Christmas Surprise Read online

  She was stripping Angel out of her heavy coat, hat, scarf and gloves when Flora came over to pinch her chubby baby cheeks. “Oh even cold as a block of ice, she’s the most beautiful baby the world has ever seen.”

  Krista smiled. Angel kicked her legs and giggles, the love between her and Flora went both ways. “She is adorable, aren’t you baby?” More kicking and giggling and squealing followed. Krista hoisted the baby up on her hip and slid her into the high chair at the tall counter. Even though Dean was never around, he’d made sure Angel had every little thing a baby could possibly need. The chair was high end cherry wood with hand-carved engravings around the legs and the tray. “Here you go sweetie,” she placed a few chunks of fruit in front of Angel and watched her attack them with a smile.

  “Here’s some hot tea for you, sweet girl.” Flora sat tea in front of her and watched. “He’s a good man, you know.”

  Now it all made sense. She wondered why Flora was hovering more than usual. “I’m sure he is, Flora. But is going to be a good father?” That had been her concern even before she met the arrogant man, but three days under his roof, and she was rethinking her impulsive decision to give Angel to her father.

  “What he needs,” Flora slid a mouthwatering bowl of stew at her, “is a good woman who will help him, show him how to be a good father.” She gave Krista a pointed look.

  She needed to quash those thoughts right away. “That won’t be me Flora, whatever you’re thinking. He thought I was after his money and I’m sure he still does. He needs to learn how to be a father for Angel and for him. No one else.”

  Flora looked at her for a beat and then burst out laughing. “And that’s exactly why he needs a woman like you. The women he dates, a term I use loosely mind you, only care about his money and his status. You don’t seem to care at all about those or him. You’re perfect.”

  Now it was Krista’s turn to laugh. “You’re sweet, Flora, but that’s not going to happen.”

  “Never say never, dear. Now I better get started on dinner, so you two eat up.”

  She watched the woman head to the other side of the kitchen where a pile of vegetables sat in a colander awaiting her sharp knife. No matter what she thought, Krista knew Dean wasn’t the man for her and she wasn’t the woman for him. He was handsome and there had been a few sparks of chemistry between them during their brief encounters, but he couldn’t help but question her motives regarding his money. She didn’t need that in her life.

  She needed to make sure he knew how to take care of Angel so she could start the next chapter in her own life story. She would say goodbye to the sweet baby she’d cared for since birth and find a way to heal her heart. Every day she came downstairs with Angel on her hip and regretted that she’d ever tried to do the right thing. She should have just done as Karen had asked and raised Angel on her own. Dean left for the office before they were awake and most nights he came home well after Angel’s bed time. Usually she was up, but in no mood to deal with him she curled up with a book on her bed.

  She’d plowed her way through several Jane Austen novels, using her lengthy evenings to job hunt and read the books she didn’t have time for. As a young woman, she’d gone through a list of the all-time greatest books while she cared for her grandma during her last days. One day, she would have a life in which she was the star, not one where she watched the only person who’d ever cared for her slowly die of cancer. Or one where she watched someone else’s child grow into a beautiful young woman.

  No, her new life would be all about her.

  At least for a little while.

  Chapter Three

  “Do you have a boyfriend?” Her frown alerted Dean that he probably shouldn’t have just blurted the question out of the blue.

  “Excuse me?” Arms crossed defensively and that small chin tilted up, he could tell she was ready to pounce.

  Dean sighed, knowing he had overstepped the boundaries she was determined to set between, them but he needed to know and he knew it was for more than professional reasons. He’d keep those to himself. “I just want to make sure we have your full attention until Christmas Eve.” Maybe longer, but he’d worry about that part later. “I need to know you won’t run off and get married next week.”

