Bedding the Bachelors Box Set (Books 1-3) by Virna Depaul Page B

you trying to be funny?”
    He slid his hand just a fraction higher on her leg, and she gasped. Just as he'd hoped, she reached out and grabbed his hand with her own. Satisfied, he tightened his hold on hers, resting their linked hands on her knee. “Just rest. I promise, you'll know everything in just a couple of hours.”
    For a moment, their gazes held, and he brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss it. “Now close those beautiful eyes and sleep, Ladybug.”
    He almost chuckled out loud at the way her eyes widened again. Leaning her head back, she stared at him while he focused on the road. He felt her gaze on him and rubbed his thumb in slow, circular movements against the back of her hand. Within minutes, he felt her begin to relax. Within ten, she'd closed her eyes. And within twenty, her soft, steady breathing told him she'd gone to sleep.
    Gently, he brought their raised hands back to his lips for another soft kiss.
    ***
    When Melina awoke, she was in the passenger seat of her car, and she was alone. Jolting up, she frantically searched for Rhys and immediately saw him standing near the front of the car, talking to a bearded man in a baseball cap. Pulling down the visor, she checked herself in the mirror, wincing at the sight that looked back at her.
    Her glasses were askew, her hair limp, no makeup on her face. But the men had turned toward her, and Rhys was motioning her outside and she'd feel like an absolute fool if she didn't go out and greet them. So she straightened her glasses, took a deep breath, and opened the car.
    “Melina, this is my friend, Rod. He owns the Holiday Harbor store.” Rhys gestured to the weathered, two-story building behind them. Beyond it, a long dock floated over a peaceful lake surrounded by tall redwood trees. “Rod, this is Melina.”
    She held out her hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
    “The pleasure's all mine.” Ignoring her proffered hand, Rod pulled her in for a deep bear hug. “It's great to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you from the Dalton family over the years.”
    Flushed with pleasure, Melina smoothed back her hair. “Th-that's nice.” She peeked up at Rhys, and he tucked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. At first, she held herself slightly apart from him as he continued to talk to Rod, but then she relaxed, allowing herself to sink into him. He looked down and smiled at her in approval.
    “Rod checks in on the place when I'm not around. I was just getting the lowdown on the lake. The water's been pretty low this year, but last month's rain has got it back up to boating levels. Rod's got a patio boat he lets me use when I'm here.”
    “Where is here?”
    “Lake Shasta. About thirty minutes north of Redding.”
    “I-I didn't realize you had a place here.”
    “It's something I bought a few years back.”
    “Oh.” Her implication was clear from her tone. They hadn't talked enough in the last few years for her to know much of anything about him. But she was surprised Max hadn't said anything about it.
    “Do you own it with Max?”
    Rhys tensed for a moment. “Nope. This is something that I did completely on my own. Max has come up a few times, but he gets a little antsy when he's here. He's not much for roughing it.”
    “Somehow I can't see you roughing it much either.”
    Rod chuckled. “She's got your number, Rhys. But he does surprisingly well while he's here. He's got some good survival skills, not that you'll be needing them much. Rhys's house is great. It just took him awhile to get it in habitable shape.”
    Rhys remodeled a house? He obviously had more skill with his hands than she'd thought. Flushing at her thoughts, she blurted, “Is there a restroom here I can use?”
    “Use the one in the restaurant. It's nicer than the open restroom by the lake.”
    She nodded. “Thank you.” She rushed into the building, acutely aware of the men's gazes on her. She walked through a little store on the way to the restaurant