Home for the Holidays. Sarah Mayberry

eyed him for a moment, then her gaze dropped to the pizza. “Ruby made this for me—is that what you said?”

      “Yes. It’s a Ruby superspecial with the works. Homemade base and everything.”

      She held out her hand and he passed the pizza over. Now that her arms weren’t crossed over her chest, he could see the outline of her breasts against her robe. The soft shape of her nipples was clearly visible beneath the silk, and he realized that she must be naked beneath it.

      For a moment he got caught on the thought, his mind filling with images of soft skin and even softer curves.

       Where the hell did that come from?

      He shoved his hands into his pockets. Then he cleared his throat. “Before I go, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk with Ruby. I know she probably got in the way. It was kind of you to let her help.”

      Hannah gave him a scathing look. “It wasn’t kind. She’s a good kid. Smart, funny. A minor miracle, considering who her father is. But I won’t hold that against her.”

      She stepped forward and opened the front door. “Tell Ruby thank you for the pizza,” she said.

      His audience was over. He stepped over the threshold and turned to face her. “I will. And I just want to say again—”

      The door closed in his face. He blinked, then slowly turned away. Despite everything, a reluctant smile curved his mouth.

      Hannah Napier was a handful. He’d got that much right about her.

      And despite that, he wanted her.

      The realization killed his smile. He hadn’t felt a thing for another woman since Beth died, yet for some crazy reason every time he looked at his new neighbor he found himself thinking things he had no business thinking.

       It’s only sex. You haven’t touched a woman in two years. You’re only human.

      All true, but somehow not enough to ease the tight feeling in his gut. He didn’t want to be attracted to another woman. He wasn’t over Beth yet, not by a long shot.