  Her laugh was humorless. “That is definitely not going to happen, so don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

  “You think I’m pretty?” His laughed but he was under no illusions. Krista was here for Angel, not him. He could live with that—for now—even though it did sting his male pride. She was a beautiful, if strange, woman. She was freakishly small, like an elf. Her hair was too blonde, almost golden and it was way too curly, standing nearly a foot from her head. Those big, watery blue-green eyes made his protective instinct kick into overdrive, and her sweet nature with Angel was awesome. She was born to be a mother, a caretaker, and he was surprised to find she wasn’t taken.

  She scoffed and let a small smile creep across her face. “I think you are something Dean.”

  He didn’t think she meant it as a compliment, but that flare in her gorgeous eyes told him she was attracted to him. That he could work with. “So if you don’t have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, why do you need to be gone by the holiday?”

  Krista set her silverware on the edge of the plate, wiped her mouth and focused on Dean. “Because I need to figure out the rest of my life.”

  He nodded. “Maybe I can help. Tell me what you want to do.”

  She sighed and he could tell she wasn’t comfortable talking to him, but there was a moment, a tiny spark in her eyes, that told him she would tell him. “That’s the problem; I don’t know. I spent most of my early twenties taking care of the grandmother who raised me. She was sick for six years before the cancer took her, and when she died I had no real skills because I took care of her. Then Karen hired me to care for her mother, who died just after she found out she was pregnant. So she kept me on and I took care of Angel. Now I finally have my life to myself and I have no clue.”

  “None?” He figured she was ashamed or embarrassed to tell him.

  “I’d like to travel, but I’m not sure it would be wise.”

  “Financially you mean?” She nodded. “I’m sure Karen left her estate to you.”

  She bristled. “She did, you prick, and I put it all in trust for Angel.” She stood up, slammed her napkin down and stormed out of the room.

  “Damn.” He hadn’t meant it that way, but his past comments came back to haunt him. Of course she thought the worst of his comments. Hadn’t he done the same to her within seconds of meeting her?

  He needed to apologize. Now.

  Dean found Krista in the library, perusing his fiction section. “Krista, I’m sorry.” She stiffened at the sound of his voice but she didn’t turn around or acknowledge his words. “I know you have no reason to believe me, but I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “Then how did you mean it?” Her voice was laced with steel and she still wouldn’t let him see her face.

  “I just meant you have choices and you shouldn’t let money be the only factor in whether or not you decide to travel.” He walked over to her, stood just inches from her, close enough to smell the peachy shampoo she used. “I’m sorry that I offended you.”

  “You didn’t.”

  He smiled at the steel in her voice. “Okay then. We’re cool?” She nodded but didn’t turn, so he grabbed her shoulders and turned her until they were facing each other. Her eyes darkened and he could see the pulse point racing at the base of her neck. His fingers itched to reach out to her, to touch her and taste that pink mouth.

  “Dean,” she whispered, reading the intent on his face. He could see the war within her and he knew, as he drew closer, that she would succumb to him. That this thing between them was too hot for either of them to ignore.

  He leaned in until his breath mingled with hers and he smiled. “Yes, Krista? Tell me you don’t want this.”

  “I-I,” was all she could get
out.

  He smiled. “I thought so,” and then leaned in and kissed her.

  ~

  The kiss was so hot it stole the breath right from Krista’s lungs. One minute she was fuming mad at Dean and the next she was in his arms, clinging to him as his mouth explored and devoured hers. Her hands flung around his wide back, caressing his muscles up and down as his tongue tasted her mouth and moved to her neck. His breathing was as shallow as hers, his hands smoothing over every inch of her body from her shoulders down to the curve of her ass.

  His fingers sank into her ass and pulled in, and she gasped as his hardness came into contact with her body. He rubbed her body against his, making sure she felt his arousal. She could barely breathe as desire flowed through her veins. “Dean,” she moaned and he swallowed it, taking another kiss so deep that she had to suck in air when he was done. His mouth attacked her neck, kissing and sucking and licking until she was close to begging him to take her.

  “Krista,” he panted and let his fingers sneak under her t-shirt, hissing when he found her breasts bare. “I want you, Krista.”

