A Hero Grinch for Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

Everything would swallow her up. Maybe she should make a toga out of the bedspread. It would serve Hunter right if she paraded around the cabin half naked.
    The idea wouldn’t go any further than her thoughts. She didn’t have that kind of courage, even though her reluctant host needed inspiration to get the corn cob out of his ass. But then, she supposed he was used to women throwing themselves at him.
    She chewed on the end of her fingernail trying to decide what to do. It was a large towel. Nope. Not happening. She paced back to the closet and grabbed a button down shirt, and tore it off the hanger. When she shoved her arms into the sleeves, they hung almost to her knees. So she took it off, rolled the sleeves several times, then put the shirt back on. The flannel felt warm against her skin. Before she could change her mind, she headed downstairs. When she reached the bottom step, the smell of fresh bread assaulted her senses. Her tummy growled. She couldn’t deny she was hungry. She padded to the kitchen and stood next to the island.
    “Something smells good.”
    “Everything was cold. I warmed it up.” He pulled a pan from the oven, then set it on a black metal rack on the stove top and pulled off his oven mitts. When he turned around to talk to her, he froze. His jaw clenched so tight it was a wonder it didn’t crack from the pressure. But when his gaze drifted slowly down her body to her bare legs, Dani knew he liked what he saw. With a confidence she didn’t really feel, she cocked her hip and acted like she dressed half naked every day.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    She gave an innocent shrug trying to tamp down the nerves searing her stomach. “I found this in the closet. I don’t have anything else to put on. ”
    “Well you can’t parade around here like that. You need warm clothes.”
    “If you remember, mine are wet.”
    He shoved past her taking the stairs two at a time. With a smile, she followed him. When she reached the top of the stairs, Hunter had a bundle in his hands.
    “Here.” He shoved the clothes at her. “Some sweats and a shirt. You can make do with those.” He snapped his fingers, suggesting he’d thought of something else. He whirled around before she could say thanks.
    Just as she stepped inside the bedroom to get dressed, he was back.
    “Socks to keep your feet warm.”
    “That’s great. Thanks.”
    He gave her a hard look, then walked away.
    Wow. Her heart pounded a little faster. His penetrating stare heated her all over.
    She quickly pulled the t-shirt over her head and then stepped into the sweatpants, drawing the string tight. Since she had no bra, she thought she needed to add something for a bit more modesty. She rummaged through the chest of drawers and found a sweatshirt. The two together would just have to do.
    ***
    Hunter took several breaths to slow his breathing. Had the woman made him a moron? He should have thought about the clothes. She should have found something to put on those long legs. He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to wipe her sensual image from his mind.
    Had she done it deliberately? What was she up to? Whatever it was, it wouldn’t work. Plenty of women had tried to seduce him, and he’d resisted. Years ago he might have played along and slept with her, but things were different now. He’d changed. And women weren’t part of his new plans.
    Although, Dani looked pretty damn hot in that flannel. Hell, he’d been tempted to throw her over his shoulder and haul her ass right back up those stairs, to his bed.
    He slammed a pan on the back burner and leaned on the counter.
    The more he tried to focus on warming dinner, the sharper her image grew in his mind. The flannel shirt hid her curves, but not those shapely legs. Long, long legs, muscled calves, trim sexy ankles, polished toe nails . . .
    Shit!
    It surprised him he’d responded so strongly. He had to do something, think of something other than those trim legs