Page 3 of Recklessly in Love

“Eh. You don’t think about other guys; I don’t think about guys who are taken.” I shrug — such a lie. I’d totally do a threesome with them — just sex, of course. I’m not into polyamory by any means. Just a good time. But I know even suggesting anything like that would probably make Mia’s head explode.

She graces me with a smirk that says she knows anyway. “Well, you’ll see a lot of him while we’re here. Just … don’t break him, okay?”

I snort. “No promises.”

And with a flip of my long, dark hair over my shoulder, I tug Mia toward the boys. Scratch that — men. Definitely men. So sayeth my tingling girlie parts.

“Greg, this is my friend, Joanie,” Mia offers as we stop beside them. “She lives in Seattle but will join us for the festivities.”

Greg’s gaze turns to me, and his cornflower blue irises meet my ice blues. And I never knew it was possible to be jealous of the shade of a man’s eyes.

“Nice to meet you,” he says, offering a hand.

I slip mine into his, shaking it firmly. He’s noticeably surprised.

“Joanie is a lawyer too,” Mia offers as if in explanation. I’m a little surprised at the “too” since she’s not technically a lawyer now that she’s given that life up to run a bakery in the middle of nowhere. But that’s neither here nor there.

I look back at Greg to find an “aha” look on his face, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Yes, tiny girls can have firm handshakes — and law degrees.

“Well, that’s impressive,” Greg says with a smile that may have just melted my panties off.

I can’t tell if he’s sincere, so I smile sweetly. “Thank you. And it’s nice to meet you too, Greg,” I say, pointedly giving Mia the stink eye. But then, if he’s the kind of guy who is easily intimidated by a strong, intelligent woman, I guess I wouldn’t be interested anyway.

“Feel free to put us both to work,” Mia offers with a nod in my direction. “I know there’s a lot to do before the festival opens next week.”

Greg smiles that devastating smile again. “Be careful; I may just take you up on that. It’s a lot of dirty work.”

I purse my lips. “Well, good thing I’m always up for getting dirty,” I reply in as suggestive a tone as I can manage. And in case he doesn’t get it, I wink at him for good measure.

Greg looks mildly shocked, and I can’t help grinning. Nate shakes his head and laughs, and Mia rolls her eyes. “And that’s why you’re on the naughty list, Jo,” Mia says.

My grin grows to Cheshire-cat proportions, and Nate facepalms. He walks past Mia and mumbles just lowly enough for only Mia and me to hear, “Well, if he wasn’t interested before, he is now.”

* * *

Hours later, I’m fluffing a fake, silvery Christmas tree in the entry alcove when Greg finally approaches me. Mia has been doing her best to keep me decorating so I wouldn’t have time to pounce on him immediately. The joke’s on her because I always give them a few hours minimum to get a look at the goods first. And I’ve caught him checking out my ass more than a couple of times this afternoon.

“You’re a pro at that,” he says, leaning against the knotty pine desk. Once again checking out my ass.

I turn and bat my eyelashes at him. “I’m a woman of many talents,” I assure him.

He laughs, and his dimpled grin sets Bev aflutter. Yes, Bev. My beaver. My lady parts. What? Guys name their dicks, so I figured I should name my pussy.

“I’ll just bet you are,” he murmurs, his eyes sweeping over my frame. “So, how are you liking Alpine Ridge, Joanie?”

I step off the stool I’d been standing on and turn toward him. “It’s fine,” I reply succinctly. “But let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?”

He raises an eyebrow, looking intrigued.

“I do like a good chase,” he responds in a low voice.

I bite into my bottom lip to keep from grinning too widely. Now we’re talking.

“Mmm,” I murmur noncommittally, reaching up and running my hand down his chest — and holy shit. The muscle tone I feel under his dark plaid work shirt is no joke. “But the catching part is much more fun, isn’t it?” I look up at him from under my eyelashes, giving him a coy smile.

He chuckles, low and deep. Damn, I just want to eat this man for Christmas dinner. Yum.

“It can be,” he allows. “But —” he leans in, his hot breath tickling the shell of my ear “— anticipation can be pretty fucking hot too.” His nose grazes my lobe, sending tingles shivering down my entire left side. He straightens up and, with a wink, is gone.

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