Heat of the Storm by Elle Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m definitely going,” she shot out. “You broke my plates.”
    “So you’re going to play house with my lieutenant as punishment?”
    “He’s in love with another woman!”
    “Wel , I’m in love with you !” Hol y’s eyes softened. “Doesn’t it make you love me more, knowing I’m wil ing to help out one of your friends?”
    A sigh slid out of Carson’s mouth. “What is it with you and helping people? Didn’t we just decide you’re not going to drop everything for your family anymore?”
    “This isn’t my family. It’s yours .”
    “Wil and I aren’t related.”
    “You’re SEALs. Of course you’re related.” Another sigh. “Yeah, you’re right.” Carson took a step forward and pul ed Hol y into his arms. “Fine, you can go.”
    “Real y?”
    “I just said it, didn’t I?”
    Hol y threw her arms around her boyfriend. The two proceeded to make out as if Wil wasn’t in the kitchen.
    He shook his head to himself. He wasn’t quite certain how they’d gone from furious to calm to horny in a matter of seconds, but he wasn’t complaining.
    Ever since Hol y and Shelby had burst into his house this morning, he’d been warming up to the plan, starting to believe it might actual y work. He was glad Carson hadn’t put up more of a fight.
    Slipping his hands in the pockets of his khakis, he let the couple smooch a while longer, then cleared his throat. “Uh, guys?”

    The two pul ed apart sheepishly. “Sorry,” Hol y said.
    “Forgot you were here.”
    Story of his life, women forgetting he was standing right in front of them. Hopeful y not for much longer, though.
    “So how is this going to work?” Carson asked, bending down to retrieve the fal en box. He glanced at his girlfriend. “I’m sorry about the plates, sweetheart.
    We’l go out and buy some tomorrow, ’kay?”
    “I’m holding you to that.” With a stern look, she headed for the fridge and grabbed a can of soda.
    Flicking the tab, she raised the can to her lips, sipped, and then said, “Wil and I are going to Hunter Ridge tomorrow. Apparently there’s some fair going on this weekend.”
    “Carnival,” Wil corrected. “It’s an annual thing.” Last year he’d skipped the carnival. Mac had been dating Dan, the owner of the hardware store, and Wil hadn’t been keen on the idea of seeing them. When they were teenagers, he and Mac had always gone to the carnival together. They used to ride the Ferris wheel for hours, talking about everything and anything while they shared a bag of cotton candy. Nothing had changed after they’d gotten older. They stil rode that Ferris wheel and munched on that cotton candy every year when the carnival came to town. Last year was the first time he’d missed it.
    And this year, wel , this year he’d be the one with the date. A part of him got perverse satisfaction from knowing Mackenzie would final y feel that same bitter jealousy he’d experienced when she’d decided to go to the carnival with another man.
    “So you’re taking my girlfriend to a carnival in your no-horse town?” Carson rol ed his eyes. “Sounds like, uh, fun.”
    “We’re going to make Mac jealous,” Hol y reminded him. “The carnival is their thing .”
    “We’l only be gone for two nights,” Wil told his friend. “I promise to have her back Sunday morning.” Carson narrowed his eyes. “And where exactly wil the two of you sleep?”
    Wil shrugged. “Only one place to stay in town, old Harriet Jones’ B&B.”
    “Two rooms?”
    He glanced at his feet. “One.” Before Carson could start yel ing again, he quickly added, “I’l sleep on the floor. Ful y clothed.”
    “I’l sleep naked,” Hol y piped up.
    Carson shot her a glare. “If you do, I’l smash every piece of china in this place.”
    “Fine.” She smiled impishly. “I’l wear that black lace teddy you bought me for my birthday.” Wil let out a sigh. “That was way too much information.” He glanced at Carson. “So are you cool