Bad Boy Holiday (Bad Boy Inc. Book 6) Read online

  She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She wondered where to find some mistletoe. She cleared her throat. “Now that we’ve come to an agreement, let’s talk properties.”

  “No need. I already emailed about the one I’m interested in.”

  “The Grizzly Lake Chalet has been sold.”

  “Conditionally,” he remarked.

  She frowned. “How do you know that? It’s not general knowledge.”

  “I have my ways. The fact there are conditions still pending means I have wiggle room.”

  “Barely. I expect to hear it’s been sold in the next few days. There are other properties I can show you.”

  He shook his head. “I know what’s on the market. I don’t want them. I want the Grizzly.”

  “You know what Mick Jagger says.”

  “I do. And I’m still going to insist on seeing the place.”

  Since he couldn’t actually buy it, it wouldn’t hurt to show him. After all, the owner wasn’t in residence. Hadn’t been for years. They’d had to stage the home for showings.

  “Tell you what, I’ll show you the chalet, but keep in mind you won’t be able to buy unless the other deal falls through.” Which didn’t seem likely. Then again, who asked for a home inspection on a home worth five point seven million? The buyer even wanted a survey done on the possibility of avalanches.

  “When can we go?”

  “How about right now?”

  “And how will we get there? Because I don’t ride the bus.” There was a taunt in the query.

  She had the reply. “We’ll take my car, of course.”

  “Since when do you drive?”

  “Since the garage finally got the missing part and fixed it. I picked it up last night.”

  “What happened to not driving with strange men?”

  “That was yesterday when you were the creepy guy I met on the sidewalk. Today, I know your name and where you live. So does Becky at the front desk.”

  “In other words, no killing you and dumping the body?”

  If he’d meant to shock her, he’d failed. “Given I know the city better, chances are it’s you they’d never find.”

  The threat only made him laugh louder.

  She checked in with Becky on the way out, and while the receptionist did her best to flirt, he appeared immune. Which surprised her. Becky had the kind of looks men drooled over.

  Yet, he only had eyes for Blake.

  Kind of surreal.

  He followed her to the paid lot across the street, only to hesitate beside her baby blue Mini Countryman. He perused it with a skeptical eye. “Are you sure we’ll both fit?”

  “It’s more spacious than it looks.”

  “I thought large vehicles were a prerequisite for a realty job?”

  “Not if you want to save the planet,” she quipped, sliding in behind the steering wheel.

  “If I’d have known we’d be riding in a clown car, I would have rented something to drive for the day.”

  “You think I’d let you chauffeur me?” she queried.

  “I’m excellent behind the wheel.”

  For a moment she eyed him then smiled as she said, “I bet you go too fast.” It was meant as a double entendre to prick his ego.

  His lips quirked. “Only for the first few seconds, then I slow down and enjoy the ride.”

  She squeezed her thighs together. She wouldn’t think about him riding between them. Keep it on a business level. Her wet panties ignored that advice.

  “What’s your interest in the Grizzly Lake property?” she asked as she pulled out onto the main road.

  “Is this the question period where you find out my must-haves, my dislikes, and suggest other places?”

  “It’s good to have options.”

  “None of those options will have a backyard going down to one of the nicest lakes in the region with fishing almost year-round.”

  “There is public access for those who don’t live right on it.”

  “I prefer to have privacy when I’m relaxing. There’s also the view. That house sits high and overlooks that lake with no nearby neighbors.”

  “If that’s your criteria, then I’ve got a lovely mountain-view home for half the price and with more square footage.”

  “Does it have a river stone fireplace extending two stories?”

  “I know a mason who can build one.”

  “Massive entertaining deck with hot tub?”

  “Tiny details,” she scoffed.

  “The master bedroom has a floor-to-ceiling window that makes it seem like you’re floating in the sky.”

  “Needs frequent cleaning because of the birds hitting it.”

  “You really don’t want me to like this place. Why?” he asked.

  “Because I think you’re wasting your time. The place is practically sold.”

  “I still want to see it.”

  “Why bother since you already know everything about it?”

  “Think of it as getting an idea of what I like if I do agree to see other places.”

  “We could have done that in my office with a slideshow.”

  “Where’s the adventure in that?”

  The drive was more than forty minutes, as they had to leave the city and drive into the mountains. At least the weather remained clear and the roads free of ice. Snow laced the trees and frosted the peaks. When they finally crested the last hill, she had to admit he had a point about the view.

  The house was built on a bluff overlooking the lake with a lift that could bring people up and down since stairs were unfeasible. The house itself had the stone and cedar exterior many chalets adopted but on a massive scale. Big wood beams, a peaked roof that helped with heavy snow, more than a few chimneys because it wasn’t just the great room that had a fireplace.

  She exited the car and waited for him, breathing in the fresh air, feeling the crisp cold on her cheeks.

  “Beautiful,” he breathed, only he was looking at her.

  “Shall we go inside?” she asked while texting Becky to let her know she’d reached the chalet.

  Arbuckle stood to the side as she punched the combination into the lock. They entered a vast entry hall, the stone tile covered in a rug to catch snow and dirt.

