How To Find A Man In Five Dates. Tina Beckett

she didn’t have any of the same reservations about hurting the woman’s feelings as he did, because she continued. “So did you get the number for that sleigh-ride company, Jack, or what?”

      “I was just doing that.”

      “Good.” Her glance shot to the brunette. “Thanks for keeping him company for me. I’ve got it from here.”

      With a strangled sound the woman wheeled around and then jerked open the door to the lodge before disappearing inside.

      The breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding whistled out through his teeth as relief swept over him. “How did you know?”

      She let go of his side and lifted her hand to pat his cheek. “Your face is about as red as the walls in the dining hall.” She laughed. “And she’s a regular. She comes on to all the men.”

      There was a bitter edge to her words.

      So much for thinking she’d singled him out. Ouch. The punch to his ego stung.

      “So I wasn’t in any real danger.”

      “I didn’t say that. She’s dangerous all right.”

      As much as he tried to school his face into a blank slate, a smile crept up from somewhere inside him. “How do you know I don’t thrive on danger?”

      “Do you? I didn’t take you for the type.”

      There it was again. That quick one-two to his pride. “I might surprise you.”

      “Really? In that case, I think you owe me a sleigh ride. For bailing you out of what could have been an awkward situation. Especially if her husband had found out.”

      “She’s married?” Maybe he did owe her something.

      “Aren’t they all?”

      He wouldn’t know. He hadn’t been on the dating circuit since he’d met Paula. “I guess you wouldn’t accept a simple thank-you.”

      “I would, but I couldn’t promise I’d bail you out a second time. If her being married doesn’t stop her, do you really think me saying I’m your girlfriend is going to scare her off? But if she knows you not only have a girlfriend but that you’re happy with that girlfriend, she’ll probably leave you alone.”

      Jack’s head was spinning, partly at the audacity of married women propositioning men who were taken and partly just because of the clean crisp scent of the woman at his side. It reminded him of frosty days and mocha-filled nights. He leaned in closer. “Did you just have coffee?”

      Why he asked that he had no idea.

      She blinked at him in surprise. She could match that look and raise it. His face heated again.

      “I just ate a coffee-flavored candy.”

      “Sorry. I think my brain is misfiring over what just happened.”

      “You’ve never been propositioned by a married woman before?” Her voice was shocked, like it was something that happened all the time.

      “Never. If you were married, would you do it? Proposition someone who wasn’t your husband?”

      “Oh, but I’m not married.” Although light and delivered with a smile, her words contained a hint of darkness. Because of her ex? Had he slept with Mrs. Botox or something?

      He decided to change the subject entirely. “So this sleigh ride. Is it worth going on alone?”

      “Um, yeah, but if she finds out you’re planning on going solo, she’s going to show up and invite herself along for the ride.”

      He glanced through the glass to see that the brunette in question was indeed eyeing them while sipping on something boozy that looked like it had a tiny plastic ski sticking out of it. He guessed ski resorts didn’t want little umbrellas reminding people they could be in a tropical paradise instead. “As much as I never thought I’d say it, would you mind going with me? To ward off trouble …” He wasn’t sure that “warding off” trouble was the right way to put it. Because it sure felt like he was busy cultivating it at the moment.

      “No problem. I haven’t been on a sleigh ride in ages, actually.”

      So her ex hadn’t taken her on one? Maybe they’d had fun in other ways.

      Something that made his jaw tense.

      She grabbed his hand. “And now for my last good deed until our sleigh ride.” She hauled him through the door and paraded him right in front of Mrs. Botox, their hands firmly joined. They were about halfway to the receptionist’s desk when she turned to grin at him and then promptly plowed into an older man who stepped into her path.

      “Oh, I’m sorry.” She turned around. “I didn’t see …”

      Her voice died away, and her face drained of all its color as she looked up at the man she’d just run into. She let go of Jack’s hand in a rush.

      The stranger’s brows came together, and his eyes narrowed as he studied Jack and then Mira. Then he addressed her, saying, “I think you have some explaining to do.”

      Her arms went around her waist, and she drew in a shaky breath. “Daddy, what are you doing here?”