Read Online Christmas Clash by Dana Volney - Free Book Online Page B

Arguments could be made for either side. “Fine. Yeah. I could eat.”
    Somewhere deep inside, her emotions for Luke were changing—and she wasn’t surprised. Somewhere deep down she’d known this day had been coming.

CHAPTER SIX
    Candace abruptly turned on her heels and started walking down the sidewalk. Luke rushed after her, shrugging out of his jacket as he hurried to catch her. He draped it over her shoulders and kept up with her quick stride. She walked like she knew where he parked.
    “I’m over here.” Luke vaguely swayed his hand toward his dark green SUV a block and a half away.
    He wanted to be fully aggravated by her blind confidence, but half of him admired her and found her poise sexy as hell. All of him had been so swept up by her smile lately, he’d forgotten to dislike her and forgot to be indifferent toward her. Candace being in his daily life confused him—he’d never been so mean and nice to one person.
    He opened the passenger door. She moved past him and her sweet flowery fragrance made its way into his air space.
    Her heel slipped on the step bar and her leg fell hard to the ground as she grasped for something secure. Luke curled his fingers around her waist to steady her. Even through his jacket he could feel her curves. She inhaled sharply and didn’t move. Neither did he. A momentary burst of heat welled in his stomach and he closed his eyes.
    “Got it?” he asked before he let go.
    He stood with the passenger door open while she situated herself in the seat. She shrugged out of his jacket and thrust it at his chest. “Thank you.”
    The drive was short—and silent. He parked in his spot in the lot behind The Pub and Kiss from a Rose.
    “What are you doing? Why are we at your pub?”
    “Because I said we were gonna eat at the best breakfast place I know.” He cut the engine and opened his door.
    “And your pub makes breakfast in the wee hours of the morning?”
    He leaned back in to his seat. “No. But I do.” He winked at her and exited his vehicle. He smiled when he heard her door shut behind him and her clicking heels followed him. Clearing his smile, he opened the back door and let her go through first. Again, a faint orange-and-lilies scent found him, and he could tell his body had undergone Pavlov’s training—his heart beat faster and the need in his gut grew each time. The payoff he’d gain, however, was lost on him. More accurately, he wanted to continue to be blind to the reason.
    “Follow me.” He led her to the kitchen in the back of the pub.
    The small area wouldn’t be able to serve a full-scale restaurant, but for a limited bar menu it was enough. Candace perched high on a counter as he gathered eggs, milk, Texas toast, hash browns, and bacon. He set his bounty on the counter next to him.
    “
Oh.
” Her eyes widened. “Yes. Please.”
    “Hold your horses.”
    “I don’t cook. Now I’m hoping you do.”
    “Who do you think made our Reubens the other day?”
    “So, just like that, you drop everything you’re doing in your fun life and show up to see a woman who you barely know play on a stage?” she asked.
    She said you would be there and probably sitting alone.
“I’ve been at Bombay’s when they’ve played before. They’re good and she’s not a complete stranger.”
    “I thought you two didn’t know each other.”
    “She came in for lunch earlier. I didn’t realize I needed to alert you to my minute-by-minute activities.”
    “She’s my friend and I care. That’s all.”
    “Sure.”
    “What are you implying?” Candace asked.
    “You seem to think I imply things a lot. What’s that about?”
    “I see what happened here. I’m a bit”—she held her palms parallel, close together but not touching—“intoxicated and you think you can just pump me for information.”
    “What possible information could I want from you?” he asked.
    “I have
no
idea.” She brought her shoulders up and slowly moved her head side to side. “What