Read Online VINA IN VENICE (THE 5 SISTERS) by Kimberley Reeves - Free Book Online
Authors: Kimberley Reeves
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genius in the kitchen and he knew it, which meant anyone that questioned what he did or tried to alter his recipes was tagged a tyrant and ordered to get out of his sight.
“Now look what you’ve done,” she dabbed at the tears that were threatening to make her mascara run. “Thanks to you , I ’m going to walk in there looking look like a raccoon!”
“But a very beautiful raccoon,” Travis quipped, dodging the playful punch she lobbed at his shoulder.
Vina’s eyes followed him as he came around the front of the car . He was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he opened the door and help ed her out, his wicked smile broadening when he told her she’ d missed a spot.
“Here, let me get it,” he said , cupping her chin and gently rubbing away the smudge with his thumb . “Much better.”
Standing this close to him, Vina was acutely aware of his potent masculinity. No wonder women fell all over themselves to get near him. He looked good enough to eat and smelled utterly divine. Vina closed her eyes, breath ing in his familiar scent; a mixture of soap and a hint of the subtle sandalwood cologne he favored. It was heady to say the least, but that wasn’t what made Vina sway unsteadily on legs that suddenly felt like rubber.
She didn’t need to open her eyes to know that Travis had drawn closer; it was like standing in front of a heat lamp the way her skin soaked up his warmth. And i f there were other people around, Vina wasn’ t aware of them. Caught up in a swirling vortex of emotions , she was defenseless against the alien sensations Travis aroused when the gentle movement of his thumb was replaced by a deeply sensual stroke of long, lean fingers down the side of her face . She wasn’t sure what was happening; only that she didn’t want it to stop.
It was the achingly tender brush of his mouth against h er parted lips that finally jolted Vina out of the dream - like state she’d fallen into. What was she doing? Kissing Travis would be the biggest mistake of her life! She’d fall for him, just as countless other women had done, and probably do something incredibly stupid like sleep with him. Vina wouldn’t last any longer than his previous girlfriends had, and would have no one to blame but herself when she lost Travis, both as her lover and as her best friend.
Vina jerked her head back, embarrassed by her shameless behavior, but determined to keep it from showing. Peering up at him with a force d smile, she attempted a light-hearted tone.
“ Tell me, Mr. Malone, w hat does your rule book say about kissing a man I barely know before he has even wined and dined me?”
Chapter 4
Travis tried not to let his disappointment show , but it wasn’t easy. He could still feel the warmth of her breath on his lips, and though he’d been deprived of a real kiss, the brief taste he’d gotten was enough to make him ache for more. Admittedly, his ego was bruised by Vina’s rejection ; payment, he supposed, for assuming the closed eyes and part ed lips were an invitation. His only shot at redeeming himself was to follow her lead and make light of it.
“I must have picked up the wrong rule book,” he grinned. “ I could have sworn it said never pass up the opportunity t o kiss a beautiful woman.”
Vina didn’t miss a beat. “ Straight from the pages of The Travis Malone Dairies would be my guess.”
“Now, that was cold, woman.”
“ Sorry about that,” she sounded genuinely contrite. “ I haven’t eaten anything since this morning and tend to get a little waspish when I’m hungry.”
“In that case, I’d better get you inside so Chef Joe can restore your blood sugar level .”
“How very wise of you,” Vina laughed as she slipped her hand into his.
Travis had never been fond of holding hands or other displays of affection in public. It i nferred there was some thing more than a casual relationship
“Now look what you’ve done,” she dabbed at the tears that were threatening to make her mascara run. “Thanks to you , I ’m going to walk in there looking look like a raccoon!”
“But a very beautiful raccoon,” Travis quipped, dodging the playful punch she lobbed at his shoulder.
Vina’s eyes followed him as he came around the front of the car . He was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he opened the door and help ed her out, his wicked smile broadening when he told her she’ d missed a spot.
“Here, let me get it,” he said , cupping her chin and gently rubbing away the smudge with his thumb . “Much better.”
Standing this close to him, Vina was acutely aware of his potent masculinity. No wonder women fell all over themselves to get near him. He looked good enough to eat and smelled utterly divine. Vina closed her eyes, breath ing in his familiar scent; a mixture of soap and a hint of the subtle sandalwood cologne he favored. It was heady to say the least, but that wasn’t what made Vina sway unsteadily on legs that suddenly felt like rubber.
She didn’t need to open her eyes to know that Travis had drawn closer; it was like standing in front of a heat lamp the way her skin soaked up his warmth. And i f there were other people around, Vina wasn’ t aware of them. Caught up in a swirling vortex of emotions , she was defenseless against the alien sensations Travis aroused when the gentle movement of his thumb was replaced by a deeply sensual stroke of long, lean fingers down the side of her face . She wasn’t sure what was happening; only that she didn’t want it to stop.
It was the achingly tender brush of his mouth against h er parted lips that finally jolted Vina out of the dream - like state she’d fallen into. What was she doing? Kissing Travis would be the biggest mistake of her life! She’d fall for him, just as countless other women had done, and probably do something incredibly stupid like sleep with him. Vina wouldn’t last any longer than his previous girlfriends had, and would have no one to blame but herself when she lost Travis, both as her lover and as her best friend.
Vina jerked her head back, embarrassed by her shameless behavior, but determined to keep it from showing. Peering up at him with a force d smile, she attempted a light-hearted tone.
“ Tell me, Mr. Malone, w hat does your rule book say about kissing a man I barely know before he has even wined and dined me?”
Chapter 4
Travis tried not to let his disappointment show , but it wasn’t easy. He could still feel the warmth of her breath on his lips, and though he’d been deprived of a real kiss, the brief taste he’d gotten was enough to make him ache for more. Admittedly, his ego was bruised by Vina’s rejection ; payment, he supposed, for assuming the closed eyes and part ed lips were an invitation. His only shot at redeeming himself was to follow her lead and make light of it.
“I must have picked up the wrong rule book,” he grinned. “ I could have sworn it said never pass up the opportunity t o kiss a beautiful woman.”
Vina didn’t miss a beat. “ Straight from the pages of The Travis Malone Dairies would be my guess.”
“Now, that was cold, woman.”
“ Sorry about that,” she sounded genuinely contrite. “ I haven’t eaten anything since this morning and tend to get a little waspish when I’m hungry.”
“In that case, I’d better get you inside so Chef Joe can restore your blood sugar level .”
“How very wise of you,” Vina laughed as she slipped her hand into his.
Travis had never been fond of holding hands or other displays of affection in public. It i nferred there was some thing more than a casual relationship
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