Page 14 of Hot Mess Christmas Express

“What was that for?” she asked, pulling back from the kiss.

“You just looked like you needed a reminder that you are hot—and not a hot mess.”

* * *

“Well,I'm exhausted. I’m heading to bed,” Laura said around a yawn, pushing up from the rocking chair she'd been sitting in, sipping on a glass of wine.

After eating his weight in cheese and bread during the Sloans’ traditional Christmas Eve fondue feast—not to mention the multiple types of cured meats Laura had put out—the group had gathered around the fireplace. They’d spent the last few hours laughing and telling stories, each one trying to outdo the others in some way. Caleb had even gotten a few in there, sharing some of the wildest things he’d seen as a surgeon.

The best part of the evening was easily the feel of Sienna curled up next to him on the couch. It was subtle, since they’d left it as “friends” when she’d introduced him to the family, but her head on his shoulder as her soft curves melded against his side was enough to fuel whatever this feeling was inside him. He couldn’t put a name to it, but he knew he didn’t want it to stop.

“I should probably turn in as well,” Caleb echoed. For as wonderful as the day had been, he didn’t want to overstay his welcome.

“PJs and pancakes at eight thirty,” Laura said. “Don’t get smart and show up fully dressed; it’s not allowed.”

"I’ll walk you back,” Sienna said.

Caleb nodded at both the beauty next to him and her mother. A quick round of goodbyes to everyone else, and they were out the door, on the short jaunt back to the inn. For a brief moment he felt a little awkward, not knowing what to say or do. Nothing about this situation was normal, leaving him with a lot more questions than answers. But then Sienna slipped her hand into his, interlacing their fingers, and all those questions flew from his mind. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore except the feel of her palm against his.

When they reached his door, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. She would be expected back at the carriage house, there was no doubt about that. But he still couldn’t help but wonder just how long he might have before they sent out a search party.

“So I guess this is goodnight,” he said, walking into his suite.

“One thing first.”

“What’s that?”

“You know that promise I made you earlier today?”

Caleb’s mind ran through the day, trying to remember. A promise? There was a promise made? A coy smile crossed Sienna’s face, her long, lazy strides toward his bed making his dick twitch. She sat down on the edge, resting her arms behind her, her beautiful breasts sticking out.

“In the lobby, when you agreed to join my family for Christmas,” she prompted.

“Mistletoe,” he growled, the memory hitting him.

Sienna nodded, that sly smile morphing into something even bigger. She gave him a wink, pointing behind her to the headboard. Sure enough, a small sprig of the shrub was tied there with a red, satin ribbon.

Caleb waggled his eyebrows, turning his gaze to the beauty in front of him. “I think it’s time for Santa to come. Pun intended.”