Page 19 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
“Sure, I can totally see why you’d say no to the insanely hot guy with the sexy accent. Makes perfect sense.”
“Why would I go out with him? A man who looks like that, and is only in town for a short visit, is only after one thing.”
“I know,” she said vehemently. “And you could be the one to give it to him.”
“I’m not having a fling with a guest.”
“Why not? You deserve a fling with a hot British man.”
“No.”
She groaned. “Fine, but you’re no fun. And I think you’re missing out.”
Annabel bounded into the room. “Ready, Mommy!”
“Let’s get coats,” Nina said.
“I don’t need a coat.”
“Wear it or carry it. Your choice.”
“Carry it,” Annabel answered decisively.
“Have fun, ladies,” I said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Auntie Natalie.”
I waved goodbye and watched them go, then picked up my laundry basket. A fling with the hot guy staying in our Airbnb? No, thank you. I didn’t care what Nina said. I wasn’t missing out on anything.
Jensen Lakes was exactly the sort of complication I did not need.
CHAPTER 5
Jensen
Natalie.
Mesmerized, I stood for a long moment, gazing at the door she’d just gone through. Something about her had left me in a daze, half hypnotized.
Never in my life had I experienced such a deep, visceral reaction to a woman. It was as if she’d glowed with an ethereal light. Her scent had been intoxicating, her magnetism irresistible.
It wasn’t just that I found her attractive. I did—she was beautiful—but that didn’t explain what she’d done to me. Her exit had sucked the air from the room, and I had the strangest desire to follow her, just to bask in her presence.
Of course, I was wearing nothing but a towel, and it was freezing outside. Not exactly the time to give chase.
“Natalie.” I said her name aloud, savoring the taste of it. I went to the window and looked toward the house, but she’d already gone inside. “We’ll meet again, darling.”
The fact that she’d turned me down was a conundrum. No was not a word I was accustomed to hearing when it came to dinner invitations.
I went to the bedroom to get dressed. I wasn’t annoyed or even terribly disappointed. My mouth twitched in a smile as I buttoned my shirt. She hadn’t melted into a puddle the moment I’d kissed her hand, and I found that intriguing. I liked it. And her voice had betrayed a hint of stubbornness. I liked that, too.
Natalie Thatcher was a puzzle. A beautiful puzzle. I was going to enjoy finding out how her pieces fit.
But first things first. I was there to catch a thief, not ruminate on the woman next door.
After dressing—dark blue suit, no tie—I left and headed back into town in search of breakfast and to take another look around.
Dangling snowflake lights crisscrossed the main street, and the large tree in the city park sparkled with Christmas lights, even in the daylight. I circled through the small downtown area, looking for a place to eat. The Copper Kettle Diner caught my eye, and I parked out front.
