“Yes. I figured out how to block him for now,” Penelope said, chewing her lush bottom lip. “So are you married or engaged?”
He shook his head. “No. You?”
“Would I have someone labeled JBF if I was?” she asked.
He laughed, because he suspected she wanted him to, and he’d also noticed that people talked more when they felt at ease. Plus, he’d been told one too many times that his face could be intimidating when he wasn’t smiling.
“I guess not.”
She took a sip of her gin and tonic and leaned in toward him.
“Feeling really adventurous?” he asked, because despite the fact that his gut was saying it was a mistake to get to know this woman better, he wanted to. He wanted to know if her hair was as silky as it looked and if her skin was as soft. He wanted to know if she’d be as fun in bed as she was out of it.
She arched one eyebrow at him and gave him a wink. “What’d you have in mind?”
“Something daring and dangerous—dinner with a total stranger.”
She tipped her head to the side. “That is really risky.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, you never know what I might do or say if you stick around.”
“Like I said, you’re a very interesting woman, Penelope Devlin.”
She nodded coyly. “Yes, I’ve decided I am. And I will have dinner with you.”
“Good. Now, how adventurous are you? Will you have a private meal with me in my cabin, or is it the hotel restaurant for us?”
“I’m not stupid,” she said. “We have just met so I’ll take the hotel.”
He smiled. “Perfectly understandable. Would a picnic dinner by one of the fire pits work for your comfort level?”
“Yes,” she said, taking out her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Texting my friend, who is the general manager of this lodge, to get the scoop on you,” she said.
He reached over and put his hand on top of hers. “I’ll give you the full rundown while we are eating. You did say you were ready for an adventure...”
She nodded again but it seemed more for herself than for him. “I guess you’re taking just as big a risk. After all, you know I’m armed and dangerous.”
She held up her cell phone and he chuckled.
“Yes, you are,” he said. She fascinated him; there was no denying it. The more he got to know her the more he wanted to be around her. There was something about her smile and her body... Hell, there was no denying he wanted her. This was Christmas, after all, so why shouldn’t he make it the best one possible?
Copyright © 2014 by Katherine Garbera
ISBN-13: 9781460343470
Wild Holiday Nights
Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
Holiday Rush
Copyright © 2014 by Samantha Hunter
Playing Games
Copyright © 2014 by Meg Maguire
All Night Long
Copyright © 2014 by Debbi Rawlins
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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