Jeremy