Read Online The Christmas Baby by Eve Gaddy - Free Book Online Page A

he really wants to impress.” He got up and opened the pantry, returning to the table with a box of gingersnaps.
    Her mouth watered. “Could I have some of those?”
    He smiled and offered her the box. “Unlike you, I’ll share.” They munched in silence a moment and then he said, “So, did he impress you?”
    “I wouldn’t say impress, exactly. He was nice,” she said cautiously. Very nice. Maybe even a little too nice. But then, these days she had a suspicious mind where men were concerned. Allen had been a perfect gentleman, though. He’d kissed her good-night, but he hadn’t been pushy or offensive about it. It wasn’t his fault the kiss had done nothing for her.
    “Did you go anywhere else?”
    Why was he so curious? “No, there wasn’t time. But Allen mentioned the Ellington. It’s a jazz club, I think.”
    Brian laughed but didn’t say anything.
    “What?” She picked up another cookie. “Why is that funny? Isn’t it a good place to go?”
    “Oh, yeah, it’s good.” His amused gaze met hers. “Very good. Very classy. Very expensive.”
    “And? There’s obviously something you’re not telling me.”
    He ate another gingersnap before answering. “Soft lights, sexy music, fancy wine list. Atmosphere in spades. It’s the kind of place you take a woman you want to talk into bed.”
    She stared at him. “Oh, come on. He wouldn’t think I’d sleep with him just because he took me to an expensive club.”
    Brian waved his finger in the air. “Let’s not forget the first part of the date. The classy, pricey, romantic restaurant. Yeah, I’d say it’s a move.”
    “Maybe he just wanted to show me a nice time? Without an ulterior motive.”
    He didn’t look convinced. “All right,” he conceded. “It’s possible.”
    “But not likely.”
    Brian shrugged. “He’s a guy and you’re a beautiful woman. He might not think it’s a given, but I’ll bet he thinks wining and dining you might get him closer to getting lucky.” He paused and added, “Why, are you going to the Ellington next time?”
    The little thrill she’d felt when he’d said she was beautiful faded. She gave him a dirty look. “I don’t see that it’s any of your business.” Scratch that second date. Men . “And there’s not going to be a next time.”
    “Did you decide that before or after I clued you in?”
    His eyes were laughing and she wanted to pinch him. “Before,” she lied. She’d been willing to give Allen another chance. But now she’d be so suspicious of his every move it wouldn’t be worth it. She rose to put the grapes back in the refrigerator.
    “I suppose you know all this because that’s how you operate.” She closed the door and leaned against it. “Tell me, Brian, where did you take the casserole lady the other night?” she challenged.
    “She wasn’t a casserole lady. She was a flight attendant I met a few months ago. I ran into her again when I was in Corpus Christi the other day.”
    “Okay, but you didn’t answer my question. Is that how you operate?”
    None of your business, her mind chanted. But he’d annoyed her and she couldn’t let it go.
    He got up and walked over to her. He didn’t speak but reached out to touch her hair, letting the ends trail over his fingers. “Why do you want to know, Faith?”
    Tension filled the air. She should know better than to play with fire and Brian Kincaid was an explosion just waiting to detonate.
    “I don’t.” She moved away, hoping it didn’t look like the full scale retreat it was. “It’s late, I’m going to bed.”
    “Faith.”
    She halted at the door and looked back at him. He smiled, a sexy smile that made her wish she was more like one of those sophisticated, gorgeous women he dated rather than plain-as-apple-pie Faith McClain.
    “For what it’s worth, I like to think I’m smoother than that.”
    “We all need our illusions, don’t we?” She smiled sweetly and left, his laughter trailing behind her. He was smooth,