The Tycoon's Cupid Surprise (a Valentine's novella) (Holiday Babies) Read Online Free

yes.”
    When he smiled encouraging ly, masculine heat seemed to reach out and wrap around her. Her focus dropped to his mouth—that full, kissable lower lip—and something shifted inside of her. This offer was too good to be true. Xander Drake wasn’t her guardian angel come down to earth.
    But he had said this was a business proposition. If she went ahead, he would expect a dividend. Brooke never liked to rush a decision, but, come on. Shouldn’t she at least listen?
    The smile in his eyes brightened more , like he knew she was bending. Then he headed for the door and Brooke’s heart thumped harder.
    “Why are you doing this?” she asked quickly. “There must be a thousand businesses you could work with.” Ones that weren’t limping nearly so bad.
    Turning back, h e butted one big shoulder against the doorjamb. “I have my reasons.”
    “I ’d like to know what they are.”
    “For one… I guess I like you. I know I like Chance.”
    Emotion rose and swelled in her chest. “You do?”
    A bone-melting smile eased across his face. “Who wouldn’t?”
     

Chapter 6
     
    “Two whole weeks,” Xander said, flipping the closed sign on the door. “And things are really starting to move. We need to go out and celebrate.”
    Brooke agreed.
    For the most part.
    Since becoming a partner in I Hart Flowers , Xander had shown up at the shop every day, at first only in the afternoons. Then Heather had phoned apologizing and asking if she could have more time off with her family. Heather’s father had suffered a heart attack; he was still in hospital and her mom needed support. Brooke had assured Heather to take as long as she needed, and then explained about the changed circumstances in the business.
    After that , Xander had arrived at the shop around opening and stayed until close. He’d swapped those impressive dark business suits for a pair of mouth-watering jeans, a white tee that highlighted his dynamite physique, and one of her aprons. Didn’t get better than that. Except…it did.
    In between helping with customers and caring for Chance, Xander had made it his mission to learn about wholesale produce, floral supplies, handling cut flowers as well as the art of floral design. An uber masculine man like Xander…he’d actually said it was fun. On top of that, he’d made phone calls. Lots and lots.
    The rent was taken care of, and his lawyer had drawn up a contract. Xander insisted that Brooke have her own attorney look over the terms of their partnership agreement; he was fine with her deducting that fee from the operating account he’d set up. That account sat on more cash than she earned in a year.
    Xander was also sourcing possibilities for a new premises here, as well as looking into opportunities for a second shop in L.A. Finally, he’d let her know that, even though they had never gone on a “date” as such, given the time they’d spent together, he felt justified in having met the terms of that contest’s requirements. Consequently, he’d passed on his donation to the charity. Brooke suspected he’d have done it anyway.  
    As he joined her now, looking like a vision from a girl’s hottest dream, Brooke smiled at his suggestion.
    “How should we celebrate?” she asked, coiling ribbon around a finger—which she hadn’t chewed in over a week.
    As he circled behind her, Brooke imagined she felt the sear of his gaze on her shoulders then her hips.
    His voice was close enough to make her quiver. “How about dinner out?”
    “ You mean take the baby to a restaurant?”
    “ It’s been done before. Or, you’ve said your sisters are desperate to have a sleepover.”
    Brooke had spoken with Xander about her sisters, particularly Ella’s pleas to have the baby overnight.
    “It’s probably too late to organize tonight,” he said. “But maybe later in the week? It’d be good for you both to get a change of scenery.”
    When the warmth of his breath stirred her hair, Brooke got her