Free Kansas City Christmas by Julie Miller

passion. “The Kincaids aren’t gods. They’re just men. I can handle men.” She wound her arms around his neck and demanded a kiss. “You just keep giving me what I want. I’ll keep us safe…” she rocked against him and he knew he was lost “…and make us very, very rich.”
    Rich. Yes. He pulled her close and let the physical release take him, deciding somewhere between the panting and the sighs that he could lie to the Kincaids a little while longer. Millions of dollars in his pocket could make another headache, a weary conscience, and surrendering control to this woman a risk well worth taking.
     
    H OLLY PUSHED HER SHOPPING BAG , brimming with wrapped presents, to the far end of the booth and slid in beside it. Good. Their food had been served while she’d freshened up in the rest room. “Mmm. That looks and smells delicious.”
    The warm, rich scents of her prime rib sandwich and au gratin potatoes welcomed her back to the table. So did her sister, Jillian. “Oh, my gosh. These ribs are da bomb.” She lifted her fingers to her mouth so that she could speak more politely while she chewed her barbecue pork. “I swear I’m going to gain twenty pounds over Christmas break if you keep feeding me like this. This for sure beats the dorm food I’ve been eating.”
    “How often do I get to spoil my little sister?” She’d invited Jillian out for lunch and shopping, partly to make good on her word to Eli about keeping a closer eye on their sister while he was out of the country, but mostly because she treasured rare family moments like this. Ten years Jillian’s senior, she’d been forced to play the role of mother rather than sister after their parents had died. She liked playing grown-up friends 100 percent better. “Eat up. I’m going to put you to work back at the apartment while you’re staying with me.”
    “And your idea of work would be…?” Jillian’s long brunette ponytail bobbed as she turned her head at an inquisitive angle.
    Holly swallowed her bite of the cheesy, creamy potatoes.
    “I’m covering so many extra shifts at the lab this week, there’s no way I can finish decorating the apartment before Christmas. And you know it’s just not Christmas until I get the angel on top of the tree.”
    “And your ornament village set up.”
    “And we get Mom’s apples and pineapple centerpiece put together for the table.”
    “Fine.” Jillian wiped her lips with her napkin and smiled. “I’m up for decorating detail. Just don’t ask me to shovel sidewalks or scrape the windshield on any more cars. It’s amazing how quickly I’ve gotten used to going to school in Florida—and how fast all this snow and ice gets old. I enjoyed playing in the snow my first week home, but now…”
    Her mock shiver left them both laughing. As they chatted about this and that, plotted what gift to give Eli and finished their meal, Holly soaked in her sister’s successful turnaround from her days as an alarmingly skinny teen who’d rebelled in a big way after losing her parents. Once destined for basketball scholarships and an all-American life, Jillian had turned to drugs for escape from the pain. The drugs had gobbled up an inheritance and insurance money, gotten her kicked off the basketball team, turned her away from her family and finally landed her in rehab.
    Now she was in college working toward a degree in physical therapy. She’d been clean and sober for four years. Jillian was back to a healthy weight, and her self-esteem and mental outlook were equally healthy. Eli didn’t have a thing to worry about.
    Or did he?
    “Here you go, ladies.” Their waiter arrived with a tray and set a sauce-covered chocolate cake and a crème brûlée in the center of the table.
    “What’s this?” Jillian puffed out her cheeks, acting just as full as Holly felt. “Do you want me to work or nap?”
    “We didn’t order these.”
    The waiter turned to the side and pointed. “They’re compliments of this