Read Online Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) by Elena Aitken - Free Book Online Page B

with herself if the event was canceled. Not when she knew she could help.
    “Carmen,” she said, before she stopped herself. “I think I can help.”
    “Really?” Carmen said. She looked like she might leap forward and kiss Andi.
    “That’s right,” Colin added. “Andi runs a party planning business.”
    “And you really think you could help?” Carmen asked. “I mean, it’s last minute and all. The ball is tomorrow.”
    Andi laughed and put her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “I’ll tell you what,” she said. “Let me see what you have so far and I’ll make a few phone calls to my business partner. Last minute is her specialty. Don’t worry, Carmen. I’ll make it happen.”
    “Oh, Ms. Williams, thank you so much. You may have just saved my job.”
    “Please, just call me Andi.”
    “I’ll have all the files sent to your villa right away,” Carmen said and turned to leave, but turned around again and grabbed Andi’s hand. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to dump this on you on your holiday. In fact, I was trying to find you both to tell you that because of our mix-up, we’d like to offer you a complimentary dinner tonight at Oliver’s. It’s ourpremier restaurant.”
    “Oh, that’s very nice of you,” Andi said. “But I may have too much work to do, and I don’t want to assume that Colin will be free.” She looked over at him.
    “Nonsense,” he said. “We’d love to take you up on your offer, Carmen. And I’ll help Andi with anything she needs to get this ball organized. It’ll be fun.”
    Andi smiled and looked at him. “You’ll help?”
    “Of course.” Their eyes locked and something passed between them. Something that made Andi wish they were alone. She reached for his hand and squeezed it. An action that seemed so comfortable, and might even be normal in another circumstance. But normal or not, Andi liked the feel of her hand in his and the electricity that was passing between them.
    “It’s going to be great,” Andi said. Her eyes didn’t leave his and from somewhere in the distance, she thought she heard Carmen excuse herself, but still, she didn’t look away. She dared him with her eyes to kiss her. He’d had his opportunity more than once today, but each time he pulled away. And despite all of her common sense telling her to look away, she couldn’t. She hadn’t used common sense since she’d arrived at the Lodge, and so far it was working out pretty good. But maybe she’d read the situation wrong. Maybe Colin wasn’t interested in her that way at all.
    There was only one way to find out, Andi thought. She might as well be the one to make the first move. She’d never been the wallflower type. And like Eva said, it could be good for her to have a fling. She raised herself to her toes and leaned in. “This is going to be a lot of work,” she whispered, and inched closer. “Maybe a very late night.”
    “I like late nights,” Colin said. His voice was husky, his breathing hard. Andi closed her eyes and bridged the last few inches between them, meeting his lips with her own.
    The kiss was soft and tentative at first while they explored each other. When Colin wrapped his arm around her and pulled her even closer, any doubts she’d had were erased. She let herself sink into him. It had been so long since she’d been kissed and her body responded readily with a heat building in her core. Colin parted her lips gently with his tongue. He tasted sweet, like hot chocolate and peppermint.
    It was over too soon, but she was well aware of their very public environment and if the kiss went on much longer, it might not be appropriate for all audiences. She pulled away and smiled when she saw the look in his eyes. There was no mistaking that he felt the same way.
    “That was unexpected,” Colin said.
    She raised an eyebrow at him.
    “Well,” he amended. “Not entirely. I’ve been wanting to do that almost from the moment I saw you.”
    She