12 Days of Forever(10)

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and end up laughing. He looks at me with his eyebrow raised. I’m such a fool.

“Please come in,” I say, knowing that I’m going to regret this moment for the rest of my life.

Quinn opens the door wider to allow Xander to step in and slams it shut immediately. The kids run back to the family room and Xander follows. His cologne is strong and overtaking my senses. I try not to let it affect me, but the truth of the matter is, it does. Maybe this is my wake-up call solidifying the fact that my decision to part ways with Oliver was the correct one.

Xander sits at the opposite end of the couch and my evil spawn of a nephew decides that he wants to sit on the floor.

“Sorry about the movie choice,” I offer, in the lamest attempt at conversation ever.

“It’s fine, I’ve seen this a few times.” And to prove his point he breaks out in his own rendition of Let it Go, which causes the twins to start laughing. I laugh as well and end up busting out what must be the loudest snort in the history of snorts.

I can fade away now and die from embarrassment.

“What was that?” he asks, laughing.

Of course he heard it.

I whip my head, refusing to answer, and in doing so I pinch a nerve in my neck. “Ouch,” I say as I start rubbing my neck. I woke up with a stiff neck but figured it was from traveling and sleeping an unfamiliar bed.

“Here, let me.” Before I can say anything, Xander has me pulled in front of him, his fingers expertly kneading the spot I was rubbing.

“Oh god, that feels so good,” I mumble. I’m in heaven, lost under the tenderness of this touch. This man has magic hands and my mind instantly goes south thinking about the other parts of me he could massage. The way his fingers dig into the right spot without causing too much pain amazes me. He leans in a little closer, his chest pressing to my back. His breath tickles my neck, causing the fine hairs to rise. I squeeze my legs together to fight off the impending ache. I shouldn’t feel like this, but I do. Every part of me is beginning to tingle because this hot-as-sin man is touching me.

“Auntie, we’re going to bed.” My eyes fling open and I stand, moving away from Xander. Quinn, Peyton and Elle are all smiling at me with their arms full of their blankets.

“I’ll take you.”

“We’re good.” They say as run off and start stomping up the stairs laughing.

“Little shits,” I mumble, as I walk over to the television. The movie isn’t over, yet they sure were in a hurry to get to bed.

“I should go.” I turn as Xander stands, putting us chest to chest. Our hands are down by our sides, only centimeters apart. It would take one flick of the wrist, and I could brush my finger along his. If I inhale, my chest will brush against his. I take a chance and look up. He’s staring down at me, his eyes blazing with heat. The attraction is there.

I step away. “Would you like some wine?” I ask, before mentally kicking my own ass. Wine is the last thing we need right now.

“I’d love some.”

Me too. The whole damn bottle so I can forget this moment. Xander follows me into the kitchen and sees our mess from earlier. I ignore it. We’ll have one glass, and he’ll leave. That’ll be the end of whatever this is.

I pull out the bottle, and he takes it from me, popping the cork like a pro. I take two glasses out of the cabinet and hand them to him. He pours for both of us, and picks up the wine filled glasses, carrying them over to the table. The very same table that has our half-eaten pizza mess all over it.

“Sorry about the mess. I was going to clean it after the movie, and now after this glass.” I hold up my glass to him before brining it to my lips.

“I’ll help.”

I shake my head. “You will not. You didn’t make the mess.”

Xander shrugs and takes a sip. “Tell me about yourself, Yvie.”

I look at him, and raise my eyebrow. “Can’t say much has changed from earlier.”

Xander blushes, and I decide right then and there that is one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen a man do. “I want to know about you, not my client who was telling me her ass is too big. And for the record, it’s not.”

“I know, you said that earlier.”

“I meant it.”

I sit up a bit straighter and lean in. I can’t hide my attraction for him even if I wanted to. “I’m four years younger than my brother. I’m here to get to know his family. I’m a dancer. And I think that’s it. Now tell me about you.”