Read Online A Kilted Christmas Wish by Eliza Knight - Free Book Online

int o his arms, smelling her floral-scented shampoo as he buried his face in her hair. Her body was warm, soft and curled perfectly against his. Her ass tucked neatly against his groin. He skimmed a hand over her hip.
    “Mmm… Good morning,” she murmured.
    “Morning gorgeous.” He pressed his lips to her neck, desire raging hot through his blood.
    He could wake up like this every damn day.
    And then his entire body stiffened. One night with her and he was ready to claim a life together. Hell, it would be amazing, a dream, and yet, they’d barely known each other more than a couple weeks. Panic tamed his heated blood and he patted her on the ass and scooted away, rolling to sit up.
    “I gotta go,” he said.
    “So soon?” The covers crinkled as she rolled over to face him.
    He grabbed his watch from the nightstand where he’d tossed it. Just past six in the morning. “Meeting,” he lied. “I’m late.” He didn’t have a meeting until eleven, but he was starting to sweat and he had to get away from her.
    He stood and sifted through their discarded clothes, pulling his on with machine precision. At every turn, he avoided looking at her. One glance and he was almost certain he’d change his mind, strip naked and climb back in bed.
    Darla was everything he could want in a woman. Fun, intelligent, adventurous and also down to earth enough that a night of watching movies in bed with her was amazing. She enjoyed doing all the cliché things he did. She would be the perfect balance for him.
    And yet, he wasn’t ready. Couldn’t handle falling for someone. And he had most definitely already fallen for her. Hard.
    “I’ll call you later,” he said, slipping on his shoes. “We can get some dinner. Maybe take-out Chinese or something.”
    “Let me walk you out.” She sat up , the blanket falling around her waist, her perky, creamy breasts welcoming in the morning.
    Damn. Aaron shifted his gaze, took several quick steps forward and brushed a kiss on her lips. He closed his eyes, regretting that he was walking away from her when what he should be doing is walking down the street to get her a cup of coffee and a delicious bagel slathered in cream cheese. He didn’t even know what kind of cream cheese she liked, or how she took her coffee.
    A sign that he should leave. Or that he should stay.
    Fuck. He didn’t believe in signs.
    Aaron straightened. Smiled down at her messy hair and sleep-filled face. She was a gorgeous mess.
    “Stay in bed, babe.” Wha t the—? Had he just gone with an endearment? Time to go, buddy. “I’ll call you later,” he repeated.
    “All right.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I had fun last night.”
    “Me, too.” Too much fun.
    He kissed her again, softly, keeping it as non-sensual as he could and then he backed away. Ran away in slow motion was more like it. He found his jacket where he’d discarded it the night before and pulled it on. When he opened the front door, his hand still on the handle, he hesitated. Second guessed himself. This was stupid. If he’d found a good thing, shouldn’t he keep it?
    Not what he wanted to think about right now.
    He flicked the lock on her handle and slipped out, closing it tightly behind him. He was supposed to come to the US to grieve and get over Megan. To start a new life, filled with work and his father’s business. But he’d gotten lonely, and then he’d met Darla.
    Was it possible that he’d fallen for her because he needed someone?
    No… He was pretty sure it wasn’t a rebound thing. Damn sure, actually.
    Guilt suffocated him. H e felt more perfect with Darla than he did with his own deceased fiancée. He leaned back against the door and ran his hands through his hair. This wasn’t part of his plan. He pushed away from her door, walking briskly to the stairs and jogging down them. Falling so quickly for someone else was reckless.
    He was playing a losing game with both their hearts.
    That evening after work, Aaron stared