Kristi Gold - Hotel Marchand 04 by Damage Control Read Free Book Online

handed them to Pete. “For you and Adam.”
    “Aren’t you going to have a beignet?”
    She shook her head. “I’m allergic to them. If I even eat one, then my hips balloon to the size of a blimp.”
    He set the bag and plates on the counter and moved closer to her. “I don’t have any complaints about your hips, or any part of you, for that matter.” He followed the comment with a subtle brush of his palm along the curve of her hip, and Renee responded with a slight shiver that she didn’t invite, yet couldn’t control.
    When he drew a line along her jaw with a fingertip, Renee managed to say, “Might I remind you that a minor child is only a few feet away, should you have a mind to try something?”
    Pete studied her face, from forehead to chin, then settled his gaze on her mouth. “First of all, he’s completely mesmerized at the moment. Secondly, we walked through the Quarter this morning, so he saw a few things that he probably shouldn’t have, including a couple who were engaged in activities that didn’t involve only a simple kiss.”
    Nothing about Pete’s touch was simple, something Renee had discovered three years before. Nothing about him was simple, or at all easy to ignore.
    In an effort to avoid his touch, Renee sidestepped him and strode to the refrigerator to retrieve the juice. “Apple or orange?”
    “Apple’s his favorite. And we want you to come with us today.”
    Renee turned, bumped the door closed with her bottom and clutched the glass container to her chest. “ We ? Or is that you ?”
    Pete strolled to the refrigerator and stood immediately before her. “Actually, it was all Adam’s idea.”
    “Oh, really?”
    He braced one palm on the refrigerator and leaned closer. “Yeah, really. On one condition.”
    “What condition would that be?”
    “That I don’t kiss you. He thinks it’s yucky.”
    Renee could vouch that kissing Pete had been anything but yucky , yet she hardly expected a four-year-old to understand that. “As much as I’d love to show you around, I have quite a bit of work I need to take care of.”
    “Your sister says to take the day off.”
    “Which one?”
    “Charlotte, although Melanie thought it was a good idea, too.”
    Wonderful. Her schedule had been dictated by a committee of meddling siblings. “You met Melanie?”
    “Yeah, when I went to ask Charlotte if you could have the day off. They’re both nice women.”
    Right now Renee could think of several things to call her sisters, and nice wasn’t one of them. “I still have to get dressed, dry my hair, that sort of thing. I’d hold you up for at least an hour.”
    “That’s not a problem. You’re worth the wait.”
    Renee turned away from Pete, so shaken by his provocative voice, his overt charm, that her hand practically shook as she poured the juice. Without giving him an answer, she brushed past him, walked into the living room and set the glass on a coaster on the coffee table behind Adam. “Here you go, sweetie.”
    Adam sent a cursory glance her way. “Can we wait until this is over, Uncle Pete?”
    Renee turned to see Pete holding a plate stacked with beignets in one hand, his coffee cup in the other. “Not a problem, kiddo. Renee has to get dressed.”
    Pete set the plate on the table next to the juice, reclined on the sofa, long legs stretched out before him, and sipped his coffee, as if he planned to stay awhile. She gave him a champion scowl and prepared to issue a protest when Adam said, “I’m glad you’re coming with us, Renee.”
    Now she faced a certain dilemma—bow out gracefully and disappoint a little boy, or agree to go and spend the day with a man whose appeal went beyond adequate description.
    She looked at Adam, who stared at her expectantly, then back at Pete, who favored her with a wide grin. Two charming peas in a pod who had her exactly where they wanted her. However, Adam wanted nothing more than for her to play host. On the other hand, Adam’s uncle seemed