The Bite Before Christmas Read Online Free

closer. She was also looking up at him with soft blue eyes and slightly parted lips that made him think of Mary Martin back home. A year or two younger than he, and widowed, the woman was always on him like a tic on a deer whenever he entered a room. Mary had marriage on the mind and he didn’t doubt it for a minute, but Teddy was too damned old to even consider marriage. He’d missed that boat, and while he regretted it, he—
    His thoughts scattered as Katricia’s pink little tongue slid out to run over her lips, wetting them. She had also continued to move closer, he realized with sudden alarm as her coat front brushed his and she raised a hand to brace it against his chest. His alarm only increased when he realized that he was swaying toward her in response like a moth drawn to a flame . . . a very old moth to a very young flame.
    Giving his head a shake, Teddy quickly stepped back and began to remove his hat. It was still cold in the cottage, but it was time this little girl saw just who she was dealing with here. It would probably embarrass her to realize she’d been flirting with such an old fart, but it would be a damned sight more embarrassing for both of them if she didn’t stop.
    Avoiding looking at her so he didn’t have to witness her horror as his gray hair was revealed, he moved across the room to set his hat on the dining-room table. Teddy then gave her another moment to deal with what he suspected would be her mortification at flirting with an old man by taking the time to remove his scarf, fold it neatly, and set it down before turning to reveal his weathered face.
    He expected to find her wide-eyed and openmouthed with embarrassment. Instead, she eyed him with interest, as if inspecting a horse she was considering buying, and then she smiled and announced, “You’re a good-looking man, Teddy Brunswick.”
    He blinked at the words and frowned. “I’m an old man.”
    The words made her chuckle, and she shook her head. “You’re not twenty-five, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t good-looking. You have a strong face, nice eyes, and a full head of sexy, silver hair.” When he just frowned harder, she added, “What? You thought your age made you unattractive? How many women do you think would say no to Sean Connery?”
    The question made his eyes widen, and Katricia grinned. She also removed her own hat and scarf. Much to his relief, she didn’t come near him but set them neatly on the counter beside her and then turned back to the box of goods to continue emptying it.
    The moment she did, Teddy felt some of the stress slip from his body. But he didn’t move back to join her; instead, he eyed her from where he stood, taking in her profile. She wasn’t a beauty. Her hair was blond, whereas he had always preferred redheads, and her face was pale, her features more fitting in a Renaissance portrait, but there was something appealing about her, he decided and then quickly tried to erase that thought from his mind.
    There was nothing at all appealing about this young woman, he lectured himself firmly. She was a child. Barely twenty-five, by his guess. A baby, compared to him. And he wasn’t going to forget that. Teddy Brunswick was not going to be one of those old fools chasing around little girls young enough to be his granddaughter. Nope, he wasn’t going to be the kind of man others snickered about behind his back.
    Suitably chastened, Teddy moved to the fire and threw another log on, then took a minute to push the logs around until the fire was full-strength. Satisfied by the heat pouring off of it, he glanced around the room and then toward the hall to the bedrooms. He could see the open bedroom doors and frowned.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Katricia asked and he glanced over to see that she’d stopped unpacking and was watching him curiously.
    â€œI was just thinking I should close the bedroom doors so