Free Christmas with Jack by Brooklyn Reese

“Kara, is that you?”
    I looked up to see a tall, muscular man in his early forties, his emerald green eyes staring down at me quizzically. He was far more gorgeous than I had remembered. He almost looked Hollywood-familiar with his sun-kissed skin and bits of silver peeking through his dark hair, each strand shining against the fluorescent lights inside the airport. I set my magazine in the chair beside me and stood to greet him, extending my hand.
    “Hi Jack. Long time no see. How was your flight?”
    Jack took my hand and I was awakened by the sizzle from his touch that still burned even after he’d pulled away.
    “It was good.” He looked around, then back at me with a quizzical expression. “Where’s your dad?”
    “He got stuck in a late meeting and said he'd catch up with you as soon as he could. I told him I'd pick you up and take you to the hotel since he couldn't make it. I hope that's okay.”
    He smiled, giving me a glimpse of the tiny dimple in his right cheek.
    “Of course it’s okay,” he chuckled. “It’s been what, three years? You’re all grown up now. I’d like to hear what you’ve been up to before your dad monopolizes all of my time showing me everything that has changed around this place since I left.”
    “Oh, I doubt it will be that bad. It’s Christmas, after all. Dad is a bit more mellow these days, especially this time of year. But then again, it has been a long time since he’s seen you, so I wish you luck. You’re going to need it.” I teased.
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” He laughed, winking at me as we headed for baggage claim.
    Once we’d finally made it across the walkway and were waiting to retrieve his luggage, he looked at me long and hard before speaking.
    “You’ve really changed over the years, Kara. I hardly recognized you back there. In fact,” he paused, shaking his head, acting as though he might not want to say what he was thinking. “In fact, when I first saw you, I thought I had found my date for dinner tonight.”
    My heart lurched when he said those last words. There was something so goddamn sexy about Jack; his voice alone had the power to intoxicate me and send shivers up my spine. Jack had changed a lot since I had last seen him as well. He was more settled; more relaxed, and my god had he been working out? I let my eyes rove appreciatively over his body, drinking in every ripple on his exposed skin, stopping briefly to admire the way he filled out his jeans. I still got tingles in all the same places just from being next to him, exactly as I had years ago. He could certainly get me wet without knowing, and without trying. I wasn’t ready to leave him or these feelings yet.
    “Who says you can’t take me to dinner anyway?”
    “Are you sure you would want to be seen out with this old man?”
      “Of course I would!” I giggled “I may only be nineteen, but I’m not stupid.”
    “Great,” he smiled. “Then I guess that luck you wished me is already working its magic. Shall we?”
    He grabbed his bags off the carousel and we headed out to the parking garage towards my car.
    “I have the perfect place in mind; it has great food and is quiet so we can catch up. Mind if I drive?”
    “Sure” I tossed him my keys and settled into the passenger seat.
    Jack took us to a little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant on the outskirts of town that he’d known about for years. The dim lighting and Old World décor made me feel like I was miles away from home on holiday, and I allowed myself to relax and focus all of my attention on Jack.
    From the time I’d discovered boys at fifteen, I would always fantasize about guys who were my dad’s age. Yes, those older men were what did it for me - they were powerful and that was what turned me on the most. I liked a man who was confident and in control; it was something I didn’t get much of with those silly high school boys. But if we’re being really honest here, Jack is the one who really got my