shot through my body. Vermont was beautiful. But I enjoyed the cold weather outside, not inside. I climbed into my red and black checkered flannel PJ’s. My sock covered feet felt cozy in my red and green elf slippers. I nabbed the red hooded robe and slid it over my PJ’s. Tying it tight, I strolled into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. The way he leaned over me at dinner was hot. Did Noah notice how hard I stared at his delicious lips? I gargled, then patted my face dry with a red hand towel. I massaged moisturizing cream all over my face. The cream gave my cinnamon skin a nice glow. This weather could be brutal on my dry skin. Had to protect it.
Something or someone appeared in my periphery. My head snapped to the small bathroom window. “What the hell?” The wolf sniffed the snow outside my window. My hands flew over my mouth.
Shit, I have to get out of here.
Sure, could’ve used my shotgun right about now. No way would I leave it at home next time. I scurried to the kitchen, scooped up my keys, and darted out the front door. Quietly, I pulled it shut and locked it. My heart beat in my throat as I tiptoed toward my neighbor’s house. I glanced to the right. The wolf strolled back into the woods. No way was I taking any chances. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, hoping not to bust my ass in the snow because of my oversized slippers. Huffing and puffing, I stood on his porch, then slammed my fist against the thick wooden door. The howling started again. Shit, I should’ve said if wolves were near, the deal was off the table.
Tremors struck my frame as my heart beat moved to my ears. Fuck, where is this man?
The scowling beast swung the door open, clutching a white towel around his waist. I drank in his soapy, glistening muscled chest.
His eyes roamed my body. “What in the ever-loving fuck do you have on?”
“No time for that. The wolf is back.” My wide eyes shot to the right, meeting the gray wolf’s bright blue eyes.
“Fuck!”
Noah ushered me inside and closed the door. “Your timing’s great. I was in the middle of a shower.”
“My timing? How about the wolf’s timing? I didn’t plan to see your face until tomorrow.”
I ran my hands over my arms.
His jaw ticked as he stared at me.
“I won’t be a bother. I’ll sit right here. My slippers are soaked.” Sitting in front of the fire, I peeled off my socks and slippers, turning my palms to the fire.
“Ok. I’ll rinse off and scare him away.”
My eyes fell over his beautiful pecs again. I gulped. “Sounds great.”
How would I sleep knowing all that sexy man was lying in the next room?
CHAPTER THREE
NOAH
“Creep much, Noah,” I mumbled to myself, staring at the woman with cinnamon skin, smiling and twisting her boots in the snow.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away. She was breathtaking. Her smile was infectious, and I hated smiling. Well, this week anyway. My brothers insisted I take a vacation. They said if I didn’t take care of myself, I’d kill over like grandfather did. Late one night he was at his repair shop working on a customer’s classic car when his heart clunked out.
My grandfather Piero Benatti enjoyed his work and had no intention of retiring.
I planned to take it easy someday. My brothers said the time was now. They promised to run the company to my strict standards. I was the only one out of my brothers to attend community college. I spent my spare time brewing and testing batches of beer. In order to purchase supplies, I had to work. From skiing and snowboarding lessons to home renovations; those jobs paid for my obsession.
An obsession I inherited from my father. He loved beer. To be fair, he loved to drink alcohol. He had great ideas but could never fund them. And never followed through on brewing a beer to perfection.
A brew that would stand out amongst the competition. My goal was to create a beer that offered a smooth, rich taste. The brew would be so smooth a person couldn’t just have one beer. That was my motto. Canyon Brewing Company was born when I was twenty-five years old. It took five years before we earned a billion in revenue. We recently became the second popular beer company in the U.S. to Budweiser.