Christmas in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 1) by Cindy Kirk Page A

finish baking?”
    “That’s so sweet.” Her voice turned as warm as her eyes, telling him she appreciated the offer. But the slight tilt to her chin told him before she even spoke that she wouldn’t be taking him up on his offer.
    “You and I, Mr. Cross, have a deal,” she continued in that sweet, slightly husky voice that he found incredibly arousing. “Once I get through tomorrow, there’s just Sunday. It won’t be nearly as busy.”
    Beck hadn’t thought that far into the future. “Remind me again what’s on the Twelve Nights agenda for Sunday.”
    “Activities at the Rakes Farm. Sledding, singing around a bonfire, then cider in the big red barn. Oh, and fabulous cookies.”
    The smug look in her eyes put him on alert. “Who’s providing the cookies?”
    Ami flashed a triumphant smile. “Why, Blooms Bake Shop, of course.”
    The Energizer Bunny had nothing on her. “You’re an amazing woman, Ami Bloom.”
    “You’re right.” Her bright smile flashed. “I am.”
    He laughed.
    Her laughter soon mingled with his.
    Then their eyes met. The laughter died in his throat and his heart became a swift, hard beat.
    He reached out for her and felt her arms encircle his neck. She was so lovely. Did she have any idea of the power she had over him?
    The feel of her soft curves had Beck forgetting his resolve to keep it all business between them. Just this once he would stop thinking and open himself to the moment, to her. He shifted, gathered her closer still, and kissed her temple.
    When she gave a pleasure-filled sigh and lifted her face, he lowered his mouth to hers and found it as soft and sweet as he’d imagined.
    The kiss started out gentle and tender but quickly morphed into something more, something that felt . . . life altering. When her fingers slid into his hair and she began to kiss him back with equal enthusiasm, Beck knew he was in over his head.
    At the moment, he didn’t care. A smoldering heat flared through him. The rush of sheer physical awareness that had assailed him as soon as his arms closed around her intensified tenfold. His need for her became a pulsing ache inside him.
    From Ami’s uninhibited response, it appeared she felt the same pull. But when he flattened his hand against her lower back, drawing her up against the length of him, she stumbled.
    Beck reached out to steady her, but she brushed away his hands.
    “I—I should go.” Though her cheeks were dotted with bright spots of pink, she appeared back in full control.
    Which was more than Beck could say for himself. He wanted her. Right now. If she was willing, he’d—
    Beck didn’t let himself finish the thought. The way she was backing up told him if she’d once been interested, she wasn’t anymore.
    The relief he felt was tinged with regret. “I’ll drive you home.”
    “I’ll walk.”
    “It’s late.” His tone brooked no argument.
    After a thoughtful second, she shrugged. “Sure.”
    The drive to the bakery was made in silence. Beck tried to initiate conversation on the short trip, but Ami’s monosyllabic responses had him giving up before he even turned off Market Street.
    He pulled to the curb, half expecting her to hop out without a word of good-bye. Once again, Ami surprised him. She unbuckled her seat belt and shifted to face him.
    “I let things get out of hand,” she told him. “It’s been a while for me and, well, you’re a great kisser. But that’s no excuse for throwing myself at you. So . . . I apologize.”
    Ami was out of the vehicle and inside the bakery before Beck processed her words.
    She’d let things get out of hand?
    He was the one who hadn’t been able to stop from kissing her. She’d responded, but the original kiss had been at his instigation, not hers.
    Why would she think otherwise?
    Beck pondered the puzzling question the rest of the drive home.

C hapter N ine

    “I love the fact that you jumped him.” Hadley shot Ami a wink, then pushed off from the crest overlooking a