Baby It's Cold Outside

by Heidi Rice

  He was all man. A heart-stoppingly gorgeous man.

  A memory resurfaced, being pressed against his hard body, her breast relishing the feel of the firm muscles of his arm. But despite her sloppy, vodka-and-tonic-induced posture, those intriguing hazel eyes had remained cool and unflustered. Which was especially cruel because they were heavily fringed with the most sinfully sensual lashes ever. Up until now, Evie had refused to admit to herself what a sexy male specimen Mr. Wes Campbell was, because the silent disapproval he’d radiated in the past had pissed her off to no end. She’d had enough of that at home, thank you very much. Not to mention he only dated the right kind of girl, and Evie Burling would certainly never qualify.

  And why hadn’t she noticed that the plane had landed? Even more urgent, what the hell had happened on that flight?

  She eyed Wes warily, determined to find out, and desperately hoping the truth wasn’t too humiliating.

  Evie decided to start with the easy stuff. “I don’t remember getting off of the plane.”

  “I’m not surprised,” he said, his dreamy-looking eyes remarkably focused. “I practically carried you off.”

  She bit her lower lip but refused to look away. Bad enough she had to return home with her tail between her legs, every possession she owned packed into one suitcase. Twenty-six years old. Boyfriendless. And jobless.

  The prodigal daughter was returning a true loser.

  At least that was what her family was sure to think. She’d given up trying to please her parents, because they’d expected another Ivy League grad, like her brother and older sister. Or for her to at least marry one, like her little sister.

  And while her siblings would welcome her back with open arms, drowning her with love and concern, they’d certainly be mentally screaming “we told you so.” Her sisters would instantly scramble to find her a replacement man, as if that would fix everything. Worse, they’d insist on a Type A successful executive who would fit with her family’s idea of the perfect match, but would make Evie want to run screaming in the other direction.

  She eyed Wes again, knowing he fit the description. But somehow she wasn’t able to work up the protest she would have years ago. Normally his take-charge attitude would have rubbed her the wrong way. After years in her father’s image-first, money-obsessed, domineering presence, she’d grown up chafing at even the suggestion of authority.

  Which was why Chuck had been so appealing. Fun, easygoing Chuck, who never took anything seriously or made demands of anybody, including himself. He certainly hadn’t taken the concept of fidelity to heart.

  Last year had started with her dumping him the moment she learned of his cheating. And, as the longtime manager of his band, she’d not only lost the only boyfriend she’d ever had, she’d also been forced to quit her job. At first she hadn’t been worried, confident she could find decent employment on her own. But over time her luck hadn’t changed, until she’d finally admitted defeat. That was when she’d called Dan.

  She’d needed to hear the reassuring voice of her brother, the only one in her family who’d never tried to change her.

  Dan had told her of her parents’ anniversary plans. He’d also offered her help with a contact, the owner of several Boston clubs who needed assistance looking for new talent and booking bands. But after all she’d accomplished since leaving home, she couldn’t bear to return to the role of being the kid sister who needed bailing out. And then her beloved, beat-up Volkswagen Beetle had died.

  So…here she was, forced to return to her parents’ home to regroup.

  It was as if last year had called up this year and left specific instructions on how to continue the suckfest.

  “Happy New Year,” Wes said, appearing amused as he handed her a coffee.

  “Hardly.” She shifted to sit cross-legged on the bench and accepted the paper cup with a grateful smile. She inhaled the deliciously fortifying scent. “Last night I rang in the New Year alone.”

  “Any resolutions?”

  She paused to sip her latte, knowing this was as good a lead-in as she’d get. Because she really needed to find out the extent of her loose-lipped behavior on board that flight.

  “Just one,” she said, eyeing him carefully. “I swore I’d never get involved with another man ever again.”

  She waited, holding her breath.

  “Seems like an ambitious vow for someone so young,” he said drily. His eyes looked as cool as ever, but after a pause, they took on a faintly amused twinkle. “And it didn’t take you long to break that vow.”

