Holiday Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

with other, less complimentary theories to describe their life together.
    One had been that Reid was selfish for not settling down near Gabby’s research sites. Another had been that Reid should have grown out of his wanderlust, the same way their children had grown out of diapers. Reid hadn’t agreed with those theories. Frankly, he’d been pissed to have his life’s passion—exploring the world—equated to potty training. But he had agreed, sadly, with Gabby’s final theory: Sometimes love wasn’t enough.
    Most times love wasn’t enough, Reid had learned since then. His bachelor existence here in the Outback was proof of that.
    But at least he had his children with him. Reid was grateful for that—which brought him back to Nicole. Charisma like his daughter’s came with a price, he knew. And although at the moment Nicole used her persuasive abilities harmlessly—to wheedle extra treats from local grandmotherly types or to stall on doing her history homework—soon she was likely to discover other, riskier uses for her skills. Or to use those skills on unscrupulous outsiders—people who couldn’t see the tenderhearted girl beneath the smiles. People who might hurt her.
    Hell. Being a father was the hardest thing Reid had ever done. Given the adventuresome life he’d led so far, that was saying something, too. Over the past two decades, he’d faced down grizzlies, brush fires, and semidelirious clients in the grips of dengue fever. He’d hung zip lines from skyscraper heights in Costa Rica. He’d endured volcanic eruptions and arctic frostbite. He’d even survived freeze-dried pinto bean chili. In the end, he’d come through all those experiences with one sure bit of knowledge: The only way to survive was to put one foot in front of the other, keep moving, and refuse to quit.
    That was exactly what he intended to do with his kids.
    “Ooh! That scrape doesn’t look so good.”
    Pulled from his thoughts by that feminine voice, Reid glanced up to see the camp’s medic, Helene, standing in front of him. She pursed her lips as she examined his arm, then leaned closer, treating him to a cleavage-filled view down her partly unbuttoned shirt. Knowing Helene and her Scandinavian-style sexual directness, the view was wholly intentional. Given half a chance, Helene would have preferred to be naked at all times.
    “You should come to my tent.” Helene lifted her gaze to his. She licked her lips. “I could…tend to this for you?”
    “It’s only a scratch. I can hardly feel it.”
    “Mmm. Interesting. Tell me something.” She dropped her hand to his thigh, unsubtly caressing him. “Can you feel…this?”
    Reid grinned. He covered her hand with his, stopping her ascent toward his groin. In the firelight, Helene pouted.
    “A dead man could feel that. You have talented hands.”
    “That’s what they told me in medical school.”
    Reid raised his eyebrows. “Interesting school. But I’m going to have to pass.” Regretfully, he squeezed her hand. He softened his voice. “By morning, I’ll probably be headed for another campsite, with another group of doofuses—”
    “There’s a lot of nighttime between now and morning.” Helene gave him another deliberately suggestive look. Her fingers wiggled from beneath his, then crept up his thigh again. “I can think of a few ways to make those hours feel very nice for both of us. Can’t you?”
    “—which means I won’t be here for long.” He never was. Reid liked to make that fact clear up front, just to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings. “So as tempting as this is”—he let his grin broaden—“and it definitely is tempting—”
    Helene laughed, shaking out her long blond hair. “I’m not asking you to go steady, Sullivan! I just thought we could have some fun together. But if you’re too tough for a little TLC—”
    “I don’t like to be fussed over.” That much was true.
    “—then you’re the one who’s missing out. Not