Catch 'n' Kiss (Are You Game?) by Rhian Cahill Read Free Book Online Page B

Mooney peered past them into the room. “Good, I thought you might like a guided tour through the gardens.” His gaze was focused on Jody once more.
    “Actual—”
    “That would be lovely.” Jody stepped away from Dan’s hand and he curled his fingers with the need to grab her shirt and yank her back. “Dan was just heading—”
    “I think a walk through the gardens would be great.” Dan tried not to grit his teeth. He wasn’t about to let this guy sneak off with his woman. Ah, shit. She wasn’t his. He knew that. But he couldn’t let her go off with Mooney on her own. Not when they still hadn’t reached an understanding. “Lead the way.”
    “Oh.” The look on Mooney’s face almost made Dan laugh. Obviously, the guy had expected only Jody to accept his invitation. Dan smiled and held out his arm to indicate Mooney should lead. “Right. This way then,” Mooney mumbled as he turned.
    Mooney led them out through a side door and into a lush garden with weaving paths and stone benches for those who wished to sit a while. Dan wasn’t into plants or gardening, but he could easily appreciate the beauty of the place. He listened with half an ear to the names Mooney rattled off as they passed each new bed of colour. Jody appeared to be soaking up every word the guy said, and Dan’s insides churned. Why couldn’t she pay him that much attention?
    They made their way around the building to the rear where the hillside dropped away to reveal rows and rows of grapes. With the area being one of Australia’s premier wine producers, he wasn’t surprised to find the fruit vines, but until Mooney explained about the hotel’s own line of select wines served only to guests, Dan hadn’t realised the place was more than a hotel.
    “We’ll be offering our wines to a few of Sydney’s bigger restaurants in the near future, but until then you’re only able to sample them here,” Mooney said.
    “I’d love to try some. Are you serving them tonight?” Jody asked.
    “Yes.” Mooney grinned. “Are you a wine connoisseur?”
    Jody’s laughter echoed around them. “Hardly. I just like the occasional sip.”
    “That’s more than you’re allowed.” Dan couldn’t fight his need to squash Mooney’s delight. “We’re working.”
    “Oh, surely you’re able to have a glass or two?” Mooney asked.
    “Nope. The boss has a very strict rule about drinking on the job.” Dan smiled smugly when Mooney frowned.
    “Dan’s right. Even having a sip could get me fired.” Jody gave Dan a narrow-eyed look before turning to aim a smile at Mooney. “Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to try it some other time.”
    He wasn’t overly concerned by Jody’s supposed anger at him. She knew as well as he did neither of them would be drinking alcohol this weekend. Although, if she did have a couple of glasses she might soften towards him…
    “Oh, look at the time.” Mooney held up his arm, displaying his watch in an exaggerated fashion. “I have something I have to do before I finish for the day. I’ll see you both tonight.”
    Before either of them could say a word, the man was striding away and out of sight.
    “Ouch!” Dan rubbed his upper arm where Jody had just landed a punch. She was surprisingly strong. “What the hell was that for?” Surely if she was going to hit him it would have been one of the two times he’d planted a kiss on her without permission or warning.
    “For being an arse.” She turned on her heel and headed in the opposite direction to Mooney.
    “When?” Dammit. She was running away from him again. Chasing after Jody was becoming an annoying habit. It didn’t stop him from following though.

Chapter Five
    Jody slipped into the elevator and pressed the close-door button. Unfortunately, she wasn’t quick enough and Dan threw his arm between the doors just before they sealed shut. Of course, that meant the damn things opened again and he stepped right in and kept on coming. The look on his face was a