pain, then bent double, laughing uproariously. "Truce." He raised both hands in mock surrender. "If we start horsing around, I'll never get my ride."
"Okay, official time out. But don't get it in your head that I'm through with you, cause I'm not."
I'm not through with you, either. But he was in emotional quicksand where Eve was concerned.
Her cheeks were rosy, her nose red, her eyes sparkling shards of green ice, and he'd like nothing better than to throw her down in the snow and rip off her clothes. Forget his wish to ride the toboggan. The thought of riding sweet Eve set off such longing the blood pounded through his veins and his labored breaths became quick shallow pants. Eve's, too, he noticed.
Maybe it was the steep climb affecting them, not need.
Yeah. Right.
What about Croupier, now chomping at the bit? In less than twenty-four hours Eve had managed to get under his skin and become a necessary part of his life.
How many days would it take to stop thinking about her, once he sent Eve away?
Chapter Twelve
Pleased with himself, Nick flew down the hill on his last ride of the day, proud he had finally found the nerve to run behind the toboggan, get a fast start, then leap on board.
He soon discovered the ride was not near as much fun without Eve. He missed the way the wind drove her long tresses into his face. The way her warm body kept the brunt of the cold air from hitting him full force. The way her wide hips snuggled against him.
No, he couldn't deny it. He missed holding Eve in his arms.
He was nearing the bottom of the hill and should have been thrilled with his solo ride, but his thoughts had him feeling as if he'd been doused with icy water. The joy over his solo ride seeped away, leaving him doubt ridden and ill at ease.
If he felt like this now, what would the days ahead be like for him without Eve?
The toboggan skidded to a halt and he leaped to his feet, his jaw tight. He'd get through them. He always had. Nothing had changed.
Or had it?
He grabbed the rope, yanked the toboggan around, and started up the hill. His own personal cheering squad stood at the crest, shifting from one foot to the other to keep warm, but wearing a wide smile.
A feeling of tenderness swept over him, one not easily reasoned away.
Sure, he'd had a good time this afternoon. That's what call girls were paid to do, entertain, and he'd been well entertained. And not just in bed. The fact amazed him. That he could spend several hours alone with a lady of pleasure and the lady still have on all her clothes.
That would come later. For now, he'd promised to brush the snow from Eve's car.
As Nick neared the top of the hill, she stumbled forward to meet him, her guileless smile a treat. "Was it good for you, too?"
"It was great," he murmured, taking her hand in his, the double entendre of her words going right over Eve's head, but affecting Nick like a glimpse of heaven.
Dragging the toboggan, he headed for the shed, Eve hurrying to keep up with him.
"I feel guilty about being the first to use the boy's new toy," she said.
"Don't. He moved to the east coast with his mother following the divorce. The likelihood of a snowfall during one of his court-decreed visits with his father hovers around zero. Besides, he's a good kid. I'm sure he won't mind."
Just last year, the boy had begged for something to use if it snowed and his father had given in to his plea. But when they moved away, his mother had left all her son's favorite toys behind. With a divorce, things that had once seemed immensely important sometimes no longer mattered at all. Nick could attest to that.
"Oh, I didn't know about the divorce. Is that why Bob's selling? As a part of a settlement? I'll bet he's not eager to let this place go."
Resuming her real estate agent act ?
Nick fastened the lock on the shed. He should not have brought up Bob's divorce. Gossip never set well with him. "Something like that."
To reach the driveway and Eve's car, they
"Okay, official time out. But don't get it in your head that I'm through with you, cause I'm not."
I'm not through with you, either. But he was in emotional quicksand where Eve was concerned.
Her cheeks were rosy, her nose red, her eyes sparkling shards of green ice, and he'd like nothing better than to throw her down in the snow and rip off her clothes. Forget his wish to ride the toboggan. The thought of riding sweet Eve set off such longing the blood pounded through his veins and his labored breaths became quick shallow pants. Eve's, too, he noticed.
Maybe it was the steep climb affecting them, not need.
Yeah. Right.
What about Croupier, now chomping at the bit? In less than twenty-four hours Eve had managed to get under his skin and become a necessary part of his life.
How many days would it take to stop thinking about her, once he sent Eve away?
Chapter Twelve
Pleased with himself, Nick flew down the hill on his last ride of the day, proud he had finally found the nerve to run behind the toboggan, get a fast start, then leap on board.
He soon discovered the ride was not near as much fun without Eve. He missed the way the wind drove her long tresses into his face. The way her warm body kept the brunt of the cold air from hitting him full force. The way her wide hips snuggled against him.
No, he couldn't deny it. He missed holding Eve in his arms.
He was nearing the bottom of the hill and should have been thrilled with his solo ride, but his thoughts had him feeling as if he'd been doused with icy water. The joy over his solo ride seeped away, leaving him doubt ridden and ill at ease.
If he felt like this now, what would the days ahead be like for him without Eve?
The toboggan skidded to a halt and he leaped to his feet, his jaw tight. He'd get through them. He always had. Nothing had changed.
Or had it?
He grabbed the rope, yanked the toboggan around, and started up the hill. His own personal cheering squad stood at the crest, shifting from one foot to the other to keep warm, but wearing a wide smile.
A feeling of tenderness swept over him, one not easily reasoned away.
Sure, he'd had a good time this afternoon. That's what call girls were paid to do, entertain, and he'd been well entertained. And not just in bed. The fact amazed him. That he could spend several hours alone with a lady of pleasure and the lady still have on all her clothes.
That would come later. For now, he'd promised to brush the snow from Eve's car.
As Nick neared the top of the hill, she stumbled forward to meet him, her guileless smile a treat. "Was it good for you, too?"
"It was great," he murmured, taking her hand in his, the double entendre of her words going right over Eve's head, but affecting Nick like a glimpse of heaven.
Dragging the toboggan, he headed for the shed, Eve hurrying to keep up with him.
"I feel guilty about being the first to use the boy's new toy," she said.
"Don't. He moved to the east coast with his mother following the divorce. The likelihood of a snowfall during one of his court-decreed visits with his father hovers around zero. Besides, he's a good kid. I'm sure he won't mind."
Just last year, the boy had begged for something to use if it snowed and his father had given in to his plea. But when they moved away, his mother had left all her son's favorite toys behind. With a divorce, things that had once seemed immensely important sometimes no longer mattered at all. Nick could attest to that.
"Oh, I didn't know about the divorce. Is that why Bob's selling? As a part of a settlement? I'll bet he's not eager to let this place go."
Resuming her real estate agent act ?
Nick fastened the lock on the shed. He should not have brought up Bob's divorce. Gossip never set well with him. "Something like that."
To reach the driveway and Eve's car, they
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