Christmas Kisses Collection. Louise Allen

chemistry between them was unparalleled. Never had he experienced anything like what they’d just shared.

      “That. Was. Amazing.”

      He grinned at her punctuated words. “My thoughts exactly.”

      He turned onto his side and stared at her. “You are amazing.”

      “Ha. Wasn’t me.”

      “I think it was.”

      “Right. I assure you that I’ve been there every time I’ve had sex in the past and it’s never been like that so it must be you who is amazing.”

      His insides warmed at her admission. “For the record, it’s never been like that for me either.”

      Her expression pinched and she scooted up on a pillow. Shaking her head, she went for the sheet that was bunched up at the foot of the bed. When she’d covered her beautiful body, she turned to him.

      “I don’t really think I need to say this, not with a man like you, but I’m going to, just in case. I don’t want there to be any confusion.”

      He knew from her words, her tone what she was going to say. He was glad. He felt the same, but hearing the reminder was good and perhaps needed.

      “Despite your amazing orgasm-giving ability, I’m not looking for a long-term relationship.”

      “Me, either,” he assured her, trying not to let his ego get too big at her praise.

      “I guess that’s crude of me, to talk about the end when we’re still in bed and I feel wonderful. But we work together so we need to be clear about the boundaries of our relationship so work doesn’t become messy.”

      The thought of ending things with her, not being able to touch her, kiss her, make love to her and experience what they’d just shared, because it might make things messy, wasn’t a pleasant thought, but it should be.

      He didn’t want marriage or kids, didn’t want that responsibility, that weight on his heart, that replacing of Shelby. He’d made a vow to his first love. He owed Shelby his heart and more. McKenzie was right to remind them both of the guidelines they’d agreed to. Setting an end date and clear boundaries was a smart move.

      Two months for them to enjoy each other’s bodies, then move on with their lives. Him with his main focus being his career and charity work in memory of Shelby. McKenzie with her career and her running and whatever else filled her life with joy.

      Two months and they’d call it quits. That sounded just right to him.

      Staring at the oh-so-hot naked man in her bed, McKenzie hugged the sheet tighter to her.

      Please agree with me, she silently pleaded.

      She’d just had the best sex of her life and couldn’t fathom the idea of not repeating the magic she’d just experienced.

      But she would do just that if he didn’t agree.

      Already she was risking too much. That’s why she usually ended her relationships after a month, because she didn’t want pesky emotional attachments that might lead her down the paths her parents had taken. She didn’t want a future that held multiple marriages and multiple divorces like her father. Neither did she want the whiny, miserable, man-needing life her mother led.

      Bachelorettehood was the life for her, all the way.

      Hearing Lance agree that they’d end things in two months was important, necessary for them to carry on. She simply wouldn’t risk anything longer. Already she was giving him double the time she usually spent with a man.

      He deserved double time.

      Triple time.

      Forever.

      No, not forever. She didn’t do forever. Two months, then adios, even if he was an orgasm-giving god.

      “Promise me,” she urged, desperately needing the words.

      “Two months sounds perfect.”

      Relief flooded her, because she hadn’t wanted to tell him to leave. For two months she didn’t have to.

       CHAPTER TEN

      “YOU CAN’T BE working the entire Christmas holiday,” Lance insisted, following McKenzie to the hospital cafeteria table where she put down her food tray.

      She’d gotten a chicken salad croissant and a side salad. He’d gone for a more hearty meal, but had ended up grabbing a croissant as well.

      Sitting down at the table, she glanced at him. “I’m not, but I am working at the clinic half a day on Christmas Eve and then working half a day in the emergency room on Christmas morning.” She’d done so the past few years so the regular emergency room doctor could have the morning off with his kids and she liked filling in from time to time so she kept her emergency care skills sharp.

      “When will you celebrate with your parents?”

      Bile rose up in her throat at the thought of introducing Lance to her parents. Her mother would probably hit on him and her dad would probably ask him what he thought about wife number five’s plastic surgeon–constructed chest. No, she wouldn’t be taking Lance home for the holidays.

      Actually, when she’d talked to her mother a few days ago, Violet had said she was going to her sister’s for a few days and spending the holidays with her family. She hadn’t mentioned Beau, the latest live-in boyfriend, so McKenzie wasn’t sure if Beau was going, staying or if he was history. Her father had planned a ski trip in Vermont with his bride and a group of their friends.

      “We don’t celebrate the holidays like other folks.”

      “How’s that?”

      “We’ll meet up at some point in January and have dinner or something. We just don’t make a big deal of the day. It’s way too commercialized anyway, you know.”

      “This coming from the winner of the best costume in the Christmas parade.”

      She couldn’t quite keep her smile hidden. The call from the mayor telling her she’d won the award had surprised her, as had the Christmas ornament he’d dropped by the clinic to commemorate her honor.

      “Cecilia is the one who should get all the kudos for that. She put my costume together.”

      “But you wore it so well,” he assured her, giving her a once-over. “You wear that lab coat nicely, too, Dr. Sanders.”

      She arched a brow at him and gave a mock-condescending shake of her head. “You hitting on me, Dr. Spencer?”

      “With a baseball bat.”

      She rolled her eyes. “Men, always talking about size.”

      He laughed.

      “Speaking of size, you should see the tree my mother put up in her family room. I swear she searches for the biggest one on the lot every year and that’s her sole criterion for buying.”

      “She puts up a live tree?”

      “She puts up a slew of trees. All are artificial except the one in the family room. There, she goes all out and insists on a real tree. There’s a row of evergreens behind my parents’ house, marking Christmases past.”

      McKenzie couldn’t even recall the last Christmas tree her mother had put up. Maybe a skimpy tinsel one that had seen better days when McKenzie had still been young enough to ask about Santa and Christmas. Violet had never been much of a holiday person, especially not after McKenzie’s father had left.

      “She wants to meet you.”

      McKenzie’s