The Night Before Christmas: Naughty Christmas Nights / The Nightshift Before Christmas / 'Twas the Week Before Christmas. Tawny Weber
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Автор: Tawny Weber
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn: 9781474086172
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Another man?
A vicious clawing sort of fury gripped his guts. It took him a few seconds to realize the feeling was jealousy.
He didn’t like it.
“But hey, I figure someday, she’s going to adore me. Because, you know, I’m adorable,” Hailey added, giggling and looking just as adorable as she claimed. And, he noted, looking as though the punch was having its effect.
He should take her home.
But first...
“When do you give up?”
Her frown was the tiniest furrow between her brows, as if that wasn’t a question she let herself consider.
“If it’s important, you don’t give up.”
“Isn’t it smarter to check your ROI, and if the return isn’t worth the investment, simply walk away? Quit expending energy.” Gage shook his head, unable to imagine trying over and over again without success. Or only eking a few inches of success out of any given deal. He was an everything-or-nothing kind of guy, though.
“Isn’t it smarter to do what you love, and believe that it’s going to work out exactly how you want, than to give up on a dream and settle for less?” she countered.
Gage wanted to rub his gut at that direct hit. One she probably didn’t even realize she’d made. She couldn’t know how much he wanted to leave Milano. How badly he wanted to make his own mark.
Feeling his face fold into a scowl, he tilted his head toward the door.
“Ready to call it quits? I’ll drive you home.”
“What about my car?”
“I don’t think you should be driving tonight, do you?” He arched a brow at her empty punch glass.
“I don’t feel like I’ve had that much to drink,” she said, peering into the deep glass as if measuring her alcohol levels.
“It’ll hit you in about ten minutes,” he guessed. Through discussing it, he shifted off the stool and, his hand on her elbow, helped her slide off her seat.
The fur grabbed the fabric of her skirt, though, holding tight so as she slid off, he got a delicious view of her thighs. And those stockings.
Hello, baby.
Tiny roses, tempting lace.
Damn, but she did have a point about how enticing that romance look was.
He was so focused on watching her legs, even though she’d freed her skirt and that beckoning juncture was once again covered, that he forgot to move, throwing her off balance.
“Whoa,” she said, falling against him, her hands splayed over his chest as she righted herself. Her curves were sweet and tempting, pressed against his for just a second. Just enough to tease. But not nearly long enough for his tastes.
“I guess you’re right,” she said, her voice husky. Still a little unsteady, she let go of his chest to push one hand through her hair. “You’re going to need to take me.”
PUSSYCATS PACKED A WALLOP.
Hailey leaned her head against the leather seat of Gage’s car and let herself float on the punch-inspired sea of relaxation.
She wasn’t drunk.
She’d been drunk a few times. So she should know.
Nope. She was just relaxed.
Her body.
Her worries.
Her gaze shifted from the blur of taillights of the other cars on the freeway to the man driving.
Her inhibitions.
She wished she were drunk. It’d make it easier to do crazy things. The kind of crazy things that wouldn’t be smart business decisions. The kind of crazy things that’d make the next week’s competition with Gage much, much more difficult.
The kind of crazy things that’d feel oh so incredibly good. Things that followed up on the incredibly good feelings he’d given her earlier.
She’d like an orgasm where she didn’t have to be quiet. She’d enjoy having one that included naked body parts. And it’d be even better if most of those naked parts belonged to Gage.
Squirming a little, she dropped her gaze to his lap, and even though it was impossible to enjoy the view since he was seated and driving, she still stared.
Because what she wanted was right there.
Barely aware of what she was doing, she reached her hand out. Maybe to touch it, she wasn’t sure.
Before she could, Gage parked the car.
“Why’d you stop?”
“We’re here.” He tilted his head toward her apartment building. Eyes wide, she followed his gesture. They were here. How’d that happen so fast?
He gave her a curious look. “Are you okay?”
She took a quick inventory. Yep, still relaxed. But there was just enough horror coursing through her at the fact that she’d been about to pet his penis to assure her that, nope, she wasn’t drunk.
“I’m fine.” She offered him a bright smile, then gathered her purse, tucked her scarf tighter into her jacket to battle the chilly San Francisco air and reached for the door handle. “Thank you for the ride.”
“I’ll walk you up.”
“You don’t...” Have to, she thought, staring at the empty seat and closed door.
Well, then.
She turned to let herself out, but Gage was there, opening her door before she could fumble with the handle. He reached out to assist her from the car. Whether because he was a gentleman, or because he was afraid she’d face-plant it on the sidewalk, she wasn’t sure.
“Thank you for the ride,” she said, stepping onto the sidewalk with her feet, not her face. Not a hint of swaying, and only the tiniest desire to rub herself against his body. She was doing great.
“I’ll see you up.”
“It’s a secure building.” She pointed at the cameras and keypad by the glass entrance. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll see you up,” he repeated. Then he gave her a cute little shrug. “Hey, it’s a guy thing. End of date, see lady to the door.”
“This wasn’t СКАЧАТЬ