Let It Snow... by Jennifer LaBrecque, Leslie Kelly Read Free Book Online Page A

rented your property without your permission,” Philip said, touching his index finger to her chin and pushing her mouth closed.
    Claire swallowed hard, affected by that simple contact far more than she should have been. Shaking off the reaction—Mexican jumping beans in her stomach—she spoke: “He made a mistake. He’s young and stupid.”
    “That much younger than you?”
    No, not really. Only five years. But in terms of maturity? She and Freddy had been worlds apart. Claire had had to grow up quickly the first time she’d found their mother passed out from having taken too many pain pills. She’d called 911, then had to go alone to drag her father home from a nearby bar to tell him about it.
    She’d been eleven.
    “Maybe not in terms of years.”
    “The real question is, did your brother use the money to pay back his creditors?”
    “I’m sure he did.”
    “Positive?”
    “Of course.” Oh, she wished her voice held more conviction. Clearing her throat, she added, “Why wouldn’t he?”
    “Maybe he wanted to use it to go away, escape his problems?”
    She gulped. She hadn’t heard from Freddy, but assumed it was because he was too much of a chickenshit to face her. Not that he’d... He wouldn’t have... Oh, God, would he?
    “Sorry.” Philip sounded sincere. “You hadn’t thought of that.”
    “No, I hadn’t.”
    “You haven’t spoken to him?”
    “Not a word.”
    “Then I’ll just continue keeping watch.”
    “Keeping a... You’re watching me?”
    “Watching over you,” he grudgingly admitted.
    “ What? I’m not some kid who needs protecting.”
    “Yet protect you I will,” he replied, his tone silky, brooking no argument, the words an utter promise. He wasn’t asking her, he was telling her. The man was going to look out for her whether she liked it or not.
    She was left speechless, simply did not know how to respond to that. Most men she knew barely remembered to hold a door open for a woman, and this one wanted to be her bodyguard because somebody might come around looking to collect her brother’s debt?
    Her independent, free-minded, chicks-rule-and-guys-drool side wanted to tell him to take his protection and his alpha male bullshit and shove them.
    But another part of her, maybe the part that went to bed every night thinking of the way this man had held her, kissed her, caught her when she’d nearly fallen on the floor, went all gooey and warm instead.
    This would never do. Gooey and warm didn’t fit her personality or her life. She was tough and strong. She needed to focus on making her business succeed, on paying her bills, on keeping her brother on the straight-and-narrow.
    Claire was the caretaker; she always had been. She wasn’t a weeping heroine, a fair maiden who had heroes wanting to look after her. She had no time for overprotective men or fantasies of Prince Charming.
    But oh, did he make it tempting.
    She cleared her throat and slapped a hand down on the glass countertop. “Is there something you want?”
    Me, for instance?
    His dark eyes glittered to near black, his mind probably going right where hers had the moment she’d said the words. She kicked herself for giving him that kind of opening.
    At least you didn’t ask him if he liked your chocolate .
    “Yes. There is,” he told her.
    She stepped back, pulled open the back door of the display case and bent toward it, waiting for him to point something out.
    He didn’t. He just stood there, looking down at her.
    “Do you want to sample something before you decide? I can offer you a free taste.”
    Seriously? Again? Just tear open your sweater and offer a nipple. That would be about as subtle.
    Claire had no idea why the man turned her into an idiot, but had to assume it was because she just hadn’t figured him out yet. Or because he kissed like he’d freaking invented kissing.
    His lips twitched, as if he’d read her mind and knew she was mad at herself for offering these so-not-subtle