Passion & Pumpkins by Lily Rede Read Free Book Online Page A

clearly trying to make a strategic escape to avoid chafing.
    “Wait here while I get some clothes on.” He pointed toward a living room, where a fire crackled merrily in the fireplace and the remains of a romantic interlude were strewn on the coffee table – half a bottle of wine, a couple of glasses.
    “It’s really not necessary – ”
    The sex god paused at the foot of the stairs, impatient.
    “Pete Jackson runs the garage by himself, and I’m pretty sure he’s got his hands full helping other stranded drivers crazy enough to be out in this mess. I’m not going to make him drop everything to come all the way out here when I can have you over at the Asher cabin in fifteen minutes. Okay?”
    Evie started to retort, then shut her mouth and nodded. She was cranky, wet, and still freezing. If there was ever a time to make her Type-A tendencies take five, this was it. Her half-naked knight in shining blanket turned his back on her and headed up the stairs, treating her to the sight of the strong curve of his spine and more slabs of muscle leading down to what was no doubt a perfectly sculpted ass.
    Evie squelched the long-dormant lust-circuits that sparked to life and made a bee-line for the fireplace.
     
    “I’M BEING PUNISHED,” COLIN muttered as he pulled on jeans in front of a seriously pissed off Deirdre Small. She was busily covering up those bombshell curves she had been so busily baring for him just a little while ago.
    Sorry, old buddy, he thought to his poor, neglected cock.
    “I knew this wasn’t going to happen.”
    “Come on, Deirdre, this will only take a few minutes. Then I’ll be back and we can – ”
    “I’m not in the mood anymore.”
    Fully dressed, she glared at him with icy baby blues.
    “Last week it was that meeting for the Harvest Festival, and the week before it was the high school pep rally, and the week before that it was that stupid Town Hall meeting that went over by like, six hours. It’s always something, Colin!”
    “I’m the mayor, Deirdre, remember? You were at the swearing-in?”
    “Well, I didn’t realize that meant you were never going to fuck me again! You work twenty-four hours a day and now you’re leaving me to go help some stranded tourist?”
    “I couldn’t just leave her out there. What do you want me to do?”
    “Get your priorities straight, Mr. Mayor.”
    Fluffing her blond curls, she disappeared into the bathroom and slammed the door.
    Colin sighed and reached for his boots. Deirdre had always been something of a drama queen, but she was eager and available and more interested in his body than in any long-term relationship. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, the sex – when his schedule actually opened up enough to permit such a thing – had become a little boring. Colin couldn’t quite pinpoint the problem. She was hot, uninhibited, and always let him take charge. Lately, it just left him a little…uninspired.
    He pulled on a sweater and grabbed a clean sweatshirt from a drawer before reaching for his keys and heading back downstairs. Maybe once he took care of his clueless half-drowned guest, Deirdre would be back in the mood to help him burn off some of the stress he’d built up in the six weeks since he’d become mayor of Bright’s Ferry. Colin sighed, knowing she’d be out the door by the time his truck cleared the driveway. Irritation sizzled through him and he decided to place the blame squarely on the crazy woman downstairs.
    “I thought you might want – ”
    Colin stepped into the living room and stopped short, awareness prickling along every nerve ending. Talk about inspiration.
    His guest was standing in front of the fireplace, eyes closed, mouth dropped open in pleasure as she absorbed the heat. Her hair was drying to long ribbons of rich brown, and she’d removed the soaked hoodie to reveal a white tank top that lovingly hugged a curvy, compact little body and sweet breasts that would fit his hands to perfection. Colin drank in