  She wanted him, too, and the time had passed for her to deny it. Her body wanted his, her mouth longed to taste him everywhere and her nipples wanted his sweet, hot kisses. She said the only thing she could. “Yes.”

  In the next second, Krista felt the cool air touch her breasts, her stomach as her shirt went flying across the library. His mouth and hands went to her breasts, kneading and lavshing them until she cried out. “Dean!” Her hips rolled against him, her body unashamed to beg for what her mouth would not. “Yes,” she moaned when his hands and mouth switched positions. Her own hands had a mind of their own, ripping his shirt open so buttons flew through the air. Her hands were greedy to explore his body, over the hard muscles of his chest, his abs, and oh god his back! His body was hot and hard. Pulling her mouth from his, she kissed and licked his body while her hands eagerly worked on opening his pants. His hiss of pleasure made her smile as her tongue swiped across first one nipple and then the other.

  “You’re killing me, Krista.” His voice was tight, gruff and full of need. She had never felt so feminine, so desired.

  She swallowed a groan when her small hand wrapped around his hard length. It was warm and soft and hard, and it was the best damn thing she’d ever held in her hands. Fisting him tight, she stroked up and down, up and down until a hiss of pleasure stole her concentration. She looked up at him, hair mussed and golden muscles flexing under the opened shirt. “You are a beautiful man.” She heard the reverence in her voice, but damn, he was a sight to behold.

  “I think that’s my line,” he chuckled and made quick work of opening and removing her pants. “No Krista, you are the beautiful one.”

  He bent over and helped her out of her pants, skimming his hands up her legs. He dipped his head in and inhaled the sweet nectar wafting up from her feminine center. She quivered and pulled a handful of his hair when his tongue made a swipe, parting her folds for an all-too-brief kiss. “Oh god, Dean!” She didn’t know what he was doing, but it felt incredible.

  “You taste amazing, babe.” His hands continued the path up her body, kissing a spot here and a spot there before swiping his tongue across her lips. She squealed when he palmed her bottom and lifted her up. Instinctively her legs wrapped around his waist and her tongue was drawn to the pulse beating in his neck. It was intoxicating. He was intoxicating. His taste, his smell, the warmth that surrounded him and the way he felt under her hands, her body.

  “Dean, I-” her words were cut off when his swollen tip slid inside. He moved slowly, slower than her body wanted, but she was thankful. Despite his flaws, he was a gentleman and he wanted it to be good for her. He pushed in inch by slow inch and then he stopped. She would not let him stop until they were both satisfied. “Dean,” she groaned and loosened her legs until the weight of her body sank down and took the rest of him in. “Oh shit!”

  Dean grunted as her tight warmth engulfed him. She could see him struggling to take it easy on her, but she didn’t come this far to let him give her half an experience. Krista easily picked up his rhythm, her hips moving with his own. Beads of sweat trickled down her back as his pace sped up, becoming more frantic until some weird sensation took over her body. This was nothing like the times she’d given herself pleasure. This was mind-blowing, earth shattering. It was fucking explosive!

  His thrusts were now rapidly pounding into her tight sheath and she felt herself pulsing around him as he grew thicker, harder. “Dean,” she growled. She couldn’t explain what was happening, but she knew the orgasm was imminent and it would be big. “Dean,” she moaned again in warning and then millions of bursts of light went off behind her eyes and her body trembled powerfully. She held onto Dean as the waves washed over her. He thrust into her pulsating sheath, faster and faster until he stilled and shook, emptying his seed inside her. “Oh!”

  “Oh shit, Krista, that was incredible!” His smile was bright as he struggled to catch his breath. “How in the hell are you a virgin?”

  “I was busy taking care of people,” she said defensively. She pushed him away and slid down his body, ignoring his words and reveling in the glow of what had just happened. “That was amazing, Dean. Thank you.” She kissed his cheek and picked up her clothes scattered around the library before slipping out and up to her room.

