To prove his bravery, Scott pulls Jas onto his lap fully, not afraid of her threats, and the heat between them is palpable. I glance at Luke, still sitting quietly opposite. Our exchanged look doesn’t need words. We both recognize it’s time we exit this little scene. Luke is up and off with a mumbled “I’m out of here,” and I’m not far behind him.
I might be happy that Jas and Scott are together, but I do not need to see them making out.
I pick up my bag and head upstairs to my room. I push open the door, drop my bag, and walk straight over to draw the curtains back. A contented sigh escapes while I take in my favorite view of the mountains. I love standing right here looking out at the slopes.
The expanse of white dotted here and there with tall pines laden with fresh falling snow, deep shadows now stretching long from their trunks across the snow in the final rays of light. I can’t wait to be out on the slopes tomorrow, carving up the powder with my snowboard.
The opening of the bathroom door has me spinning on my heel.What the fuck?
Standing there in a cloud of steam is a sexy goddess, her glorious naked body on display. Head bent, with long, dark, damp curling tendrils hanging over her face like a mermaid just emerged from the sea. I wonder if her face is as beautiful as her stunning, curvaceous body.
She continues to rub her wet hair, completely oblivious to the display she is putting on for me, the large towel in her hand doing little to obscure my view of her smooth, glowing, pinkened skin. My eyes are popping. My jaw has dropped wide open. I know I should turn away, close my eyes, do something other than stare, but I can’t.
Shit, I’m such an asshole. No, I can’t keep staring. I need to let her know I’m here, so I clear my throat as loudly as I can in the circumstances. After all, I am nearly choking on my tongue at the sight of her.
The dark-haired goddess throws her head back, a cute little squeak coming from her red bow-shaped lips when she sees me standing frozen in front of her. Frantically she tries to cover herself with the towel, and I’d offer to help, but it would probably earn me a well-deserved slap.
“Who the hell are you?” she demands when she’s suitably covered but still showing plenty of skin.
My mind is a blank. “Hi … I’m Jarrod … umm, Jasmine’s brother.” I hold out my hand to her.
She looks at my open palm like it holds something repulsive. “You have got to be fucking joking me. Why are you in my room?”
I wince. “Technically, this is my room … well, it usually is. I guess Jasmine decided to put me in Rory’s room. Across the hall.” She squints at me like she wants to do me harm, and I give up with the explanation. “I should go.”
When I still don’t move, she rolls her brown eyes, and with a huff, she spins around, striding back into the bathroom. The door bangs shut behind her. I spring to life like a schoolboy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Damn, there is nothing left to do but shout through the closed door, “Sorry … I didn’t really see anything.”
The woman opens the door a crack and roars, “Screw you! Oh, and don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.”
I can’t help chuckling at her sassy response. I like this woman already, and all I know about her is that she has a smoking hot body and a razor-sharp tongue.
I walk toward the door with that last image still emblazoned in my mind—her storming off and unknowingly giving me a flash of curvy hips and the most perfectly rounded bare butt cheeks.
What I’d do to have the privilege of putting my hands on that sweet body. I shake my head at the thought as I walk toward the door; chances of that happening are looking slim.
I make my escape, closing the door softly behind me, and I can’t help thinking that this year’s holiday season may not be too bad at all.
Chapter 3
Madison
Pacingbackandforthin the bathroom, I feel like my head is about to explode. I’m angry. I’m embarrassed, so completely embarrassed, and I don’t embarrass easily. I cover my face with both hands as I remember the way he was looking at me.
I can’t believe the jerk just stood there, staring at me in my nakedness. I don’t care how sexy he is. With a shake of my still dripping wet hair, I’m ashamed of myself for noticing that he was tall, dark, and hot in a rugged mountain man kind of way. After all, anger doesn’t make you blind … and sexiness doesn’t cancel out rudeness. If he had any decency, he would have looked away. Instead, he just stood there, checking me out, almost licking his full lips. I shiver at the memory.
I pull my hands away, then turn to look in the mirror. With my shoulders back and standing tall, I stare critically at my naked reflection. I’m naturally athletic but with added curves that seem to be in all the right places. Medium-sized boobs … tick, narrow waist … tick, and curved hips … half a tick. My hips are not my favorite body part, but at least all those gym sessions keep them toned. In summary, I guess I don’t look too bad for a thirty-year-old woman. Not having been naked in front of a guy for over six months had me wondering.
Wrapping a fresh large fluffy white towel securely around my body, I walk over to the bathroom door, putting my ear to it first. Then, when I can’t hear anything, I inch it open and peer out.
The room is empty. He’s gone. Good. I walk over and close the curtains again, then get changed into my new fitted black jeans and pale pink cashmere top. I take my time drying my hair so instead of my natural curls, the long strands fall in soft waves down my back. Next, I apply makeup, the kind that requires extra effort and care so it looks natural, like I don’t have any makeup on at all. Finally, I put my favorite gold hoops through my pierced ears, and I’m ready. I tell myself again,I’m not making a special effort. Well, no more than this time of year warrants. And my confidence deserves boosting after being caught in such an embarrassing situation.
With a deep breath in, I stride confidently down the stairs and into the great room before I can change my mind. Scott, Jasmine, and unfortunately, her brother, are already gathered around the fireplace. My eyes are instantly drawn to Jarrod, who is reclining back in one of the armchairs, his long legs stretched out fully in front of him. His unusually dark eyes look up as I enter the room, and I don’t miss the glint in them, which seems to be saying to me,I saw you naked.
Jarrod stands, then slowly walks toward me, and I try to mask my natural instincts, which are telling me,warning … embarrassing episode about to happen. Run away now.My natural instincts can’t always be relied upon, but this time, I think they might be right, and I wish I didn’t have to ignore them.
“Hi, you must be Madison. I’m Jarrod, Jasmine’s brother.” He holds his hand out to me, and I can’t help sensing this isdéjà vu.
