A Hero Grinch for Christmas by Samanthya Wyatt Read Free Book Online Page A

wetting her lower lip seductively. “You want to kiss me, or kill me with that ferocious scowl.”
    He took a threatening step forward, but stopped as if he changed his mind. His molten eyes met hers. “I’m going outside.”
    “I’ll keep the fire burning, and I’ll warm you up when you get back.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how they sounded. He shook his head again, looking a tad confused, and cautious. She didn’t know what else to do. The man simply needed to let go of all his pent up frustration.
    What would it take to make this guy crack?
    Two hours later, she’d arranged the lights so the whole lower floor of the cabin glowed with Christmas spirit. She’d even hung red ribbons over the deer antlers with a strand of sparkling white lights, and above the hearth, greenery with bright red bulbs. The candelabra with lit candles sat on the mantle, giving the room a touch of grace.
    The front door opened. Hunter stomped in, snow flying everywhere. He slammed the door and huffed out a breath.
    “Here’s your damn tree!”
    Her heart flipped. He did that for her?
    God, he was handsome. His cheeks were red from the wind, snow covered his wild blond hair, and that adorable scowl obscured his face. She wanted to kiss him.
    Instead, she burst out laughing.

Chapter Nine
    Dani could tempt a saint.
    Damn the woman with her happy disposition and Christmas cheer, her ringing laughter still echoed in his ears. Now, the exasperating woman had him chopping down a tree. Hunter shook off the snow, thinking she wouldn’t care for the mess he made. Hell, it was his house.
    A sudden wave of sadness came over him. Denny’s house. If only Hunter had gotten his discharge papers before the accident.
    He’d come to the mountains to avoid the holidays. Gloom and doom suited him just fine. He had wanted to be alone.
    But Dani energized him. Her smart mouth excited him. Her uplifting personality clashed with his, yet he craved the attention. He needed her inspiration, their enjoyable battle of wills to forget the pain in his life. She was sexy, beautiful, and . . . smart mouthed. Such an exciting combination made it difficult to keep his distance.
    And if she kept teasing him, he’d take her up on her offer. The woman didn’t know what a fine line she walked.
    Hanging his coat on a peg by the door, he sat on the bench and unlaced his boot. He’d spent quite a bit of time searching for the right tree. Damn if he didn’t want to please her. In his socks, he stepped into the great room and closed the utility door behind him.
    He found her dancing in front of the fireplace. The girl had a butterfly up her butt, and what a nice ass she had. Busy humming to herself, she didn’t see him. So he watched her with deep interest. Dark brown hair hanging down her back in waves, swaying with the rhythm of her body, his mouth went dry watching her rotating hips. He’d like to get his hands on her nicely rounded—. He scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration.
    He must have groaned, or made some stupid sound.
    She turned.
    Light from the fire silhouetted her pretty face. Her creamy skin glowed and her plump lips glistened. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, wanting a kiss.
    Her emerald green gaze fastened on his. She had the most expressive eyes, the kind that could see through his layers and pierce his heart. Dani flashed him a smile.
    A burst of heat went right to his crotch. He was in a hell of his own making.
    ***
    Hunter was just too darn handsome for his own good. She couldn’t resist baiting him; like a cat and mouse game, she smiled and he frowned. When she turned on the charm, his hands shook as if he fought the urge to strangle her. Dani laughed. Somehow she’d even managed to get a tree out of him.
    She turned back to the fireplace admiring her work. With a blizzard outside, a nice fire inside, music would be perfect while she decorated the tree. There had to be some holiday music somewhere in