A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton Read Free Book Online Page A

grinned at him. “Good thing I know your bark is way worse than your bite.”
    “Are you sure about that? I haven’t bitten you—yet.”
    Whoa. Where had that come from? It had been a bonafide sexual come-on, and Calliope nearly self-combusted right there. Heat flared through every part of her. The whole room seemed to go up in flames, or maybe that was just her, and likely because of the way Wyatt’s gaze burned into her. Her nipples tightened and everything that was female in her shouted for joy.
    Usually never at a loss for words, she had no idea what to say.
    Wyatt downed the brandy, then stood. “Well, I should go.”
    She shot off the sofa. “What? Are you insane? There’s two feet of snow out there. You’re not going anywhere tonight.”
    He arched a brow. “You thinking of holding me prisoner here?”
    “I might if you come up with another dumbass idea, like trying to drive in that.”
    “It’ll still be there tomorrow morning, Calliope.”
    “By tomorrow the road crews will have been out all night, spreading salt and plowing. The streets will be in more decent shape than they are right now. What if you get stuck getting back home? It’s not like you’ll have an easy time getting a tow tonight. I’m sure there are a lot of cars getting stuck.”
    He gave her a dubious look. “We don’t live in a major city. I can call Roger. He owns one of the two wreckers in town to give me a pull.”
    She crossed her arms. “Or you can use some common sense and not be one of those idiots on the road tonight.”
    “I think you’re trying to keep me here for your own nefarious purposes.”
    She laughed. “Yeah, all one hundred thirty pounds of me, plotting devious things against all—” she looked him over, “—two-ten of you?”
    “Two-twenty-five.”
    “So you’re nearly twice my weight. I’m sure I could pounce on you and take you down.”
    She saw his jaw clench.
    “You could try.”
    “I could, couldn’t I?”
    It sure was warm in here, and the sexual innuendos were flying around the room like crazed bats. She supposed she could cut to the chase, but it sure would be nice if Wyatt came after her for a change. She was tired of being the one doing the chasing.
    He finally settled back down on the sofa. “I’d rather you stop calling me an idiot.”
    “Since you’re sitting and obviously staying, I’ll refrain from further insults as to your state of mind.” She grabbed his empty glass. “How about a refill?”
    “Got any beer? That shit’s too sweet.”
    “Sure.” She refilled her glass while she was in there, handed him the beer and slid back onto the sofa, pulling her legs up behind her.
    “Would you like to watch television?”
    “Not much of a TV watcher.”
    “Neither am I.”
    He studied her. She pushed her glasses up.
    “What do you do at night?” he asked.
    “I read. I’m usually so exhausted by the time I get home, I eat dinner, take a hot bath and soak for a while, then curl up with a good book and generally pass out early.”
    “Kids are exhausting, huh?”
    She laughed. “They can be.”
    “What made you decide to open a day care center?”
    “That’s easy. I love children. Always have, ever since I got my first babysitting job as a teenager. I knew then that I wanted to do something with kids.”
    Something flickered in his eyes. “Why not become a teacher?”
    “I do have a degree in early childhood education, thought about becoming a teacher, but the little ones wrap me around their fingers and don’t let go. I worked at a lot of day care centers while I was in college, and my career naturally progressed in this direction. I apprenticed under a director near my college, and worked as a director at one in Nebraska for a couple years. When the opportunity came up to buy out Miss Bettie, I leaped on it because I could own my own business, and it gave me a chance to come home.”
    “It’s a lot of work.”
    She nodded. “It is, but it’s so rewarding. The