Katherine Garbera - After Midnight

Countdown to a kiss...

At the stroke of midnight, Lindsey Collins will finally kiss Carter Shaw. A former championship skier, Lindsey had a life of all training and no play until a devastating injury sidelined her. Now she’s ready to put her good-girl ways behind her and kick off the New Year with a little fun...and the sexy snowboarder is the perfect distraction!

Now that Carter has Lindsey in his arms for one mind-blowing night, he’s not giving up. He’ll do whatever it takes to break through her Ice Queen exterior and show her he’s more than just a fun time. But how can she believe in him when she can’t even believe in herself enough to return to skiing—and all that she’s worked for?

“The countdown is starting...”

It had already begun, Lindsey thought. It had started ten long years ago, and now it came down to this moment.

Three, two, one...

She went up on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Carter’s neck and met his mouth with hers.

His hands on her waist tightened as he drew her closer into the curve of his body. His chest was firm against hers. Solid. He held her as if he wasn’t going to let her fall. Let her crash. And that was exactly what she needed.

Her pulse was racing, and little tingles were shooting down her body. Turning slightly, he moved them a few steps off the dance floor.

She felt the hard wall at her back and the warmth of Carter’s skin through his shirt as he pulled her closer.

She needed more. So much more from him at this moment.

“Want to get out of here?” he asked.

She nodded. Tonight, she was impulsive...

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Extract Copyright ,

Happy New Year! Do you make resolutions? I do. I’m shameless in my love of making lists and then working until I can check them off. Lindsey hasn’t had the best year, and she’s determined to make this new one count. She’s starting over after a career-ending injury, and honestly, the last person she really wants to see is hotshot snowboarder Carter Shaw. But he’s been flirting with her for forever, and she’s tired of denying herself. Hey, it’s New Year’s Eve, so why not, right?

Of course, those kinds of decisions always have consequences, and one of them is the fact that Lindsey actually likes Carter more than she expected. And he’s way more into her than a playboy should be.

I hope you’ll enjoy this conclusion to the Holiday Heat series.

Happy reading!

Katherine

After Midnight

Katherine Garbera

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KATHERINE GARBERA is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than fifty books and has always believed in happy endings. She lives in England with her husband, children and their pampered pet, Godiva. Visit Katherine on the web at katherinegarbera.com, or catch up with her on Facebookand Twitter.

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This one is for Nancy Thompson and

Mary Louise Wells. Thank you for the gift

of your friendship.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Countdown to a kiss... At the stroke of midnight, Lindsey Collins will finally kiss Carter Shaw. A former championship skier, Lindsey had a life of all training and no play until a devastating injury sidelined her. Now she’s ready to put her good-girl ways behind her and kick off the New Year with a little fun...and the sexy snowboarder is the perfect distraction! Now that Carter has Lindsey in his arms for one mind-blowing night, he’s not giving up. He’ll do whatever it takes to break through her Ice Queen exterior and show her he’s more than just a fun time. But how can she believe in him when she can’t even believe in herself enough to return to skiing—and all that she’s worked for?

Introduction “The countdown is starting...” It had already begun, Lindsey thought. It had started ten long years ago, and now it came down to this moment. Three, two, one... She went up on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Carter’s neck and met his mouth with hers. His hands on her waist tightened as he drew her closer into the curve of his body. His chest was firm against hers. Solid. He held her as if he wasn’t going to let her fall. Let her crash. And that was exactly what she needed. Her pulse was racing, and little tingles were shooting down her body. Turning slightly, he moved them a few steps off the dance floor. She felt the hard wall at her back and the warmth of Carter’s skin through his shirt as he pulled her closer. She needed more. So much more from him at this moment. “Want to get out of here?” he asked. She nodded. Tonight, she was impulsive...

Dear Reader

Title Page After Midnight Katherine Garbera www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KATHERINE GARBERA is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than fifty books and has always believed in happy endings. She lives in England with her husband, children and their pampered pet, Godiva. Visit Katherine on the web at katherinegarbera.com , or catch up with her on Facebook and Twitter .

Dedication This one is for Nancy Thompson and Mary Louise Wells. Thank you for the gift of your friendship.

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Extract

Copyright

1

“HELLO, GORGEOUS.”

Carter Shaw.

Bad boy, snowboarder and Lindsey Collins’ worst nightmare. Carter was everything she wasn’t, and if she was being totally honest, everything she sort of wished she could be.

“Hello, trouble.”

He laughed in that husky deep-throated way of his.

She tried to ignore the fact that his eyes were a kind of blue-gray that reminded her of early mornings on the slope just after the sun came up. His dark hair was thick and curly on the top, but at this moment cut short on the back of his neck. She’d seen him wear it a lot longer, but this sportier cut called even more attention to his handsome, gorgeous face. He had that sexy stubble that made her fingers tingle with the urge to touch it each time she saw him. And it didn’t help her libido that the guy had that relaxed vibe of someone who’d grown up in California. To her, he’d always looked as if he should be on a surfboard instead of a snowboard.

“Nice shindig,” he said. “If you like glamour.”

Briefly glancing away to check out their surroundings, she smiled despite herself. The club at the Lars Usten Resort and Spa certainly did New Year’s Eve in a big way. Lots of champagne. Lots of partygoers. Hats and horns for everyone. There was a large dance floor in the middle and banquettes around the end, as well as lots of high tables.

“I can do glamour,” she replied.

“You sure can,” he said with a wink.

“Are you hitting on me?” she asked. “You’ve always said you’d rather kiss your snowboard than a Super G skier.”

“Well, you are looking a lot better than my snowboard at the moment.”