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Holiday Boyfriend

It’s the holiday season and if you’re like me, you’re consumed with decorations, shopping and tying up ends. So I’m going to make this a brief post.

Two years ago, I published my first holiday novella. It’s a warm story about a mature couple discovering love unexpectedly. Here’s a little taste of holiday love.
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Holiday Boyfriend
VALERIE

I am still in awe at how a chance encounter in the elevator introduced me to a man who is everything I longed for and the opposite of what I was mourning. Looking back on my relationship with Stephen I see I didn’t pay attention to the signs. What’s that saying, ‘when people show you who they are, believe them.’ Stephen said he wasn’t ready for marriage, and I ignored him. The reality is, he was but not with me.
“I think we did a good job,” Christian said looking at the Christmas tree.
“I agree.” I sipped my wine. “I’m hungry.”
“Me too. What do you want to eat?”
“Hmmm…I don’t know. If you had asked me that before I met you, I would have probably said Thai or Greek.”
“Good options.”
“Yes, but you have exposed my taste buds and now I look at food differently.”
“Really.” He smiled and his eyes seemed to sparkle.
“So, I should probably ask, what do you have a taste for?”
He pulled me close. “You know that’s a loaded question.” He teased.
I playfully slapped his thigh and it felt like knocking wood. Christian was solid. “You know what I mean.”
“I know what you said.” His hands slid down and patted my behind.
I looked at him. “Keep it up and you’ll be getting coal in your stocking.”
“You are beautiful. I could feast on you all evening.” He crushed his mouth against mine and kissed me hard. I quickly gave in to the kiss and climbed onto his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pushed his tongue inside my mouth and kissed me harder.
I was lost in the taste and feel of him. He eased his hands down, cupped my behind and pulled me closer. I felt him getting aroused as he kissed me harder.
Who was this woman making out like a teenager with a man she barely knew?
I broke the kiss, pulled back breathing hard. I opened my eyes and saw something I never saw in all the years I was with Stephen…passion and a future. How could that even be possible? I’ve only known Christian a short time. How could I have developed such strong feelings for him so quickly?
“I…I…” I tried to stand up, but he wouldn’t let go of me.
“What’s wrong?”
“This isn’t right.”
“We haven’t done anything, although I’m open.” He smiled.
“You’re shameless.” I smiled.
“I’m honest.” He gently kissed me. “I know we aren’t there, but I’m putting everything out there. Valerie, you’ve got me thinking and…”
“Is that a bad thing?” I teased.
“It could be.”
“I need food.”
“I need you in my life.”
“You’ve got me.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I told you I don’t want to do the distance thing.”
“What if things were different? What if I were here?”
“Don’t make changes based on a fling.”
“I told you, I know what I want and this…”
I crushed my mouth against his. I didn’t want to think about what he was suggesting…not right now.

