Reckless With Their Hearts by Terri Anne Browning, Anna Howard

time opening the wrapping. Inside was a pretty pillow that would look wonderful in her room. No doubt, by the silky embroidering, that it had cost a pretty penny. All around her everyone was laughing and tearing into their gifts. Eve heard Ami exclaim when she unwrapped the picture she had given her of Cameron in a silver and crystal frame.
    Garth played Santa next, giving everyone two gifts from the still large pile under the tree. E ve received a gorgeous necklace from Garth and a funny hat from Sebastian. Quinn put her own hat on and hugged her big brother. The gift giving went on for a good hour and Eve was still feeling sour and sulky, but she kept a smile on her face as she thanked Cameron for the rosary and Ami for the designer handbag.
    When the pile under the tree was down to only a few small presents Sebastian stood to play Santa. “Ho, Ho, Ho.” He said as he tossed gifts around.
    He had given one out to everyone but her when he suddenly dropped down beside of her and carefully placed a thin little box at her feet. “Merry Christmas, baby.” He said, his eyes intent on her face.
    Everyone else was busy either unwrapping something or clearing away some of the mess they had caused by the amount of discarded wrapping paper, so no one was paying the least bit of attention to her. With a frown, Eve picked up the box. She knew that it was jewelry because there was no wrapping on it, just a little ribbon on the outside. It was long and thin and there was no card to say who it was from.
    “Go on.” He urged as he dropped down beside of her.
    Slowly she raised the lid…And caught her breath. Inside set a white gold bracelet with several charms. One was a cross, and then a book beside of it. There was a tiny sea turtle—her favorite sea animal. The last was two interlocked hearts with a perfectly cut diamond in the center. “It’s…Its beautiful.” She whispered.
    “It was a last minute buy yesterday.” He murmured, taking the bracelet from the box and carefully snapping it into place around her right wrist. “I told the sales girl about this special woman in my life and she suggested this. Do you like it?”
    Eve couldn’t find words. She just set there looking down at his fingers still caressing her wrist, causing her heart to beat her to death. He had to know what he was doing to her with his fingers right over her pulse.
    “How about going for a drive with me later?” He inquired in a quiet, passion husky voice. “We can talk like I said we would last night.”
    Her head snapped up. “Last night?”
    He grinned. “Yeah. When I thanked you for the book last night I told you we needed to talk…Remember?”
    A blush crept up her neck and burned her cheeks. “I thought I was dreaming that.” She muttered.
    His grin disappeared and his eyes only grew hotter. “You dream of me?” Shyly she nodded, turning her attention back to the bracelet. “God!” He muttered and stood. “Later?”
    Eve could only nod.

Chapter 8
    Sebastian had to force himself to do long division in his head. Anything to keep his mind off the woman standing beside of him in the elevator!
    It was beginning to get late. They had spent most of the day with the family, enjoying the holiday, having a delicious meal—a meal that had tasted like dust in his mouth. He had been so hyped up for what was going to come afterwards to enjoy any of it.
    After everyone had a full stomach and seemed to be falling asleep from all the turkey, Sebastian had informed his father that he was taking Eve for a drive to look at all the Christmas lights. It had been a plausible excuse, after all Eve loved to see the lights reflecting in the snow. But his father had given him the oddest look and told him to be careful.
    It turned out that Garth was not completely clueless to the tensions burning between his son and stepdaughter. Sebastian had nearly changed his mind after that, but one look at Eve and he was lost. She dreamed of me! Her confession that