The Best Of The Year - Medical Romance. Carol Marinelli

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      “I didn’t bring any. Just the rental snow boots.”

      Her brows went up. “Really? You live in Texas, and you didn’t at least bring some cowboy boots?”

      “I don’t own any.”

      “Wow, no boots. At all.”

      “My recreational choices normally involve water. No need for boots. Or even shoes.”

      Her lips twisted in a wry smile that made her eyes sparkle. “A man who prefers to go shoeless, huh? You wouldn’t survive long up here. Not if you wanted to keep those toes.”

      He peered down at her feet and noted that, unlike him, she did own boots, but these had a tall chunky heel to them. “And those don’t look any more practical than my own footwear.”

      That got a laugh out of her. “I know, aren’t they great? I don’t get much of a chance to wear them in my profession.”

      He came back to earth with a bump. That’s right. She worked here. Dr. Miranda Dupris. “You don’t have to entertain me, you know. I’m sure that’s not part of your job description.”

      “Oh, it’s the best part. Fraternize with all the handsome bachelors and make sure they’re happy.”

      He shot her a look, only to have her grin again. “I’m kidding. I’ll leave that to your buddy from the other day.”

      Mrs. Botox. Thankfully he hadn’t seen her since they’d parted ways in the lobby, despite Mira’s warning. Even in the dining room over the last two evenings there’d been no sign of her. But during his dinner with Mira and her father the blonde who had waved to Mira several days ago had made her way over to their table and given Mira a quick squeeze. Then she’d hugged Mira’s dad.

      As she’d said goodbye a few minutes later, she’d thrown one last wink Mira’s way. “Still five, I see.”

      “It’s not quite five. Ask me again in a couple of days,” Mira had replied.

      It was the same number they’d tossed back and forth the other day, when he’d wondered if they were meeting up for a drink or something. Neither of them expanded on the comment and after that cryptic exchange the blonde had flounced away, waving off attempts to get her to stay and eat dinner with them. “I’m going on a quick hike to work on my own resolution.”

      Only afterwards did he notice that Mira had made no effort to introduce her to him.

      Mira touched his arm, drawing him back to the present. “Do you want to head down the path to wait?”

      “Are you going to be okay in those boots?”

      “As okay as you’ll be okay in your shoes.” Her gaze slanted over him. “You look good, by the way.”

      “So do you.” It was true. For once she was hatless, her red hair flowing over her shoulders where it complemented the green of her blouse. Her warm brown eyes seemed darker than usual, although that could be the result of make-up or something. Whatever the cause, the woman was a knockout. And with her heels on, those legs of hers looked endless, her chin coming right to his shoulder level. Unusual for him. At five feet five, the top of Paula’s head, even in her tallest shoes, had barely come to the middle of his chest.

      Why was he suddenly comparing the two? Turning away, he picked up his leather jacket from across a nearby chair and shrugged into it, zipping it halfway up his chest. Putting on his armor? He forced a lightness to his voice that he didn’t feel. “You sure the sleigh company is going to send someone in this snow?”

      “They usually do. If not, we can go for a walk instead.”

      “With your boots and my shoes.”

      She tossed her head. “Why not? It’s just a little snow.” When she went to put her own coat on, he took it from her and held it out so she could slide her arms inside. His fingers brushed the warmth of her neck as he set it on her shoulders, the sensation of smooth silky skin branding itself on his senses.

      He forced his hands back into his pockets. “Shall we?”

      They strolled out the door and started down the pathway as the snow fell around them. It wasn’t deep on the sidewalk, more like a dusting, but Mira pulled the collar of her coat up around her neck anyway.

      “Are you going to be cold without a hat?”

      “I have one in my pocket. Besides, they have blankets in the sleigh that we can hunker down under.”

      Images of the two of them snuggled together beneath a pile of blankets came out of nowhere. And hell if they weren’t followed up by other images of what the parts hidden beneath the blankets could do.

      This was so not a good idea. He’d known if from the second she suggested they go together. Maybe he should start hoping that sleigh didn’t come after all.

      He zipped his jacket even higher, though it wasn’t in reaction to the cold that was trickling down his spine but because of a wave of warmth he couldn’t fight off.

      It had been far too long since he’d been with someone. Maybe he should have taken Mrs. Botox up on her offer. Except he wouldn’t hit on Mrs. Anything. As messed up as he was these days, he still didn’t believe in that.

      “How long is this ride, anyway?” A question he should have asked at the reception desk when he’d booked this little excursion. But he’d been too relieved at having survived dinner with Mira and her dad and too busy wondering if she’d told her father that the infamous future son-in-law was now an ex. How many of those did she have, anyway? He’d seen her with a couple of different guys when he’d arrived. Since he and Paula had been childhood sweethearts, he’d never been down the date-’em-and-leave-’em path. He’d had a couple of one-night stands since his wife’s death, but that was the extent of it. And it had been over a year since his last rendezvous.

      One of Mira’s feet slid for a second, and Jack put his hand out to steady her.

      “Sorry,” she said. “Guess I laughed at your choice of footwear a little too soon, since you’re doing better in yours than I am in mine.”

      “Here.” Holding out his elbow to her, he wasn’t sure if he was elated or disturbed when she took him up on the offer and looped her arm through his and hugged close. It was too much like what she’d done when rescuing him from Mrs. Botox’s advances.

      And he liked the feel of her next to him a little too much. It felt warm and companionable. Just like Mira herself.

      The woman didn’t talk nonstop, like he’d been expecting. And he found himself wishing she did. He liked the sound of her voice.

      How the hell did he even know what her voice sounded like?

      He did, though. He could hear it in his head. Hear the words they’d exchanged since their first meeting less than a week ago.

      Was that all it had been?

      “We should be good here,” she murmured.

      “Good?”

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