  “Shoes and boots off,” she said, leaning over to unzip hers.

  When she stood, wearing only her stockings, it was to see him staring at her. She arched a brow. “Something wrong?”

  “No,” was his gruff reply. He kicked off his shoes.

  “Where would you like to begin?”

  “How about right here?” He poked his head inside a door. “I take it this is the home office.” With that statement, he began walking through the various rooms.

  She said nothing as he checked it out and, instead, watched him. Tried to read his expression as he toured the office then the kitchen. Barely paused in the dining room.

  She thought her awareness of him in the car was because of the proximity. Not even a foot between them. Yet, despite the massive space around them, she remained on edge. Tingling. Anticipating…nothing. For all his flirting words, he never did anything untoward.

  It was almost maddening. Had all that talk just been about seeing this house? Trying to butter her up to see if he could steal it from their other client? As if that would happen.

  He spent only a moment in the sunken living room with the massive fireplace and windows overlooking the deck before heading to the second floor with the master bedroom.

  The bed faced those windows, but he didn’t spare it a glance as he went straight for the view. “It really is magnificent. But I can’t buy it,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  “No kidding.”

  “Not because of the conditional offer. I can’t buy it or any other houses from you.” He turned to face her, looking entirely too intense.

  “Why not?”

  “Because if I do, I can’t have what I want.”

  “I don’t understand.”

&
nbsp; “Don’t you?” he murmured, moving closer. “I’d rather kiss you.”

  Chapter Five

  He must have gotten lightheaded up on the mountain bluffs, because he only meant to charm her when her panties came right off.

  Given all her rebuffs, he’d not expected his comment to work. He’d begun to wonder if he’d mistaken her red cheeks for something else.

  He didn’t usually have to work this hard to charm. Yet, she seemed impervious.

  So he’d boldly stated what he wanted, and for once, he wasn’t faking it. Unfortunately, the desire was all too real from the moment he’d seen her wearing a bright red sweater dress with candy canes patterned all over, snug around her curves, belted at the waist. Her calf-high leather boots sexy as all fuck. Even sexier? When she unzipped and removed them, showing her stocking-covered feet.

  He wanted nothing more than to crawl up that dress and—

  She kissed him!

  He was so startled it took him a moment before he had the sense to kiss her back. A hot, passionate kiss that saw them suddenly pulling apart and staring at each other. Her with cheeks flushed. Hell, he wasn’t far off himself.

  “I shouldn’t have done that,” she remarked.

  “I disagree.”

  “You’re leaving in a few days.”

  “I am.” No point in lying.

  She licked her lips. He was jealous of her tongue. She saw him staring. “It would just be sex.”

  Would it just be sex? It had to be. She was a complication he didn’t need in his perfect life. “Have dinner with me.”

  “I don’t need dinner to kiss you.” She pointed to the flowers on her dress. “Mistletoe.”

  He took a moment to process what she’d said then grinned. “We mustn’t break tradition.” He swept her into his arms, lifting her, holding her close.

  She cupped his face, nibbling and sucking at his mouth, her breath hot and minty. The feel of her curves was soft and pleasing. She parted her lips and invited his tongue. Twined it with his. Sucked at him, and he felt it down to his fucking toes.

  But mostly in his cock. He throbbed something fierce.

  The woman could kiss, but he wanted more than that.

  The bed was close, the window even closer. He pressed her against it, hands grabbing at her full ass, kneading it. He ground himself against her, wanting nothing more than to strip and slide into her.

  Too fast.

  Even for him.

  It didn’t stop him from trailing hot kisses along the edge of her jaw to the lobe of her ear. He bit the lobe lightly, and a shudder went through her. A gentle bite had her moaning.

  He sucked it for a second longer before moving his lips down the smooth skin of her neck. The scent of her tickled him, the taste of her flesh delighted. Her dress impeded his access, but he appreciated the oversized buttons holding it closed. He only had to undo a couple to reveal her breasts restrained in a sturdy bra. The kind that probably had a dozen hooks in the back. Easier to just shove the cup aside and bare her to his touch.

  She gasped as he nipped first one nipple then the other. They protruded. Demanded more attention. He was more than happy to give it. He leaned forward and caught the hard buds in his mouth one by one, sucking them, teasing them, even biting down, making her cry out.

  For all she shivered and moaned, he wasn’t in as much control as he’d like. He wanted badly to thrust and come between those perfect thighs.

  The lack of control froze him. This had already gone too far.

  And it was about to go further because she whispered, “Touch me.”

  There wasn’t a man alive who could have said no to that soft request.

  With a groan of surrender, he claimed her lips for a torrid kiss. While one hand kept her anchored in place against the window, the other went exploring, gliding up her stockinged leg to realize the stockings didn’t end in garters. She wore the full bottom kind, practical, but still sexy, the fabric damp in the crotch once he managed to wedge his fingers between. He was no better than a clumsy boy as he pulled and finally moved those stockings down and out of his way, the cotton panties loose enough to be shoved aside.

