Hunk for the Holidays Read Online Free PDF Page A

reached Mark Hillshire’s house, where the party was being held, Cassie had her sex-deprived body under control. Not because of anything she did, but because her date was actually a pretty intelligent guy and a great conversationalist. He engaged her in a discussion about construction that demonstrated a fairly competent knowledge of business and architecture. Somewhere along the line, he had learned a few things besides how to makea woman sizzle. She found herself telling him things she talked about only with her brothers.
    “So I don’t get it. Why don’t you just tell your father that you want to design buildings and work on site?” he asked.
    “You don’t know Al McPherson.”
    “I guess I don’t.” He nodded at the large brick home on the right. “Is this it?”
    “Yes. They have parking attendants, so just pull into the drive,” she said. He ignored her, bypassing the long driveway, and found a spot down the block.
    With his hand gripping her seat, he looked over his shoulder and zipped next to the curb. Her gaze caught on his tanned throat, the knot of his Adam’s apple and the shadowy indention at the base.
    She swallowed. “You forgot your tie.”
    He slipped the car in park and turned off the engine. “I didn’t forget. I still haven’t mastered the bow tie. You wouldn’t know how, would you?”
    “Face me,” she ordered as she turned in the seat. “With four brothers, I’ve gotten pretty good at it.” Of course, that had been with her brothers, not with a man whose amber gaze caused her stomach to flutter and her hands to shake as she slipped the top button into the hole. Beneath the collar, his throat felt hot and smooth.
    “Are you cold? Your hands are like ice.” He continued to watch her. “What is it they say about cold hands?” His breath was warm and smelled of peppermint. “Cold hands, warm heart.” He brushed a piece of her hair back from her eyes. “Is your heart warm, Cassie?”
    Luckily, she’d finished with his tie, because her entirebody trembled at his touch. “Most of our employees don’t think so.”
    He ran his fingers along her jawline and tipped up her chin. “Mmmm, I wonder.”
    Then, just like that, he released her and opened his door. She was so stunned, she didn’t even try to get out. Instead, she remained frozen to her seat until he reached her side. Between her trembling knees and spiked heels, she could barely walk. Thank God he held her elbow.
    “Where did Cassie come from?” he asked as he slammed the door. “Isn’t that more Irish than Scottish?”
    Amazed that he knew the difference, it took her a moment to answer. “My mother is Irish and Italian. Mom chose all the first names. Jake, Rory, Cassandra, Patrick, and Matthew. Dad chose the middle names. Douglas, Camran, Catriona, Neill, and Lachlan.”
    “Ahhh.” He studied her dark hair. “Italian. That would explain it, Cassandra Catriona.”
    “What do you go by?” she asked as they turned and walked down the sidewalk. “I mean, what name do you use when you’re working?”
    “James.”
    “James?” She sent him a skeptical look. “Let me guess, your last name is Bond.”
    He laughed as he guided her around some shrubs. “Exactly.”
    “Not very original, if you ask me.”
    “I would imagine that you’re used to names with a little more blatant sex appeal like Lance or Rod?”
    There had been a Lance and a Rod from the escort service. Ironically, neither one of them had half the sexappeal as this plain James did. But if he was going to work for an escort service, he should come up with a better name.
    “How about Dirk?”
    “Dirk?” He laughed. “I think James will do.”
    Before she could ask what his last name was, her oldest brother, Jake, pulled up in his Lexus and hopped out.
    “Hey, Cass. Did Mom call and tell you about Dad?” He tossed the keys to an attendant before holding the passenger door for his wife, Melanie. It wasn’t until he’d slammed the door that he