Read Online Holiday Heat by Noelle Adams - Free Book Online

aunt. When Matt introduced himself as “Matt,” her aunt
didn’t even blink, although the look on her face made it clear that she would
be calling Carrie’s mom with this news the first free moment she had.
    Jenn and her
boyfriend hadn’t yet arrived, so they mingled for a while with other guests.
Most of them were a lot older than Carrie and Matt, so they didn’t have much in
common. After about an hour, Carrie started to get bored and restless.  They’d
made the rounds, and her sister still hadn’t shown up.
    Matt slipped an
arm around her waist. “Ready to go?” he murmured into her ear. He smelled
faintly of red wine, a top note to his characteristic warm scent.
    “Yes, please.”
She was grateful he’d read her mind. “Let’s slip out before we get trapped in
another conversation about the stock market.”
    They went to
thank her aunt, and she let out a long breath as they left. It was cooler now
than it had been a week ago, but it was still unseasonably warm for December.
She could feel a little trail of perspiration start to bead between her
shoulder blades.
    “All right?”
Matt asked, his eyes resting thoughtfully on her face.
    She wasn’t sure
what he was asking, but her answer was the same to any question. “Yeah. Just
hungry.” The cocktail nibbles at the party had been tasty but not nearly
enough.
    “Then let’s get
some dinner.” Matt stepped over to open the back door to the car the waiting
driver had just pulled up to the curb.
    Carrie had no
objection to such a plan, and she didn’t even ask herself why he’d suggested
it. They’d never gone out for dinner before, but it seemed a natural thing to
do tonight.
    And she wasn’t
quite ready for the evening to end.
    Matt took her
to an out-of-the-way restaurant—quiet and candle-lit. The food was delicious,
and the ambience romantic and continental. The room was far too warm, and
Carrie drank too much wine. Matt told clever, funny stories about places he’d
traveled and asked her about her childhood. So, by the time they were brought
the most delicious crème brûlée she’d ever tasted, Carrie was giddy,
red-cheeked, and a little bit buzzed.
    Two and a half
hours after they’d been seated, they got up to leave.
    Carrie swayed
on her feet, a rush of dizziness overtaking her. She laughed sheepishly as Matt
gave her his arm for support and felt strangely protected as they walked
outside together.
    The evening was
mild and beautiful, and the city was festively lit with holiday lights. “Let’s
walk a little,” she suggested, twirling a circle without thinking as she gazed
up at the city around her. “I don’t want to go home yet.”
    “Sounds good to
me.” Matt’s voice was natural, but the tone held a warm resonance she almost
recognized.
    When the
familiar note sank into her slightly befuddled brain, she blinked up at him
suspiciously. Her suspicions were confirmed by the slight tilt of his lips.
    She gasped.
“You’re laughing at me!”
    He laughed out
loud. “Never.”
    “You are too.
I’m not drunk,” she pronounced. “Just a little buzzed.”
    “A fine state
of intoxication,” Matt agreed, nodding supportively and reaching around her
waist to give her a fond half-hug.
    She gave him
dirty looks, still dubious over the humor on his face but not able to think
clearly enough to pin down any direct affront.
    They walked
toward one of the city parks and stopped to hear a group of carolers singing
Christmas songs. Despite the overly warm temperature, it conjured up a whiff of
holiday spirit in Carrie, which was intensified by the festive lights adorning
the trees and light posts in the park.
    She applauded
enthusiastically at the end of the fourth carol, and Matt left a surprisingly
large bill in the tip jar earmarked for charity.
    When they
started to stroll again, Carrie heard someone humming “Carol of the Bells.” It
took her a minute to figure out it was her.
    She didn’t know
many of the words, but she made