  She barely managed to keep her eyes from bulging. “Did I just gain membership into the mile-high club?”

  And why did the thought of making love to Wes leave her so breathless?

  “Not that I know of. But you did hit on me,” he said easily. “I said no.”

  Evie had a hazy memory of wondering if she could convince him to change his mind and sleep with her. She might even have spoken the words out loud. And if that was as bad as her mouth had come up with, she considered herself lucky.

  But then Wes went on. “You made several passes, actually.”

  Evie mentally winced, shifting nervously in her seat. “I’m sure you didn’t take me seriously.”

  Wes had never taken her seriously, and the barely restrained humor in his expression was proof enough that things hadn’t changed. It was the same look he’d had on his face when he’d come to the police station that fateful prom, trying to smooth things out with the cops.

  She hadn’t asked him to come. Instead, petrified and in need of support, she’d called her brother, because she’d long since given up on her father. But when she’d gotten no answer, she’d phoned Wes’s cell to find out where Dan was. Wes had been the one to show up first and wait with her, lecturing her about the dangers of drinking too much. Keeping her company until her furious brother had arrived.

  And she’d hated that she’d disappointed Dan so thoroughly.

  She pushed back the memory and slowly let out a breath. “How hard did I hit on you?”

  Wes’s expression revealed nothing. “Are you sure you want to know?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Let’s see.” He set his paper aside and shifted on the bench to face her, unmistakably enjoying the current state of affairs. The tension in her stomach increased. “You praised my ‘finely honed athletic body.’”

  She refused to cringe, although the memory of squeezing his biceps resurfaced, and she hoped to God that was all the touching she’d done.

  He shot her a mock serious look. “And in answer to your question: the pool.”

  She lowered her brow, staring at the gorgeous eyes, the beautifully masculine face. “What question?”

  The most unusual place he’d ever made love to a woman? How she could best put an end to her current humiliation by drowning herself?

  “You asked me how I maintained my droolalicious physique.” His brow crinkled in suppressed humor. “Your word, not mine.”

  “I’m sure a Harvard grad would never use such a phrase.”

  He looked as if he were fighting to maintain a serious expression.

  Gaze steady, he went on. “You offered me a night I would never forget.”

  Heat speared her gut and moved lower. Maybe she was better off not knowing what she’d said. But now that she’d asked Wes to share, he appeared to be really warming up to the task.

  “And then there was the mention of kitchen utensils,” he said.

  She coughed hard and sat up straighter, her mind racing. “Kitchen utensils?” Her voice sounded embarrassingly husky. “What kind of kitchen utensils?”

  “Pastry brushes,” he said. “For the chocolate sauce.”

  She’d never been that creative.

  His mouth twitched, as if biting back a smile. “Cheesecloth in lieu of handcuffs.”

  Her heart slid into third gear.

  “And my personal favorite,” he said, the amused flicker in his eyes growing stronger. �
�The spatula.”

  The words sent her pulse into overdrive. When the rest of his expression didn’t budge, she tipped her head at him, a glimmer of suspicion taking root. The pause was awkward for Evie, but apparently not for him. And who would have guessed Wes Campbell had a devilish side?

  Bastard.

  Wes went on in a brisk, businesslike tone, as if reciting the latest financial figures of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. “But my favorite part of the event was when you promised to let me keep your Hello Kitty undies as a souvenir.”

  The underwear she’d been given as a gag gift. But she would never, ever demean the ridiculous panties, or any other article of her clothing, to the level of a “souvenir.”

  Would she?

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you teasing me?”

  The faint smile was breathtakingly sensual, and frustratingly enigmatic.

  “About the Hello Kitty part?” he said, and then his voice shifted lower, making her uncomfortably aware of him as a man. “Or the promise that I could keep them?”

  Screw it. She didn’t want to know anymore. She wasn’t sure which was worse, her vodka-induced words or Wes’s delighted delivery.

