Page 5 of Snow More Secrets

I chuckled and held out my hand. “Fair enough. I’m Jake.”

“Hannah,” she replied. Her eyes widened when her palm slid against mine.

Our skin sizzled with electricity, and my eyes dropped to her tempting red lips. I imagined what that spark would feel like when her lips pressed to mine and desire rippled through my body.

However, I didn’t want to move too fast and scare her away, so rather than pull her to me and find out if I was right, I reluctantly released her hand. “What are you drinking, baby?”

Her cheeks turned pink again, and I held back a groan. That sweet blush was so fucking sexy. And I wondered how far down it would go when she was consumed with passion.

Damn, I needed to get a fucking grip before I threw her over my shoulder and bolted for my hotel.

“I don’t usually?—”

“She’ll have a chocolate martini,” her friend cut in.

Hannah shot her friend an exasperated glare, and I chuckled. Her eyes came back to me, and she smiled, her gaze dropping to my lips.

I was seconds away from kissing her, so I tore my gaze away and looked at her friend. “Can I get you something as well?”

“Sure. I’ll have the same.”

I nodded as my eye slid back to Hannah. “Sit tight,” I murmured, then pivoted and stalked back to the bar.

Zander sidled up to me as I ordered three drinks. He was still staring toward the girls, his expression intrigued.

“So what’s the story with them?” he asked. “Clearly, you’ve staked a claim on the blonde—which is shocking because I’ve never seen you do that before—but is her friend single?”

I shrugged. “Didn’t ask.” It suddenly occurred to me I hadn’t asked Hannah if she was unattached. I assumed she wouldn’t let me buy her a drink if she was dating someone, but I could be wrong. The thought of Hannah with someone else made me want to put my fist through a wall…before finding the motherfucker and beating the shit out of him, so Hannah was free to be with me.

If Zander was shocked that I’d staked a claim on a woman, he’d be floored knowing the other shit floating around in my head. The instant possessiveness I’d felt for Hannah was new to me. I couldn’t remember ever feeling such potent desire for a woman or a need to keep her entirely to myself. I hated that other men in the room were imagining her naked. And I knew they were. I was a man; I knew what bastards we could be.

The drinks appeared on the shiny bar top, and I reached to take them, but Zander snagged one of the martinis first.

“I got this,” he informed me, then walked away without waiting for a reply.

Shaking my head, I picked up Hannah’s and my glasses and followed my friend back to the table.

“Here, baby,” I breathed as I set her drink in front of her.

“Thanks,” she said, her dimples popping out again.

“I’m Zander,” my friend announced, his focus solely on Hannah’s companion.

“Wendy,” she replied with a laugh.

He handed her the martini glass, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Pretty presumptuous for you to buy me a drink.”

Zander gave her a crooked smile. “I didn’t”—he pointed at me—“he did.”

Wendy tossed back her head and laughed. “I appreciate your honesty.”

Hannah giggled, drawing my full attention since I didn’t really care what was happening between Wendy and Zander. Although if he kept her company so I could steal Hannah away—even if he didn’t know that’s what he was doing—I’d owe him a bottle of his favorite tequila.

“Have you had dinner?” I asked.

I held in a groan when her lips curled up, and those sexy dimples appeared. “Yes.”

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