  When he touched her hot flesh, she cried out. Hell, he almost cried out as his hips involuntarily thrust.

  He couldn’t help but plunge two fingers into her, feeling the heat of her sex. The pulse. The squeeze.

  She rocked in his grip, grunting, begging, “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

  He wanted to stop and give her his cock. But he couldn’t bring himself to slow the rhythm. Couldn’t stop himself from watching her, with her eyes shut, her lips parted, flushed and wanton in that moment.

  About to come for him.

  When she orgasmed, it squeezed his fingers so tight he gasped. Even came a little. Caught her long sigh of pleasure with a kiss.

  Was ready to dig out a condom and get working on his own climax when a phone rang, chiming to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”

  Not his phone. “Ignore it.”

  “I can’t. That’s my daddy calling.”

  Chapter Six

  Angels We Have Heard on High; might have sounded like her when she came.

  A part of her resented the intrusion of her happy, ringing phone. Another part froze in disbelief. What had just happened?

  Blake had just thrown caution to the wind and almost had sex with a stranger.

  Actually, given she’d come it might still count.

  Total error in judgment no matter how good it felt. Still, when he’d said he wanted to kiss her…how could she resist? If he’d been a shitty kisser, she might have been able to stop. But he was a great kisser. And when he touched her…she came apart in his arms.

  Came on his hand.

  Standing with her bare ass in the window for anyone to see. A glance over her shoulder showed only snowy treetops. Still. Not exactly discreet.

  She moved away from him and snared her phone from her purse on the way, her dress coming down to cover her as she wrestled one-handed to tug her tights and undies back into place. During the heat of the moment, she’d forgotten about her unshaven legs. Luckily, he’d only felt and not seen her very natural bush.

  Still putting her outfit to rights, she answered, perhaps a tad more breathless than necessary. “Hello, Daddy.”

  “Is everything okay, Lakey?” His nickname for her.

  “Fine. Just fine. Lots of stairs in the house I’m showing. These legs weren’t meant for climbing.” She let out a short laugh that sounded very unconvincing.

  She glanced at her client—Lover? What should she call him? He stood there looking smug. Odd given she’d been the one to get off, not him.

  “Are you still with Mr. Arbuckle?”

  “I am. Showing him the Grizzly Lake Chalet.”

  “Why would you bother? It’s sold.”

  “I know, but he wanted me to see the things he liked about it to get ideas.”

  “You should have taken him to an available house. Like the Periwinkle Cabin. Or maybe Doe’s Retreat?”

  “On my list if I can get in to see them later today,” she stated, trying to maintain her composure, which wasn’t easy given her stockings wanted to slide down and her underwear was wet. Her nipples throbbed, and Daddy kept talking, so she said, “I’m still here with Arbuckle, and I highly doubt he wants to listen to us chat. I’ll see you at the office.”

  Before he could refuse, she hung up.

  Arbuckle leaned against the window.

  “That was my father.”

  “You don’t say. I take it he’s not happy you brought me here.”

  She rolled a shoulder. “He’d prefer I showed you an available home.”

  “I’m ready to go right now if you are.” There was a definite double entendre in his words, but she’d had a moment to find her sanity now that he’d given her some relief.

  “Unfortunately, we can’t right now. I’m required at the office.”

  “Of course, you are,” he rumbled, striding past her
. “And let me guess, tomorrow you’re busy too.”

  She couldn’t have said what compelled her to say, “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  He stopped by the front door and spun. “Going to try and sell me on another house?”

  “No business.” Amended to, “Not entirely business.” She blushed. But she remained resolute. If she was going to have a fling, might as well do it with a guy who made her see stars and would be gone in a few days.

  “When and where?”

  “There’s an Italian place two blocks from my office. Say, seven p.m.?”

  “Will that give you enough time to go home and freshen up?”

  She pursed her lips. Was that a subtle jibe about her legs needing a shave? Had he noticed it during their tryst? “Saying I don’t look good enough?”

  “If you wear that dress for dinner, all I’m going to be able to think about is how good it looked around your waist when I was fingering you.”

  Her knees almost buckled. Crude and sexy at the same time. His wicked smile said he knew exactly how he affected her.

  Which might have been why she was saucy enough to say, “It felt even better than you can imagine.”

  Then she sauntered past him, cheeks hot as he chuckled. “I can’t wait for dinner.”

  Neither could she, which meant the car ride back was torture. Especially since he placed a hand on her leg. Nothing more, yet its weight only served to remind her what he’d done. How it felt.

  What would he say if she pulled the car to the side of the road and mauled him?

  At his direction, she dropped him off at his hotel, blushed, and said no thanks at his offer to come upstairs. She couldn’t, not knowing the hairy state of her body. She called the office and told them she’d ripped her tights when she slipped in the snow. Not the first time it had happened, so no one would question why she went home.

  She took a long shower and used a lot of soap. Made a note to get some drain cleaner, too, given the pelt she mowed off.

  When she emerged, bare-legged, clean underarms, and very trimmed pubes, it was to see her cat staring at her.

  Judging her.