____________

I should have known it was just a matter of time before Keisha found out about my secret holiday boyfriend. That’s what I called Christian. He laughed and said he was wearing me down.
Knock…Knock…Knock…
“Come in.” I looked up and saw my best friend of more than twenty years enter. “What’s going on?”
She walked forward and sat down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. “Gary said he didn’t know you were down with the swirl.”
“Excuse me.”
She crossed her legs and leaned back in the chair. “He said he didn’t know you were down with the swirl.”
“First of all, that doesn’t sound like Gary, but more like you. Second, what are you talking about?”
“Gary said he saw a woman who looked a lot like you a few days ago being very affectionate with a…how did he put it…a hot Santa.”
I smiled. “Gary is starting to sound a lot like you.”
“I got your shade.” She smiled. “Anyway, what’s going on? Was that your secret admirer?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, because when he saw everything…”
“What do you mean saw everything?”
“Last weekend he picked me up at the office and…”
“Interesting choice of words.”
I cringed. I knew what she was intimating. “What?”
“Is it true you picked him up in the elevator? And that you’ve spent almost every night the past two weeks together?”
“Seems Gary has been talking to Ethan.”
“No, it was Ivan.”
“Technically, it was a mutual pick up and yes, we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
She scrolled through her contacts and pressed a number. “Ivan, hold all of Valerie’s calls…I’ll let you know…bye.”
“Did you just give my assistant…”
“That’s not important.”
“Fine. What do you want to know?”
“Name…marital status…kids…family… home base…career…”
“Christian Nichols…divorced…it ended because she cheated with his friend…no children…he’s an architect…he travels a lot for work which his ex didn’t like…he grew up in the city, but now he’s based in Portland.”
“Maine or Oregon?”
“Oregon. He’s in town to spend the holidays with his family.”
She looked at me like she was searching me for fingerprints or something. “What aren’t you telling me?”
I rubbed my forehead and exhaled. “He’s very charming and…the things he says.”
“What sort of things?”
“He said he knows what he wants, and what he wants includes me.”
She leaned forward and moved to the edge of the chair. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“He…the things he says are so…I don’t know if he’s being truthful or just playing with me.”
“What things?”
“I told him about Stephen and he said the breakup wasn’t my fault. That Stephen never intended or wanted anything permanent with me.” I dabbed at the corner of my eye. “Christian said I deserve more, and he wants to give it to me.”
“Whoa…uhm…what?”
“I told him I didn’t want to do the distance thing.”
“Millions of couples do the distance thing.”
“I know, but you were right.”
“About…”
“Romance…love. I thought I was too old for love, but I was wrong.”
“Uh-huh,” she replied with a smirk.
I tapped my fingers on the desk. “Spending time with Christian has woken me up. Call me selfish, but I want more from my man.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t want him to be ashamed to be affectionate in public. Hold my hand, put his arm around me, hold me close or kiss me. Nothing obscene, but affectionate. If I’m feeling a little frisky, I want to roll over to his office or place and…”
“Based on what Gary said, I take it Christian has no problem being affectionate in private or public.”
“No. Our first kiss happened in the elevator.”
Her eyes got wide. “Excuse me. What did you say?”
“When he picked me up we were talking, and then he just crushed his mouth against mine. Girl, the way he kissed me…I have never been kissed like that. I felt it down to my toes…and his hands…uhmmm…the way he holds me is…it’s passionate…he’s…it’s like I’ve woken up and…I have to tell you, he is very difficult to resist.”
“Wow.”
“He’s very determined, but he scares me.”
“How?”
“I’ve only known him a couple of weeks, and he’s talking like we’ve been together much longer. Girl, he’s talking about the future, completely ignoring what I said about not wanting to do the distance thing. Even if I was good with the distance thing, it’s too soon to talk about the future.”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but how long were you with Stephen before he mentioned the future?”
“A couple of years, and I was the one who brought up the subject.”
“But after two weeks…”
“Our second date.”
Her mouth was as wide as her eyes. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“Within the first seventy-two hours.”
“That right there is big baller talk.”
“What if it’s just talk?”
“I don’t know him, but based on what you’ve told me, I don’t think it is. Sounds like he’s serious.”
“He came over and helped me decorate my tree and apartment.” I smiled.
“I’m sorry, did you say he helped you with your tree?”
“Yes, after I helped him with some Christmas shopping, he came over and helped with my tree. Afterward, we ordered some food and made-out like teenagers. Girl, he’s very,” I sucked on the corner of my mouth. “Yeah, baby boy is uhm…”
“Valerie…Valerie…”
“I’m sorry. What was I saying?”
“You were reliving your youth on the sofa with Santa Hottie.”
“You went Christmas shopping…as a couple?”
I sat back with my arms folded across my chest. “Yep.”
“How old is he? Gary thinks he’s an old man trying to recapture his youth.”
“Tell Gary, he has nothing to worry about. He and I are in the same age neighborhood. He’s just prematurely grey.”
“Seems I’m going to have to find you another Christmas gift.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I told you I was getting you a man for Christmas.”
“You weren’t serious.”
“Yes, I was. I have an appointment with a matchmaker.”
“What…Keisha…cancel it.”
“Maybe I’ll keep it and use it for Ivan. I’m not a fan of that trick he’s been seeing.”
I shook my head, laughing. “You are too funny.”
“Back to you. I know it’s scary being with someone who knows what they want.”
“You’re right about that.”
“So, what about your secret admirer?”
“I still think it’s a vendor. When they reveal themselves, book an appointment.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“What if it turns out to be an admirer?”
“Trust me, this isn’t the romantic fairytale you and everyone is hoping for.”