Katherine Garbera - One Hot Christmas

“Which brings up another important point. How do you want to play this?”

She was quiet for a little too long. “I don’t know.”

He couldn’t blame her for being hesitant to reveal what was going on between them. She was a part of this family and her behavior would come under some scrutiny as a result. Even though she was an adult capable of making her own decisions, Sarah might feel a certain responsibility for her.

“We’ll keep it to ourselves,” he said, letting her off the hook.

“Thank you.” Relief showed in her expression. “It’s not that I’m ashamed of what we’ve done. It’s just—”

“Never mind. I get it. You don’t want your relatives to know you hopped into bed with a virtual stranger on his first night here.”

“When you put it that way, it sounds pretty wild, doesn’t it?”

He smiled. “It was pretty wild.”

“Yeah.” Her voice was filled with wonder, as if she couldn’t quite believe what had happened in this room. “This is not like me, at all.”

He sat up. “Regrets?” He said it lightly, but her answer meant more to him than he wanted to admit.

She met his gaze. “No. Last night was amazing. I didn’t know sex could feel like that, or that I could respond the way I did. I’ll never forget what we’ve shared.”

“That sounds like a kiss-off speech.” His chest felt tight. “Are you reconsidering meeting me after the party?”

“Oh, no, I want to.”

He let out his breath.

“But last night I didn’t give much thought to how our choice could be interpreted by the rest of the family. To be honest, I wasn’t doing much thinking at all. I wanted you and that wiped out every other consideration.”

“And now you’re worried about what others might think.”

“I am. Maybe that’s cowardly and I should be stronger, but—”

“Hey, you don’t have to explain.” He was a little disappointed, but he did understand. Tossing back the covers, he searched the floor for his underwear. “I am a virtual stranger.”

“Not anymore.”

“Nobody else will find out.” He located his briefs and pulled them on. “Not from me, anyway.”

“Thank you, Ben.”

“Just don’t go ogling my butt or someone might notice.”

“I promise not to ogle your butt, although I have to say, it’s very ogle-worthy.” She grabbed her boots and jacket. “So is the rest of you.”

“Likewise.” He stepped into his jeans.

“Don’t be silly.”

“I’m not being silly.” After picking up his shirt, he glanced at her. “Your body drives me out of my mind.”

“Come on. You don’t have to say that.”

“No, I don’t, which is why I am saying it.” He took a deep breath and let it out. His intense gaze locked with hers. “I look at you and think of how you rode my cock, your breasts bouncing, and how wet you are for me, always, and how tight, and how sliding inside you makes me want to come the minute we connect.”

Her cheeks flushed.

“I won’t be able to not think about that today, Molly.”

She swallowed. “Me, either. So we’d better stay away from each other—at least, most of the time.” With a little moan of frustration, she whirled toward the door. “I’m getting out of here while I still can.”

“Check the hall and make sure the coast is clear.”

“I will. Tonight I’ll come over in my robe. That might help.”

He chuckled. “It’ll certainly make it easier to get started.”

She glanced at the box of condoms on the nightstand. “Put that back, okay?”

“You bet.”

Opening the door, she peered out. “Looks deserted.” Then she turned and her gaze swept over him. “You’re a beautiful man.”

His throat tightened. “You’re a beautiful woman.”

She gave him a quick smile before running out into the hall.

He stepped to the door and watched until she disappeared into her room. Then he sighed. Although he wouldn’t change a single thing that had happened, she was working her way under his skin. Eventually he’d have to face the truth—a long weekend with her wouldn’t be nearly enough. But he wouldn’t worry about that today. Today he would practice ignoring her. That would be challenge enough without thinking about a future that didn’t have Molly in it.

10 Contents Cover Title Page A Last Chance Christmas Vicki Lewis Thompson Under the Mistletoe Katherine Garbera Ignited Kimberly Van Meter Where There’s Smoke Liz Talley www.millsandboon.co.uk A Last Chance Christmas Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Epilogue Under the Mistletoe About the Author Dedication 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Ignited About the Author 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Where There’s Smoke About the Author 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Endpage Copyright

MOLLY HAD NEVER thought of herself as much of an actress, but she hoped she gave a convincing performance as she moved through the day of party preparations. Ben made good on his offer to help, which meant he was tantalizingly close by most of the time. He moved furniture with ease and his height came in handy for attaching decorations to the exposed ceiling beams.

Not for the first time, she turned and found herself staring at his impressive package, which was currently at eye level while he stood on a ladder to hang a cluster of balloons and a Happy Birthday banner.

She hoped nobody had caught her sudden intake of breath or the blush she’d felt rising to her cheeks. Or maybe they’d think she was a modest little thing who wasn’t used to getting up close and personal with a man endowed like Ben. Little did they know she knew all about what he kept tucked away inside his jeans.

The bustle of preparations helped to cover any slipups on her part. Holiday traditions at the Last Chance felt familiar to Molly, which wasn’t surprising considering that her Grandpa Seth had been Nelsie’s brother. The Christmas carols blasting from the sound system in the living room were by the same artists Molly’s family loved.

She was thrilled to arrange the nativity scene on the mantle. Her parents had an identical set that was also a little chipped, yet beloved. Nelsie had bought both sets more than seventy years ago and had given one to her brother and his wife.

Tasks like this temporarily distracted her from thinking about Ben. Each time she finished a chore, she’d turn around, and there he’d be, doing something helpful and manly. He was the most tempting man she’d ever met.

He treated her with casual courtesy, as if he barely noticed her. She had the perverse urge to pinch his butt and remind him that she was standing behind him as he showed off his perfect ass to every female in the vicinity.

That urge was so unfair. She was the one who’d been reluctant to let anyone know that they’d established an extremely intimate connection on a very brief acquaintance. He was only acting the way she’d asked him to.

Possessiveness on her part was not only unattractive but uncalled-for. They’d struck a deal—a fun romp for however long he was here followed by a cheerful parting of the ways. Under those circumstances, she had no claim on him, and he had no claim on her.

The arrangement felt completely unreal to her, though, because she’d never entered into one like it before. She’d never gone to bed with a man who hadn’t been a potential mate. None of her three previous lovers had turned out to be her one and only, but she hadn’t known that until they’d spent some quality time together, including having sex.

What she’d shared with them hadn’t come within a mile of what she’d discovered with Ben, and now she had a whole new concept of what made for a perfect partner. She hoped that Ben wasn’t one in a million. If so, she was in for a long search.