Simply Sexy (Simply 5)

“Isn’t this place something?” he asked.

She hoped he wasn’t as impressed as he sounded. “Beautiful, but too…everything,” she said, unwilling to put her feelings into words.

“Yeah. I couldn’t see myself growing up in a place like this.” He glanced around and shuddered. “Too many damn things to break.”

She laughed, relieved he wasn’t comfortable, either. “Why can I see you throwing a ball in the house and getting grounded?”

He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Because I’m a bad boy?”

His voice was deep, his breath warm, and a rush of air trickled over her skin and her stomach fluttered, settling low with damp heat.

“I like bad boys,” she murmured, and his gaze dilated with desire. Then, because they were in public, she stepped back and looked around her. “This isn’t a place to raise kids, that’s for sure.”

“Kids, huh?”

As soon as the words escaped, she’d wanted to snatch them back, the notion too intimate to discuss with the man who made her libido jump. Who had her thinking illicit thoughts, like what it would feel like to run her hands through his windblown hair and warm her chilled body by cuddling naked with him. And when those blue eyes stared into hers, she had a hunch he saw the feelings and heard the thoughts she’d imagined but hadn’t spoken aloud.

She shrugged, trying to keep things light. “What can I say? This place doesn’t exactly inspire the image of hearth and home.”

Rina wasn’t sure if she’d ever remarry, let alone have children, and considering her current fear of emotional involvement, the prospect seemed unlikely. But Jake and Brianne planned for kids and Rina wanted to be an aunt who had sleepovers and provided fun and a safe haven, not a place where they had to tiptoe and be quiet for fear of breaking something.

She glanced around once more, taking in the Christmas decorations. An exquisite tree sat in the corner and red satin bows covered the circular staircase. Her New York apartment had once been wrapped in similar red satin, she thought, remembering. A professional Robert had hired chose the holiday decorations for the penthouse. To make her life easier, he’d said. In order to impress friends and clients, she’d thought. And Rina had missed the down-to-earth Christmases she’d shared with her family.

“Take a look,” Colin said, pointing to the elves in green serving hors d’oeuvres.

Rina laughed, her mood lightening. “The party theme seems more down-to-earth than the decor or the furnishings, if that makes any sense.”

“That’s because the caterer is as down-to-earth as you can get. Emma’s granddaughter-in-law owns a company called Pot Luck. That’s how they met, and she’s been doing the parties here ever since. They’ve been together ever since, too.”

“Sounds as if you like her,” Rina said.

He nodded. “I do. Cat’s special.”

“I see.” She didn’t like hearing him gush about another woman’s charms, not one bit. Not even if said woman was married to his friend.

“Do you? Actually, Catherine Montgomery is very much like you.” A smile twitched at his lips, but before he could say more, Emma padded up to them in her gown and ballet-type slippers at a near run. Considering the gleaming marble floors, Emma possessed amazing agility for a woman her age.

“There you are! And not a minute too soon. I need you to hide me,” Emma said.

“Excuse me?” Rina couldn’t have heard right.

“Hide me. I’m being followed by a lecher.”

Colin rolled his eyes and laughed.

“Gran, you get back here,” a male voice called as a good-looking man with dark hair joined their growing group.

“Hey, Logan,” Colin said.

“Logan, Emma’s grandson?” Rina asked. Though now that she studied him, she recognized him from the photos on Emma’s desk.

“The one and only. Who’s this pretty lady?” he asked Colin, but his gaze remained locked on Rina.

Heat rushed to her cheeks at his compliment and her newly acquired professional instincts rushed into high gear. Logan Montgomery had manners and a wedding ring on his hand. Still, Rina couldn’t discount the approval in his gaze when he studied her. She’d seen the same admiration in the eyes of the parking attendant when he’d helped her out of Colin’s car. Attitude plus appearance equaled attention, Rina thought, and made a mental note to mention the dual impact in her next column.

Before her manners deserted her, she turned back to the people surrounding her. “I’m Rina Lowell.”

“I’ve heard so much about you.” Logan took her hand. “Gran here adores you and I can see why.”