Read Online Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon) by Jamie Beck - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jamie Beck
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hadn’t considered that before, but she wouldn’t concede anything to Trip. “Fancy hotels and luxury shops won’t drive tourists away. Look at Aspen.”
“Yeah, look at Aspen—a once great, funky ski town that has slowly been transformed into a ‘see and be seen’ place for posers. In my opinion, it’s lost all its personality.”
She resisted the urge to frown. He wasn’t totally wrong. Aspen had kinda lost some of its magic. Still, Sterling Canyon needed a boost. This old mining town wouldn’t be destroyed by one high-end retail development. And maybe she couldn’t control making her dreams of family come true, but she sure as heck would take control of her career.
“We’ll just have to agree to disagree, Trip,” Kelsey said. “I’m all for more options in this little town. And I’m counting on the commission from this deal to set me up to invest in some rental properties of my own.”
“I wouldn’t rely on that if I were you.” His tone and posture issued a warning, but what did Trip know about investing?
“Leave Wade and real estate to me, cowboy. Stick to what you know best—the slopes and women.”
He shook his head before he cocked it. Studying her thoughtfully, his eyes never drifting below her chin. Perhaps she’d gained a little of his respect? Then his facial muscles relaxed and he ruined the moment by wiggling his brows suggestively. “Tell the truth, your real interest in Wade’s got nothing to do with these deals, does it?”
“Why is your mind always in the gutter?”
“It’s fun in there.” He lazily leaned back in his chair, which he’d turned to face her, stretching one leg forward until his foot nearly touched hers, like the snake in the Garden of Eden. “In fact, I think you should join me for a while before you wind up married and bored.”
“Bored?” She cocked her head, annoyed. When he started fiddling with a pink eraser, she asked, “Why would I be bored?”
“Because everyone who gets married ends up bored. One person—forever?” He tossed aside the eraser he’d been tapping on the desk. “Good God, I’m bored even thinking about it.”
“Naturally you’re bored. You can’t even be with the same woman for a whole weekend.” His unrepentant shrug prompted her to lean forward. “You may be proud of that fact, but it tells me you only have a few moves and no imagination.”
His cocky expression transformed to heated indignation and then something . . . else. He hooked his foot around the leg of her chair and yanked it toward his own. After planting his hands on the arms of her chair and caging her with his body, he murmured, “Honey, you can’t throw down a challenge like that unless you’re willing to let me prove you wrong.”
Before she could respond, he unclipped her hair and ran his fingers through her curls. Every hair on her body vibrated in anticipation as his gaze dropped to her mouth.
Bewildered. Excited. Confused. A little terrified. The conflicting emotions coursed through her veins, making the one at the base of her neck throb so hard she thought it might burst.
“Tri—” she began, but he silenced her with a breathtaking kiss. Firm, a little rough, a whole lotta hot. She didn’t want his kiss, or at least she hadn’t been angling for one, and yet its carnal power swept her away.
He groaned, making her heart thunder. In a fluid movement, he lifted her as if she weighed no more than a Styrofoam cup, plunking her bottom onto the desk. Settling his hips between her legs, he dragged her to the edge of the desk, using his hands to coax her legs around his waist. He crushed her against his body while hungrily kissing her mouth, jaw, and neck.
Whatever happened in the future, she could no longer make wisecracks about his skill. Her entire body burned like she’d been thrown in front of a bonfire.
His hands were everywhere—seeking, touching, kneading—turning her on way more than she could handle. Granted, it had been a
“Yeah, look at Aspen—a once great, funky ski town that has slowly been transformed into a ‘see and be seen’ place for posers. In my opinion, it’s lost all its personality.”
She resisted the urge to frown. He wasn’t totally wrong. Aspen had kinda lost some of its magic. Still, Sterling Canyon needed a boost. This old mining town wouldn’t be destroyed by one high-end retail development. And maybe she couldn’t control making her dreams of family come true, but she sure as heck would take control of her career.
“We’ll just have to agree to disagree, Trip,” Kelsey said. “I’m all for more options in this little town. And I’m counting on the commission from this deal to set me up to invest in some rental properties of my own.”
“I wouldn’t rely on that if I were you.” His tone and posture issued a warning, but what did Trip know about investing?
“Leave Wade and real estate to me, cowboy. Stick to what you know best—the slopes and women.”
He shook his head before he cocked it. Studying her thoughtfully, his eyes never drifting below her chin. Perhaps she’d gained a little of his respect? Then his facial muscles relaxed and he ruined the moment by wiggling his brows suggestively. “Tell the truth, your real interest in Wade’s got nothing to do with these deals, does it?”
“Why is your mind always in the gutter?”
“It’s fun in there.” He lazily leaned back in his chair, which he’d turned to face her, stretching one leg forward until his foot nearly touched hers, like the snake in the Garden of Eden. “In fact, I think you should join me for a while before you wind up married and bored.”
“Bored?” She cocked her head, annoyed. When he started fiddling with a pink eraser, she asked, “Why would I be bored?”
“Because everyone who gets married ends up bored. One person—forever?” He tossed aside the eraser he’d been tapping on the desk. “Good God, I’m bored even thinking about it.”
“Naturally you’re bored. You can’t even be with the same woman for a whole weekend.” His unrepentant shrug prompted her to lean forward. “You may be proud of that fact, but it tells me you only have a few moves and no imagination.”
His cocky expression transformed to heated indignation and then something . . . else. He hooked his foot around the leg of her chair and yanked it toward his own. After planting his hands on the arms of her chair and caging her with his body, he murmured, “Honey, you can’t throw down a challenge like that unless you’re willing to let me prove you wrong.”
Before she could respond, he unclipped her hair and ran his fingers through her curls. Every hair on her body vibrated in anticipation as his gaze dropped to her mouth.
Bewildered. Excited. Confused. A little terrified. The conflicting emotions coursed through her veins, making the one at the base of her neck throb so hard she thought it might burst.
“Tri—” she began, but he silenced her with a breathtaking kiss. Firm, a little rough, a whole lotta hot. She didn’t want his kiss, or at least she hadn’t been angling for one, and yet its carnal power swept her away.
He groaned, making her heart thunder. In a fluid movement, he lifted her as if she weighed no more than a Styrofoam cup, plunking her bottom onto the desk. Settling his hips between her legs, he dragged her to the edge of the desk, using his hands to coax her legs around his waist. He crushed her against his body while hungrily kissing her mouth, jaw, and neck.
Whatever happened in the future, she could no longer make wisecracks about his skill. Her entire body burned like she’d been thrown in front of a bonfire.
His hands were everywhere—seeking, touching, kneading—turning her on way more than she could handle. Granted, it had been a
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