Holiday with You - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,11
vow.”
Glancing toward Audrey, I wonder if she could be my exception. The one visitor I can take and forget.
The bartender brings out the beers, and without a word, Colton and Morgan walk toward Audrey’s table.
“Are those seats taken?” Morgan sits in one before she answers.
She glances at us and grins at Colton. “I knew you looked familiar. Are you a cousin or another brother?”
“Brother,” I answer. “There are five of us.”
“The other two are the cute ones,” Morgan adds. “If you stick around, you might meet them.”
She sighs. “I might as well search for a job here. My boss just told me I can’t go home until we acquire the B&B.”
I should tell her it’s not for sale. No matter how much money they offer, the owner is not going to sell the place. I can’t, though. The town has sworn to keep a lid on who owns it and where to find that person.
I wonder how she tastes. I shouldn’t be thinking about her that way. Visualize her as a unicorn. I do, and I must have a concussion from last night’s crash because I want her. Even with her wearing that ridiculous outfit, I'm attracted to her.
Our mission, just like the rest of the town, is to redirect her attention from the B&B toward any other subject.
So that’s what we do.
Morgan asks if she’s spoken to the insurance company. She hasn’t. Then Colt explains the muffin flavors offered by the bakery.
I bring her two more glasses of red wine and a glass of water, but she only drinks half of one of the glasses. Around midnight, my brothers call it a night.
“You could help me search for Ms. Grant,” she proposes.
I laugh. “I can help you with a lot of things, but that is nearly impossible.”
“Oh yeah, what else can you help me with, Colin Bradford?” she asks with a flirty tone. “Did I tell you my ex-boyfriend is getting married?”
I’m not sure how one thing connects with the other, but I ask, “Are you okay with that?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t love him, but couldn’t he wait at least a year to find, ‘the one’?” She takes a sip of water. “She’s twenty-one. A child. I’m in my prime, about to turn thirty, and . . . he makes me feel old.”
I reach out and brush a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You’re beautiful, funny, and intelligent. He’s an idiot for letting you go.”
Her expression becomes animated, or it’s the wine going to her head. “Look at you, stroking my ego and making me feel like a model.”
“A model?”
“I’m sure you only sleep with women who are size zero and have flawless skin.”
Shaking my head, I say, “You’d be wrong. If you’re trying to get me into bed, that line is not working.”
She bursts into a huge laugh that makes everyone turn toward her. “You’re full of yourself. If I wanted to sleep with you, I’d just say”—she pauses, tilts her head, smiles, and flicks her big eyes a couple of times—“would you like to get into my bed?”
“Direct. I like it,” I say.
“Just kidding.” She composes herself. “I don’t think I’ve ever propositioned a man. Have you?”
“A man?” I arch an eyebrow. “Definitely not.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes with laughter.
“Nothing against gay men, I just don’t find men attractive,” I explain further. “Now you? I find you . . . delectable.”
“Well, now we’re using big words,” she says, grinning. “Does the big bad wolf want to eat the unicorn?”
“Let me walk you back to your hotel,” I suggest, putting a stop to the conversation, not because I don’t want to kiss her, but because I refuse to do it in the bar where they can see us.
She blushes and nods. We put on our jackets and walk to the B&B across the town square.
When we are at the door, I pause. Obviously, Audrey has been hurt recently, and if I’m just her one-night stand to get her over being hurt, then I’ll take it. It’s been over two years since I’ve had sex, and even though I’ve had a few offers from travelers, until tonight, I haven’t been tempted to sleep with any Winter Valley tourists.
Except, I want this woman.
She’s sensual and quirky—two character traits that shouldn’t go together, yet they do.
I decide to be straight. “I want to taste you. Right now.”
Bending closer, I take her mouth with mine. We kiss slowly. The timid exploration makes my heart hammer. She tastes