One Hot Night Old Port Nights, Book 1 Read Online Free

are you?”
    “Outside your front door. I couldn’t get my car out, and I tried knocking, but—”
    “Damn, sorry. Hold on.”
    Two seconds later he was at the door, letting her in.
    He leaned in close, and she held her breath, but all he did was brush snow off of her head.
    “How long were you out there? You had a mountain of snow piled on you.”
    “Oh, not long. A bunch fell on me from the roof when I was walking along the edge of the building.”
    She looked around and noted how cozy the place was. She’d never really looked before—it was a bar, much like any bar—but right now, it felt like heaven. It was also different when it was empty except for the two of them. Crowded with shouting, drinking patrons, it never seemed that charming. Now, it seemed very intimate.
    Warm, golden hues saturated the place, the walls solid brick. There was a huge fireplace at one end, where the tables were situated for people to sit, eat and talk. It would have been lovely if not for the huge flat-screen TVs that were hung everywhere. They were turned off now, all but the main one over the bar. Audra just focused on the warmth. And Scott.
    “Something smelled pretty good out in the alley. Please tell me you haven’t closed the kitchen.”
    “Nope. I have plenty to share.”
    She watched him walk to the bar to get some tape and attach a note to the door. “What are you doing?”
    “You never know, in a storm like this people can get stranded. I posted our business number to call if anyone else comes by needing help.”
    Audra was taken aback for a second by his generosity and concern. “That’s very kind of you.”
    He shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “You’re melting.”
    “What?”
    She followed his gaze down to where snow melting off her clothes had left a little puddle around her.
    “Oh, I’m sorry! The floors—”
    “Don’t worry. This tile can take a beating. Let’s get you out of those wet things,” he said, grinning. “Did that sound as porny as I think it did?”
    Audra had to laugh. He was funny as well as generous. The combination was hard to resist. And now she didn’t have to.
    “Nah. More big brother-ish, I think.”
    He frowned in mock consternation. “I’ll have to try harder next time.”
    “I hope you might.”
    There it was. Her first return parlay.
    He paused, as if registering what she’d said, before he took her coat and put it on a hook by the door. Awkwardness swamped her as she worked the snow pants down over her legs, which didn’t feel very sexy. She felt about twelve. Then she realized she should have taken her boots off first, and as she reached down to do so, she nearly fell over.
    Scott was there to catch her, of course.
    “Are you generally this accident prone?”
    He asked the question with no criticism, only gentle humor. He didn’t let go of her, either. Audra leaned into him, holding on to his arm as she worked her boots and snow pants off.
    When she looked up and saw the heat in his eyes, her fingers tightened on his forearm when they should have let go.
    “Not usually, no. Today must be one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong.”
    “I guess that depends on your perspective.”
    Warmth chased away any chill that lingered from the cold. Audra wished she could play it cool and back away with a laugh and a smile, but words clogged in her throat instead. Her eyes went to his mouth as her heart slammed in her chest. Okay, he was still in the game, it seemed. Maybe he was turned on by older women with no sense of style or good balance.
    They stayed like that, staring at each other for several long moments until hard blast of wind rattled the windows and made them both snap out of their fugue.
    “Wow, it’s getting really bad out there,” she said.
    Brilliant.
    “It is. I’m glad you came here instead of driving home.”
    “Me too.” She let go of him and stepped backwards into a wet puddle in her stocking feet. Closing her eyes, she groaned.