  Evie tamped down the surprising attraction and struggled to regain control of the situation. Definitely time for a change in topic. “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Since I plopped you on the bench,” he said. “About five hours.”

  Her voice came out as a squeak. “What?”

  “Five hours,” he repeated matter-of-factly. “Long enough for the second winter storm they’d predicted to close in faster than they’d thought.”

  Oh, crap.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she said, frantically bending to gather her bags. “I should try to get out of here while I can.”

  “Won’t do any good,” he said. “All flights have been canceled and the roads are a mess.”

  Evie pushed the hair out of her face and eyed the crowd. For the first time she noticed the chaos went beyond the usual holiday madness. Mixed in with the festive, seasonal music and decorations, the airline passengers looked frazzled, many of them camped around the terminal, settling in for a long wait.

  “I tried to wake you up,” Wes continued. “But you were passed out.”

  She stared at him, dumbfounded. “Why didn’t you just leave me?”

  “I couldn’t abandon you here, unprotected. Vulnerable to any crazed lunatic that wondered by.”

  Of course not, because he always did the right thing. The responsible one who believed in his authority. And after spending years on the road with Chuck’s band, the footloose and not-so-fancy-free existence had slowly worn her down. Because, over time, she’d learned that someone had to be responsible. Someone had to ensure the bookings were made. So she’d assumed the role of manager, assuring that the bills were paid and the bus repaired. And the girl who had bolted from home looking for escape from the impossible expectations of her family had gradually learned that the free-spirited lifestyle came with a cost, too.

  She stared at Wes’s face, the eyes that, at one time, had irritated her with their authoritative, no-nonsense air. Chuck would have left her sleeping, vulnerable, with a note that he’d gone on to their destination.

  Blinking back the surge of gratitude, she held his sexy gaze.

  “We might have made it out if we’d left right away,” he went on. “Unfortunately, we’re stuck here until the weather improves.”

  She blew out a quiet breath. Hadn’t she humiliated herself enough? Was she to endure more?

  “It’s only an hour commute,” she said. “I’ll take my chances on the road.”

  Not that she was in any hurry to face her family.

  “No, you won’t,” he said. “While you were sleeping, I called Dan. He said the roads were impassable. And I promised your brother I wouldn’t let you do anything reckless.” He paused, as if waiting for her to object—to what, she wasn’t sure. To his unilateral decision? His use of the word reckless? Evie worked hard to keep the embarrassment from showing on her face. “As soon as I heard the news,” he said, “I got us the last hotel room within walking distance.”

  If he’d been anyone else Evie would’ve suspected a lead-up to a seduction. With Wes, she was as safe as they came.

  And after a brief moment of reflection, she felt a piercing pain of disappointment.

  Wes stood, towering over her—she’d forgotten how tall he was. “Tomorrow is going to be a busy day at work,” he said. “And now that you’re awake, I’d really like to get to the room.”

  The potentially suggestive words skittered across her senses like a caress. Ignoring the surprising pulse of awareness, she studied him closely. For the first time she noted the fatigue in his eyes. Obviously his New Year’s Eve celebration had ended late. If he hadn’t felt the need to stand guard over her, he would be sleeping in his own bed about now.

  Guilt hit hard. He wouldn’t let her risk braving the storm to get home, and the longer she resisted the longer he had to wait to catch some sleep. With a sigh, she stood and tossed her cup in the trash, glad the coffee and rest had cured most of her hangover.

  “Okay, let’s go,” she said. “If I attempted the commute, you’d feel obligated to follow, just to make sure I arrived safely.”

  And the thought briefly warmed her heart.

  “True,” he said slowly. He tipped his head. “But that wouldn’t have stopped you before.”

  Those gorgeous hazel eyes studied her for moment, as if seeing her in a new light. She was certainly seeing him differently, with his ruffled hair and fine, powerful physique. But, after all these years, it appeared their first encounter hadn’t left him with the best of impressions. Normally her fear of flying would have been easier to handle. Unfortunately, after her recent run of bad luck, a plane crash had seemed a very real possibility.

