Jaci Burton - Melting the Ice

She finally spotted him in a corner with their neighbor, Gil Nelson, and Senator Ed Langton, the three of them engrossed in some deep conversation. She had no idea what they could possibly be discussing, so she surreptitiously made her way in that direction, hoping to eavesdrop.

“You’re out of your mind, Drew. St. Louis has the edge in the playoffs this year. Grant Cassidy, their quarterback, has the best stats in the NFL this year. He’s taking them all the way.”

Drew shook his head. “I think you’re full of it, Senator. It’s New York all the way this year.”

Senator Langton let out a loud snort. “I don’t know what’s in that drink, son, but you’re delusional.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with the senator, Drew. Cassidy has the talent at quarterback, and with Cole Riley at wide receiver, the two of them are unbeatable.”

“I think you’re both going to be disappointed when your team crashes and burns.”

Sports. Of course. Carolina shook her head and started to wander off, but a few minutes later, a hand wrapped around her upper arm.

“Thought you’d escape, huh?”

She smiled at Drew. “Well, you were all tied up arguing about football.”

“We’re done. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

“And I suppose you do.”

“You bet I do. New York will take it all this year.”

Since she had zero investment in football, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll take your word for it.”

“Not a fan?”

“I don’t watch a lot of football.”

“But you know the teams. I mean, come on. You’re a New Yorker. You have to be a die-hard fan.”

She laughed. “No, I don’t.”

“I’m not sure I can continue to talk to you if you’re not going to take a stand here.”

“What are your thoughts about cashmere versus silk?”

He frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Exactly.”

“Oh. I get it. You have about as much interest in football as I do in fabric.”

“See? I knew you were smart.”

“But you like hockey.”

“I do like hockey. I also like baseball.”

“But not football.”

She shrugged. “Never got into the sport much.”

He followed her as she wound her way through the rooms.

“And obviously, you like auto racing.”

“Obviously.”

“Do you ever go and watch Gray race?”

“Yes, when I can get away from work. I also go to watch baseball games. And of course, hockey games.”

“But again, not football?”

“No.”

“I’m taking you to a game.”

She paused to look up at him. “Totally not necessary.”

“I feel it’s my duty to educate you. You don’t know what you’re missing. I’ll get us play-off tickets. You can spare a few hours to go to the game. You can’t work twenty-four hours a day.”

“Can’t I?” He was right, of course, but she was enjoying bantering with him.

“You probably would. But you shouldn’t.”

“What shouldn’t my daughter be doing?”

Carolina cringed when her mother came up beside her.

“I’m trying to educate your daughter about the wonders of football, Mrs. Preston. It turns out she’s not a fan.”

Her mother looked at her. “You’re not? How did I not know this?”

“I don’t know, Mom. Surely this doesn’t surprise you.”

“I thought you liked all sports.”

“Correction. I like a lot of sports. I’ve just never gotten into football.”

“And I told her I could take her to see a New York play-off game. She’s trying to tell me she has to work.”

Mrs. Preston shook her head. “She’s always working. Too hard, unfortunately. Drag her away from work for a few hours and make her go breathe in some fresh air, Drew.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Oh, there’s Felicia. I haven’t had a minute to talk to her yet tonight. Please excuse me.”

After Carolina’s mother walked away, she turned to Drew. “You planned that.”

Drew gave her a look. “You think I secretly met with your mother and concocted a plan with her to take you to a football game?”

“Okay, maybe not. But it sure was convenient.”

“It was, wasn’t it?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to a football game. I don’t like football.”

“Because you’ve never been to a game. Trust me, once you’re there, you’ll love it.”

“I don’t like being told what to do.”

“Then I’ll call you up and ask you out. You’ll say yes, and we’ll go to a football game.”

“You’re infuriating.”

He grinned. “I know.”

He was also gorgeous, and she wanted to slide her hand along the very crisp lapels of his suit. Keeping her hands to herself tonight was proving to be difficult.

