Finally Satisfied by Tori Scott Page A

patio seemed to merge directly into a swimming pool. Lights
in the pool made the water look so inviting, even though she knew
it would be cold. “The pool is beautiful. I love to swim. It’s one
of the things I miss the most about growing up.”
    “It’s heated. Want to go for a swim?”
    She did. But not tonight. She shook her head,
wishing she had the courage to say yes instead. But she’d taken
some huge steps tonight and she wasn’t ready for another. “Not this
time. But ask me again sometime, please?”
    He put an arm around her shoulder, oh so
casually. His body heat warmed the chill she hadn’t even noticed.
Angel turned to look up at him. His head was closer than she’d
expected and his lips were barely an inch away. He had a firm,
masculine mouth. No pouty lips or thin, mean ones here. She licked
her lips and felt Mitch go very still.
    “Angel,” he whispered as he closed the
distance and their lips met.
    She knew it was wrong. She should push him
away. He was Eric’s brother, a Turner. He would turn against her
just like his parents and brother had.
    But when he teased her lips open with his
tongue and deepened the kiss, gathering her close to his warm body,
all thoughts of his family faded away and he was simply Mitch. The
one person who had always been there for her--or would have been if
she’d let him. The one who’d offered her a way to keep her baby,
even though he would have lost his chance at college, at the big
scholarship.
    She slid her arms around his neck, bringing
their bodies into full contact. She could feel how much he wanted
her. If he touched her, down there, he would know just how much she
wanted him back. But he didn’t. He kissed her senseless, then
simply held her, her head on his shoulder, until the cool night air
brought them both back to their senses.
    “I’m sorry,” he said as he guided her back
into the house. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
    “I’m not,” she whispered. But he didn’t hear
her. He was too busy trying to fill the awkwardness with words as
he walked her back out into the hallway, away from the temptation
of the four poster bed with the navy blue comforter, away from the
seduction of the moon and stars.
    She wished he’d stop. Stop talking. Stop
pulling away. Stop trying to fix every damned thing.
    ***
    “Merry Christmas, dear.” Angel’s mother was
in full Christmas morning mode. She’d started laying out the brunch
buffet and the family-sized table was covered from corner to corner
with everything from donuts to shrimp cocktail.
    “Merry Christmas, Mom. What’s all this? You
have enough food here to feed a dozen people”
    “Just a half-dozen. Whatever we don’t eat
this morning we can snack on this afternoon.”
    Angel stopped and turned to look at her
mother, who was frying sausage links on the stove. “A half-dozen,
Mom? There’s you, me, and Cara, right? That’s three. Oh, and I
guess Cara’s bringing Gray, so that’s four.”
    “Yes, and Reggie and Sam are coming by. He
gave his staff the day off.”
    “And you didn’t think to tell me about this?
I don’t have gifts for Reggie and Sam.” She’d barely had enough
money for presents for her mother and sister. And Mitch. His
present was hidden in her closet and she still wasn’t sure she had
the nerve to give it to him. Which reminded her… “Is anyone else
coming?”
    Mitch had said he spent Christmas Day with
Gray. So if Gray was coming here, that meant…
    “I believe Gray’s cousin might be coming with
them.”
    “Mo-om! Why didn’t you tell me? Oh my god, I
look like a mess.” She turned and ran up the stairs and hit the
shower. Christmas morning had always been a lazy occasion. No one
dressed up. Hell, most of the time they didn’t even get out of
their pajamas before noon. But this year her mother had changed
everything and hadn’t even thought to tell her.
    Angel stood under the pounding water and
washed her hair. It took her a few moments to realize that