  “Don’t be too impressed,” she said, biting back a cynical smile. “After my recent string of catastrophes, I figured we both would have wound up dead in a snow-filled ditch somewhere.”

  “Then I guess we’ll have to be extra careful on our walk to the hotel.” The answering crinkle of humor bracketing his mouth added to his appeal, leaving her longing for the possibility their destination brought.

  Great.

  A cold walk outside was definitely in order.

  …

  Carrying both suitcases was difficult as Wes trudged through the bitter wind and blowing snow, the lamp-lit sidewalk leading to the hotel almost knee-deep in the cold white stuff. His dress shoes were hardly appropriate, his feet freezing, but the knee-high black boots Evie was wearing were worse. Her leather jacket was ridiculously inadequate, as were the knit gloves with the cut-out fingers. And her knit hat was more for show than warmth. Twice she’d slipped and fallen in the snow. Twice Wes had helped her to her feet and offered her his coat, only to be refused.

  Her stubborn insistence was no surprise, but the fact that she hadn’t fought him about heading out onto the road was. Time and experience had changed her. The old Evie would have stormed off, fueled by his declaration that he wasn’t about to let her go. Because the surest method to get her to do something had been to tell her she couldn’t.

  But the new Evie had simply studied him, a newfound wisdom in her gaze that was both unexpected and disturbing. And, like the hint of vulnerability, added to the complexity of her allure.

  A gust of icy wind stung his face, but Wes wasn’t cold enough. Because the fire that the sexy little vixen had started on the plane had persisted—her sloppy yet seductive come-ons totally adorable.

  And incredibly erotic.

  Wes tamped down the memories, glad his frigid feet were available to cool the heated blood in his veins. Any hotter and he could melt a path between here and the hotel.

  “What did you say to Dan when you talked to him?” she said.

  “That I’d run into you on the plane,” he said. The worried look on her face was entertaining, an
d he couldn’t resist letting a slight smile slip. “I didn’t share your attempt to seduce me.”

  She stopped on the sidewalk and narrowed her gaze at him. “Did I really mention kitchen utensils?”

  Wes halted beside her. The skeptical look on her face bunched her brow in a way that was too charming for comfort. No, the culinary tools had been the result of his own overly imaginative libido. But since she’d subjected him to the torture of offering him something he couldn’t have, it had only seemed fair to pay her back.

  And he wasn’t ready to let her off the hook so easily, not when he was still revved up from her intoxicated seduction attempts.

  He continued up the sidewalk. “Are you really wearing Hello Kitty underwear?” He brushed off the crackling sizzle the question created in his body.

  She huffed out a breath and trudged on beside him, clearly declaring the topic an impasse. After a few more moments filled with the sound of whipping wind, the sting of pelting snowflakes, and a pregnant silence, she said, “What else did you tell Dan?”

  His heart pinched a touch, and he gave up the teasing tone. “I didn’t mention the part where you passed out.”

  “Thank you,” she said, and then she winced. “He would have told Mom and Dad. And my return home is going to be difficult enough.”

  He tried for an encouraging tone. “They’ll simply be happy to see you.”

  But Wes knew her father well enough to know there would be rough times ahead. Through the years, Wes had witnessed enough of the man’s tendency to fire disapproving words at his daughter. In truth, Wes had always admired the way she’d stood up for herself, refusing to change in the face of overwhelming pressure on all fronts. At home. At the exclusive private school. By the very town she’d been raised in. If she’d lived somewhere else, with a different family, he doubted she would have been quite so obstinate.

  He glanced at her set face and let out a silent scoff. Or maybe she would have.

  “Happy to see me?” Evie’s brow furrowed with pure skepticism. “I doubt that.”

  “They love you,” he said.

  “Not as much as they love you.”