“Have I mentioned how very gorgeous you are tonight?”

She snapped her gaze to his. “Yes. And I appreciate it very much. And you should stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re hungry and I’m a midnight snack.”

He leveled a predatory smile at her. “Is it midnight yet?”

She looked at her watch. “After midnight.”

He leaned in closer. “I want to swipe my tongue across your neck, then take a bite.”

Fighting the shudder, she stayed put and whispered, “Stop that.”

“Stop what? Am I turning you on?”

“No.”

“You’re lying. You have goose bumps.”

She ran her hands over her arms. “It’s . . . cold in here.”

He laughed. “No, it’s not. In fact, I’d guess you were hot.”

Why was she even having this conversation with him? “I’m going to see to the guests.”

“Okay.”

She walked away, but he was right. It wasn’t cold in here. The staff made sure the temperature was comfortable. Not too hot, and definitely not too cool. It was Drew that gave her goose bumps, ones that still stood out on her skin because his words still lingered like a slow-moving picture playing in her head.

Her, reclining on the chaise in her room. Drew, coming up behind her to slide his tongue across her neck.

She rubbed her arms again as her nipples tingled.

Damn him. She was going to immerse herself in this party and forget all about him for the rest of the night.

No matter how difficult that was going to be.

IT WAS AFTER ONE IN THE MORNING BEFORE ALL THE guests had left. As was typical for her parents, they stayed up until the last guest was out the door.

Secret Service cleared the place out and did a double check. Her parents went up to bed, Gray and Evelyn following behind them. Carolina was exhausted, so she headed upstairs, too. Drew was talking to Arthur, one of the staff who apparently was a football fan.

She left him downstairs to his heated discussion. Yawning, she slipped out of her dress and went into her bathroom to brush her teeth. The quiet of the house was the best part of the night.

Okay, the best part of the night was seeing Drew in that suit. It made her rethink all of her options for dressing him.

She switched off the light in the bathroom, then laid down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, mentally playing out each outfit in her head. She grabbed her notepad and jotted down a few things, wondering if Drew would be up for wearing one of her suits.

He likely wouldn’t care. Then again, maybe he would.

She’d discuss it with him later. She laid her notepad to the side, her eyes drifting closed. But then another thought came to her so she grabbed the notebook again.

Thirty minutes later, she was staring at the wall, nowhere close to falling asleep.

This was ridiculous. She grabbed her phone to check her email.

Of course there was nothing pressing, because it was Christmas and everyone was home with their families, enjoying the holiday.

Releasing a frustrated sigh, she climbed off the bed and put on her robe, went to the door and opened it.

Not a sound. Everyone had gone to bed. Everyone was tired, including her.

Or at least she had been. Now she was wound up and for some reason her feet carried her down the hall, where she stood in front of Drew’s door.

What was she doing here? She should go back to her room. This was ridiculous.

She gazed up and down the hall, grateful the rooms were spread out. But if someone came out . . .

You’re already here, idiot. Just get this over with.

She knocked as lightly as she could, cringing at each rap of her knuckles.

Drew opened the door right away.

“Well, this is a nice surprise,” he said with a smile. He stared down at her in her robe. “Is this my early Christmas present?”

Before she could utter a word he pulled her into his room and shut the door.

His lips covered hers before she could explain the reason for her middle-of–the-night visit.

Not that she had a good reason, anyway. She had no idea what she was doing there. And now that he was kissing her, his hand roaming over her back to draw her in close to his mostly naked body, she couldn’t remember what had brought her to his room. Only that she was there, and he was happy to see her. And kissing her in the way she’d wanted him to kiss her all night long.

She moaned against his lips and he walked them backward, bringing her farther into his room. When they fell onto the bed, she landed on top of him, breaking their kiss.

Something about fashion, about her clothing line. That’s what she’d wanted to talk to him about. But moonlight spilled over his magnificent chest, and damned if she wanted to talk about clothes right now. In fact, the only thing she wanted was to shed hers.