Read Online Sweet Sizzle: A Red Hot Valentine Story by Jodi Redford - Free Book Online
Authors: Jodi Redford
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you.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” she said weakly.
Ben picked up his pace and dashed to the sidewalk fronting The Sweet Spot. Five strides of those long legs of his and he reached the entrance. An instant later, he cleared the doorway and swept Rory into his arms. His hungry mouth came down over hers, tongue seeking out hers. She shivered, melting into him with a soft moan. An eternity passed before she remembered Trisha’s presence. Breaking the kiss, she peeked toward the younger woman and caught Trisha’s stunned gape. Rory inwardly groaned. So much for keeping Ben a secret. Licking her lips, she carefully untangled herself from his embrace and awkwardly waved a hand toward her mute employee. “Ben, this is Trisha. Don’t think you two have met before.”
Ben extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Trisha.”
Her shock quickly transforming into a beaming smile, Trisha accepted his handshake. “Likewise.” She slid a shrewd look in Rory’s direction. “Don’t suppose you’re a fan of flowers, Ben?”
He glanced at Rory. “So I take it you got them?”
“Um, yes. Thank you. They’re absolutely beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like them, Ro.” His expression was so earnest, it almost made her want to cry. “I know I said no pressuring—and I swear this isn’t—but I couldn’t go another day without seeing you.”
A dreamy sigh floated from Trisha. Ignoring the girl, Rory rubbed her palms on the waist of her skirt. “I guess I’m okay with that. I was thinking about stopping by the firehouse after closing up shop today.”
“Yeah?” His smile threatened to blind her. “I have tonight off though. That’s one of the reasons I swung by. Kinda hoped you’d be up for having dinner.”
“What time?”
“Around seven? I could pick you up at your place.”
She nervously plucked at the side seam of her skirt. It wasn’t necessarily that she didn’t want Ben to have her address, but she also knew the lack of control she tended to have where he was concerned. If she invited him into her house there’d be a good chance they’d never even make it to dinner. Even worse than that, seeing him in her bed would only lead to her imagining him there permanently.
No, you’re not going down that road again, remember? Reinforcing her resolve with that thought, she cleared her throat. “Actually, why don’t you just meet me here? It’ll give me a chance to get a little extra work in before calling it a night.”
If Ben was disappointed by her suggestion he did a fantastic job of hiding it. Inclining his head, he back stepped toward the exit. “It’s a date then.”
She wanted to correct his misuse of the term. This was two friends reconnecting over a meal, nothing more. But she couldn’t very well say that with Trisha eagerly listening in. So instead she gave a resigned nod. He awarded her one last hot kiss goodbye before ducking out the door. Turning, she met the wicked sparkle in Trisha’s gaze.
“No idea who that secret admirer is, huh?”
In the current scheme of worries facing her, getting busted by her employee was the least of her problems.
***
The one benefit of staying late at work was she really did kick butt at getting the kitchen in pristine shape. They’d pass the next health inspection with flying colors for sure. The only drawback was now she was a grimy mess. Grimacing at the soot marks marring her forearms, she rolled down her latex gloves and pried the snug material from her fingers. Well, at least she didn’t have to worry about gross nails. She cranked on the faucet and grabbed the scrubber brush and a bar of soap. While she sudsed up she mulled over her options as far as a clothes change went. The skirt was fine, but she definitely couldn’t be seen in public in the sweater. Not unless she wanted everyone assuming she was a chimneysweeper. Maybe she could sneak home before Ben showed up.
A quick glance at the clock killed that idea. He’d be here in
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” she said weakly.
Ben picked up his pace and dashed to the sidewalk fronting The Sweet Spot. Five strides of those long legs of his and he reached the entrance. An instant later, he cleared the doorway and swept Rory into his arms. His hungry mouth came down over hers, tongue seeking out hers. She shivered, melting into him with a soft moan. An eternity passed before she remembered Trisha’s presence. Breaking the kiss, she peeked toward the younger woman and caught Trisha’s stunned gape. Rory inwardly groaned. So much for keeping Ben a secret. Licking her lips, she carefully untangled herself from his embrace and awkwardly waved a hand toward her mute employee. “Ben, this is Trisha. Don’t think you two have met before.”
Ben extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Trisha.”
Her shock quickly transforming into a beaming smile, Trisha accepted his handshake. “Likewise.” She slid a shrewd look in Rory’s direction. “Don’t suppose you’re a fan of flowers, Ben?”
He glanced at Rory. “So I take it you got them?”
“Um, yes. Thank you. They’re absolutely beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like them, Ro.” His expression was so earnest, it almost made her want to cry. “I know I said no pressuring—and I swear this isn’t—but I couldn’t go another day without seeing you.”
A dreamy sigh floated from Trisha. Ignoring the girl, Rory rubbed her palms on the waist of her skirt. “I guess I’m okay with that. I was thinking about stopping by the firehouse after closing up shop today.”
“Yeah?” His smile threatened to blind her. “I have tonight off though. That’s one of the reasons I swung by. Kinda hoped you’d be up for having dinner.”
“What time?”
“Around seven? I could pick you up at your place.”
She nervously plucked at the side seam of her skirt. It wasn’t necessarily that she didn’t want Ben to have her address, but she also knew the lack of control she tended to have where he was concerned. If she invited him into her house there’d be a good chance they’d never even make it to dinner. Even worse than that, seeing him in her bed would only lead to her imagining him there permanently.
No, you’re not going down that road again, remember? Reinforcing her resolve with that thought, she cleared her throat. “Actually, why don’t you just meet me here? It’ll give me a chance to get a little extra work in before calling it a night.”
If Ben was disappointed by her suggestion he did a fantastic job of hiding it. Inclining his head, he back stepped toward the exit. “It’s a date then.”
She wanted to correct his misuse of the term. This was two friends reconnecting over a meal, nothing more. But she couldn’t very well say that with Trisha eagerly listening in. So instead she gave a resigned nod. He awarded her one last hot kiss goodbye before ducking out the door. Turning, she met the wicked sparkle in Trisha’s gaze.
“No idea who that secret admirer is, huh?”
In the current scheme of worries facing her, getting busted by her employee was the least of her problems.
***
The one benefit of staying late at work was she really did kick butt at getting the kitchen in pristine shape. They’d pass the next health inspection with flying colors for sure. The only drawback was now she was a grimy mess. Grimacing at the soot marks marring her forearms, she rolled down her latex gloves and pried the snug material from her fingers. Well, at least she didn’t have to worry about gross nails. She cranked on the faucet and grabbed the scrubber brush and a bar of soap. While she sudsed up she mulled over her options as far as a clothes change went. The skirt was fine, but she definitely couldn’t be seen in public in the sweater. Not unless she wanted everyone assuming she was a chimneysweeper. Maybe she could sneak home before Ben showed up.
A quick glance at the clock killed that idea. He’d be here in
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