Christmas Getaway by Tina Leonard and Marion Lennox Anne Stuart Page B

wedding.”
    â€œTrue.” Jean shook her head. “Anyway, Connor seems seedy to me. You don’t seem to like him, either. Any particular reason?”
    Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. I think I always saw Molly settling down with someone more…caring. That’s the word that keeps coming to my mind. I just never got the sense deep down that Connor loved Molly for Molly.”
    â€œThat’s interesting,” Jean murmured, “I never got the sense that Molly loved Connor with all her heart. And I was uneasy from the moment I met him.” She remembered his eyes when he’d stared at her…hard, cold and flat. “He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would want an outgoing woman like Molly.”
    Sam grinned. “You’re not exactly a shy flower yourself, for a librarian. Shouldn’t you be bookish and quiet?”
    She looked at him. “Are you saying I’m talkative? By your definition?”
    He chuckled. “I think it’s fair to say that this Christmas season will be the most lively my ranch has seen.”
    â€œI’m not your Christmas party,” Jean said, her tone un-amused. “Even if this misunderstanding hasn’t been straightened out, in forty-eight hours we’re either flying or driving to New England to my family.”
    Sam was silent, ignoring her demand. Jean glanced out into the darkness. She felt as if they were traveling into a black hole—not a great feeling at Christmas. “So when you said you live out in the country, you meant far-out, uninhabited country.”
    â€œWe have a stop sign in our town.”
    One stop sign. That meant there must be about ten residents, Jean thought glumly, not even enough for a powder-puff football game. “Is there a reason you live so far away from civilization, Sam?”
    â€œI like it,” he said simply. “It gives me peace.”
    She would never be happy with that much “peace.” “I should thank you for being worried about my safety. I’ve just never been good with having my independence hijacked. Even when I was a child, I wanted to do everything myself. At least that’s what my parents say.”
    â€œMolly says that’s one of the things she admires about you. That go-getter thing you’ve got going on is energizing to people around you. And it’s a warning that I’ll have to keep a very close eye on you.”
    The warning sounded like a sexy promise to her. Jean felt her whole body unexpectedly heat. She reviewed her situation: Alone with a very good-looking man out in the middle of nowhere.
    Women dreamed of Santa dropping a dreamboat like Sam under their Christmas tree—but she wasn’t daring enough to consider unwrapping him.

CHAPTER TWO
    S AM B ROADBENT was well aware that Molly’s maid of honor had misgivings about him. It was obvious that Jean was worried about Molly, more than anything. But if there wasn’t going to be a wedding—and from what he could tell, there was no way in hell his sister was going to be O’Bannion’s bride—Jean clearly wanted to be at home for the holidays with her family.
    Being somewhat of a loner, he didn’t share those sentimental feelings. He didn’t send cards or get a tree. Most times he worked through Christmas, opting to let his fellow Rangers have a day with their families.
    He pulled into the garage and helped Jean from the car so she wouldn’t trip on the ridiculous gown. “I have a hard time imagining Molly condemning her best friend to that dress.”
    â€œShe didn’t. Her future mother-in-law did.” Jean got out as gracefully as she could, seeming happy for his assistance.
    â€œYet another reason to reconsider her choice of groom,” he said. “Poor taste in the family tree.”
    Jean smiled. “You and I agree on something.”
    â€œFinally.” Opening the door, he motioned Jean inside.