  As Krista tiptoed upstairs, she couldn’t believe what she had just done. As fun and passionate and as satisfying as the encounter was, the fact was that she had slept with her boss. An arrogant billionaire who thought she was after his vast fortune. God, could she make a worse decision right now?

  Only time would tell.

  Chapter Four

  Dean stood in the doorway of the newly refurbished nursery while Krista and Angel played on the plush mint green carpeting. At Krista’s urging, he had moved the nursery to the empty room that connected with hers so they could all be closer to Angel as she slept. He’d left everything up to Krista, and while she had spent a tremendous amount of money, he saw the bills and knew she’d gotten only what the baby needed. He was surprised yet again that she hadn’t gone down to the city and purchased everything from one of those trendy baby boutiques. Instead, everything was beautiful and coordinated, but only the armoire and dresser were high quality.

  Normally he would have balked at the idea of his child receiving less-than-excellent nursery furniture and toys, but looking around he could see everything was sturdy and reliable, soothing and appropriate for a baby’s room. She had done a good job, and once again, she’d impressed him, which was good since she didn’t seem to be too impressed with him lately. Days had passed since their hot encounter in the library and he couldn’t stop thinking about it, about how open she was then. He’d spent long days in the office and the only thing he could focus on was the beautiful flush of her skin when she reached her sexual peak, the dark pink pebbled nipples that hardened under his touch. The scent of her and the taste of her consumed his waking hours. But it was nighttime that really tortured him. Her scent seemed to be everywhere, forcing him into a cold shower or to take himself in hand like a horny teenager. He needed her again or he was going to lose it.

  “I need more time.” He knew his voice startled her because she and the baby jumped. He smiled and came to sit on the floor beside Krista.

  “More time for what?” She held the baby close, cuddling her as she peered at him over Angel’s shoulder.

  Krista didn’t mince words or use his words to her advantage, and Dean was learning to appreciate that about her. “I need you to stay longer because I haven’t had any time to dedicate to Angel yet.” He looked at her but stroked the baby’s soft cheek.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “That’s it? What am I supposed to do if you think about and decide not to stay?” Again those old insecurities rose to the surface. What was her game?

  “It’s already been almost two weeks and you haven’t made any effort to spend ti
me with Angel. You don’t know how to change a diaper, make a bottle or even hold her.” To prove her point, she thrust Angel in his arms and watched as he held her awkwardly. “I give you more time and it’ll accomplish nothing. So you make more of an effort with your child or you find someone content to let you continue to ignore her.”

  His sigh was resigned because he knew she was right to call him on his bad parenting. He hadn’t spent much time with Angel because he was so focused on his latest acquisition. The sale contracts would be signed on Friday and then he could focus on learning how to be a father. “I will make an effort, I just need more time. The deal that has been distracting me will be complete at the end of the week and then you both will have my full attention.”

  She frowned at his charming smile. “You see, that’s the thing Dean, you can’t be a parent around your other responsibilities. Angel should be your priority.”

  Her disapproving stare got to him in a way he didn’t think was possible. She managed to make him feel guilty as though he’d come up short in her eyes without pissing him off. He knew he was wrong, dammit, but he had other things on his mind. “Can you cut me some slack, Krista, please?”

  Krista shook her head as she stood, moving Angel to the blonde wood changing table. “No Dean, I can’t. If I don’t force you to do this now, who will later? Angel needs a parent, not just a provider. If you can’t give her your time, then why the hell do you even want her?” Her gaze never lifted to his and he looked on as she made quick work of removing the dirty diaper, cleaning her up and fitting a new one on the kicking, smiling baby. “Much better, right?” She kissed Angel’s tummy, making her squeal.

  Watching them, Dean knew he needed to do more for his daughter. He wasn’t worried about Krista taking her because he had enough money that she’d never be able to challenge him in court. But if it came to that, he’d lose Krista before he was ready. “She’s my daughter.”