Read Online Texas Two Steps Four-Pack Bundle by Anne Marie Novark - Free Book Online
Authors: Anne Marie Novark
Ads: Link
it feel like to have those strong arms wrapped around her holding her close? To feel his hands exploring every inch of her, touching, teasing, pleasing . . . whoa! She needed to rein in her rampaging hormones and fast.
Taking a deep calming breath, Melanie glanced around the banquet room. With the help of Blake's decorating committee, she'd created an exquisite setting for the Christmas dance. Twenty-five large round tables dominated the room. Each table was dressed in a red or green floor-length tablecloth. Sitting in the center of each table, gold candles stood in clusters of Christmas greenery. The tables provided color in the otherwise neutral room.
A tall tree decorated with white lights and golden balls towered in one corner opposite the dance floor. Buffet tables were set up on one side of the room with an open bar and dessert table on the other. Strings of tiny white lights twinkled on the walls with festoons of large wreaths with red bows hanging at intervals along the way.
"Sorry about that," Blake said, coming to stand beside her. He looked around the room, turning around slowly, taking it all in. He did a complete three-sixty before stopping and facing her.
Melanie held her breath. She'd worked hard to make it special for him.
He smiled and the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Wow. It is a winter wonderland. Very festive. The members are going to love it. I love it. Thank you."
"I'm glad." She checked her clipboard holding her tablet. "Now, as we decided for the menu, we're serving beef, naturally. Chateaubriand and standing rib roasts. Garlic herbed potatoes and asparagus for sides, just as you ordered. Salads, of course. And for dessert, various cakes, sliced fruits and pecan pie."
" A la mode ?" Blake asked, still gazing around the room admiring the decorations.
"Of course." She scanned her notes. "Oh, the ice-sculpture arrived this morning. It's in the freezer in the kitchen. It'll sit in the place of honor on the dessert table. Your decorating committee did a great job with the centerpieces and name cards on the tables. You're sitting way up front, by the way. Well, I guess that's it. Everything's set for tonight." Melanie held out her hand. "It's been a pleasure working with you, Blake. I hope that I've . . . what's wrong? Why are you frowning?"
He hadn't taken her outstretched hand, but just stood there staring down at her, his dark brows slanted in a scowl.
"What's wrong?" Melanie asked again. "If something's not right . . . if I've left something undone, there's still time to fix it."
Blake clasped her hand in his and squeezed gently. "Nothing's wrong with your arrangements. You've done an excellent job. I can't thank you enough. I'd have been lost without you."
Melanie tried to withdraw her hand, but he held on tight. "Then what is it?" she asked, searching the handsome face. "I thought everything was set to go."
"I thought so, too," Blake said, still holding her hand. Tingles of awareness shimmied up Melanie's arm. "That was Sue Ellen on the phone. She has the flu."
"Sue Ellen?" Melanie couldn't remember anyone on the committee named Sue Ellen. "I'm sorry she's sick, but what does she have to do with the Christmas Ball?"
Blake started rubbing his thumb in a slow circle against the palm of her hand, shooting spirals of heat straight down to her toes. "She was going to be my date, but she's caught the bug that's going around and had to cancel."
Melanie swallowed. She was having a difficult time concentrating on what he was saying due to his burning touch. "Well, you'll just have to go stag, won't you?"
Blake tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her toward him. "I don't want to go stag. What are you doing tonight?"
"Me?" Her voice squeaked in surprise. "Oh no. I couldn't. Besides, what about your girlfriend? Wouldn't she be upset if you took someone in her place?"
Blake chuckled. He'd pulled her so close, Melanie felt the rumble in his chest. "Sue Ellen's not my girlfriend. We've known
Taking a deep calming breath, Melanie glanced around the banquet room. With the help of Blake's decorating committee, she'd created an exquisite setting for the Christmas dance. Twenty-five large round tables dominated the room. Each table was dressed in a red or green floor-length tablecloth. Sitting in the center of each table, gold candles stood in clusters of Christmas greenery. The tables provided color in the otherwise neutral room.
A tall tree decorated with white lights and golden balls towered in one corner opposite the dance floor. Buffet tables were set up on one side of the room with an open bar and dessert table on the other. Strings of tiny white lights twinkled on the walls with festoons of large wreaths with red bows hanging at intervals along the way.
"Sorry about that," Blake said, coming to stand beside her. He looked around the room, turning around slowly, taking it all in. He did a complete three-sixty before stopping and facing her.
Melanie held her breath. She'd worked hard to make it special for him.
He smiled and the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Wow. It is a winter wonderland. Very festive. The members are going to love it. I love it. Thank you."
"I'm glad." She checked her clipboard holding her tablet. "Now, as we decided for the menu, we're serving beef, naturally. Chateaubriand and standing rib roasts. Garlic herbed potatoes and asparagus for sides, just as you ordered. Salads, of course. And for dessert, various cakes, sliced fruits and pecan pie."
" A la mode ?" Blake asked, still gazing around the room admiring the decorations.
"Of course." She scanned her notes. "Oh, the ice-sculpture arrived this morning. It's in the freezer in the kitchen. It'll sit in the place of honor on the dessert table. Your decorating committee did a great job with the centerpieces and name cards on the tables. You're sitting way up front, by the way. Well, I guess that's it. Everything's set for tonight." Melanie held out her hand. "It's been a pleasure working with you, Blake. I hope that I've . . . what's wrong? Why are you frowning?"
He hadn't taken her outstretched hand, but just stood there staring down at her, his dark brows slanted in a scowl.
"What's wrong?" Melanie asked again. "If something's not right . . . if I've left something undone, there's still time to fix it."
Blake clasped her hand in his and squeezed gently. "Nothing's wrong with your arrangements. You've done an excellent job. I can't thank you enough. I'd have been lost without you."
Melanie tried to withdraw her hand, but he held on tight. "Then what is it?" she asked, searching the handsome face. "I thought everything was set to go."
"I thought so, too," Blake said, still holding her hand. Tingles of awareness shimmied up Melanie's arm. "That was Sue Ellen on the phone. She has the flu."
"Sue Ellen?" Melanie couldn't remember anyone on the committee named Sue Ellen. "I'm sorry she's sick, but what does she have to do with the Christmas Ball?"
Blake started rubbing his thumb in a slow circle against the palm of her hand, shooting spirals of heat straight down to her toes. "She was going to be my date, but she's caught the bug that's going around and had to cancel."
Melanie swallowed. She was having a difficult time concentrating on what he was saying due to his burning touch. "Well, you'll just have to go stag, won't you?"
Blake tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her toward him. "I don't want to go stag. What are you doing tonight?"
"Me?" Her voice squeaked in surprise. "Oh no. I couldn't. Besides, what about your girlfriend? Wouldn't she be upset if you took someone in her place?"
Blake chuckled. He'd pulled her so close, Melanie felt the rumble in his chest. "Sue Ellen's not my girlfriend. We've known
Similar Books
