One Hot Christmas. Katherine Garbera

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      “Yeah.” There was a smile in his voice. “Really. That little pirouette you did for me after I took the dental floss out of your hair knocked me out.”

      “Wow. No one’s ever told me I bowled them over.” And if she needed justification for ignoring her dating steps, this might do the trick.

      “Surprised the hell out of me, too. You’re not my type at all.”

      “Oh? In what way?”

      “Uh...the women I date are usually more...full-figured.”

      With an internal sigh, she decided this cozy embrace was over and pushed against his broad chest. “Then maybe you’re hot for me because, even though I’m not your type, I’m handy and you’re in the mood.”

      “Hey, hey, I didn’t mean it like that.” His arms tightened around her.

      “Let me go, Ben. I get the picture. Chances are you’d be disappointed once our clothes are off, which they won’t be, because I’d sooner strip in front of a grizzly than you.”

      “Let me say my piece, okay? Then if you want to stay away from me for the rest of your visit, I won’t bother you.”

      Curiosity had always been both a blessing and a curse in her life. “Go ahead.”

      “You’re right about what I’ve always considered my type of woman.” He rubbed the small of her back while he talked.

      “Centerfold worthy.” She tried not to be affected by his touch. Logically she shouldn’t feel it much through her bulky coat, but when it came to Ben, she was extra sensitive. “I’m not built to those specs.”

      “You don’t have to be. You have something more important.”

      “Here it comes. You even said it already. You like that I have brains, but trust me, women don’t want to be adored just for their brains, even if they think they do. They want to be worshipped for their bodies, even skinny ladies like me.”

      His voice grew husky. “You have no idea how much I want to do that, Molly.”

      “Because you’ve been through a long dry spell?”

      “No, I haven’t. I broke up with somebody a couple of months ago.”

      “For some guys, two months is a long time. You could be one of those guys.”

      “I could, but I’m not. It wasn’t a very intense relationship, anyway.” He kept rubbing her back with slow, sure strokes. “But you—you would be intense. I thought so before I kissed you, and now I know it for sure. You’re so full of energy. That’s very sexy.”

      “It is?” She was feeling a little better about being in his arms. A lot better, actually.

      “Oh, yeah. You glow, Molly, and I’m so drawn to that. I want...” He swallowed. “I want to touch you all over and see if you’ll glow even brighter. I bet you will.” His voice roughened. “I want to see the excitement in your eyes when you’re about to come. I want to see you go up in flames.”

      She gulped. And quivered. And decided that maybe her dating steps weren’t all they were cracked up to be.

      “That’s all I have to say. If you want me to let you go and keep my distance while I’m here, I understand. We just met. I’m not a sexual opportunist, but you don’t know me well enough to be convinced of that.”

      “Yes, I do.” Her words were barely more than a whisper.

      “You do?”

      She cleared her throat. “Yes.” She was smiling, but he wouldn’t be able to see that. “A sexual opportunist wouldn’t have announced I’m not his type.”

      He blew out a breath. “That was so lame of me. I’m sorry.”

      “Except you told me the truth.”

      “It was the truth until I met you. And besides that, you were insulted. I didn’t mean to insult you.” His sensual back rub continued. “Your body excites me in a way I can’t describe very well.”

      “You’re welcome to keep trying.”

      He chuckled. “Okay, let me see if I can come up with a way to say it that makes sense. It’s like you’re sneaky sexy. A stealth vixen.”

      “A stealth vixen. I like that.” She also liked the way he’d brought her closer until she was pressed tight against his warm body. Even with the layers between them, she knew for a fact he wasn’t making this up. He really did want her.

      “It’s taken me awhile to evolve, but I think I’m finally learning to appreciate subtlety.” He paused in midstroke. “How am I doing? Is any of this making sense?”

      “Sort of.”

      “Where are we on your dating chart?”

      “Is this your way of asking if I’ll go to bed with you when we get back to the house?”

      “I wish.” He hugged her a little bit closer. “Much as I would love that, all we can do is fool around a little. No grand finale tonight, I’m afraid. I wasn’t expecting this and I’m completely unprepared.”

      She had a genius IQ, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what he was talking about. She debated telling him what she knew and finally decided that keeping the information to herself might not be right. He should have all the facts, too.

      Besides, she liked the idea of rocking him back on his heels. “Actually, that’s not a problem.”

      His sharp intake of breath was gratifying. “Why not?”

      “There’s a box in your bathroom.”

      “You’re kidding.”

      “I would never kid about a thing like that, Ben. That would be cruel.”

      “And you just happen to know this?”

      “I had a headache yesterday and I forgot to bring aspirin. There wasn’t any in my bathroom, so I looked in yours.”

      “I see.”

      Honesty made her amend that statement. “Actually, I found the aspirin right away, but once I was in there, I wondered what else was tucked in the drawers, so I checked everything out.”

      “God almighty, you’re like a little cat, poking your nose in everywhere. And I love it.” He hesitated. “But I’m still trying to get a bead on where we stand. Are we at yes, no or maybe?”

      “We’re at maybe. I still think we need to slow down a little. Don’t you?”

      “Truthfully? No. We’re two consenting adults and what happens upstairs stays upstairs. We’ve both proven we can keep a secret, and we only have four nights before you leave. By denying ourselves tonight, we’ve taken a potentially great experience off the table.”

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