Smokin' Hot Read Online Free PDF

door. “Hi.”
    “Hi,” he said with a smile. “Am I disturbing you?”
    “No, I was just reading. Is the fire out already?”
    Stephen nodded. “It wasn’t very big. Someone was burning brush on his property and it got out of hand, but we caught it before it spread too much.”
    She opened the door wider. “Come in.”
    “I can’t. I smell like smoke.”
    His comment came right before a breeze brought the scent of smoke to her from his clothing. The smell threw her back to her job in California and the many fires she’d helped fight. “I don’t mind.”
    He glanced past her in the direction of the end table. “Tell you what. How about you bring your wineglass and one for me out here on the porch? Then I won’t stink up Dolly’s house.”
    She liked that idea a lot. “Sure. I’ll be right out.”
    Julia hurried into the kitchen, poured a second glass of Riesling, and returned to the living room. She paused before stepping over the threshold onto the porch and took a moment to admire Stephen from the back. He stood with his legs braced apart, looking out into the night. She couldn’t see his hands, so she decided he must have them in the front pockets of his jeans. Or perhaps with his thumbs hooked over the pockets. Whatever he did made the worn denim tighten over his ass.
    The man had a first-class booty.
    Giving her head a shake to chase away the sexy thought, she stepped behind him. “Here’s your wine.”
    He faced her, accepted the glass she held out to him. “Thanks.”
    Once she had a free hand, she closed the front door. It threw them into darkness, except for the bit of light shining through the windows. Julia led the way to the two chairs and small table at the edge of the porch. Unsure what to say since she didn’t know why he’d come to see her, she chose a neutral subject. “Dolly packaged Dusty’s dinner and called his wife to pick it up.”
    “Good. I hated the thought of him missing out on Dolly’s enchiladas. He loves them.”
    “I saw a Mexican restaurant on the main road through town when I went exploring today, but didn’t see any cars. Is it closed?”
    “Only on Thursdays. Several of the restaurant owners got together and decided on their operating hours so they wouldn’t all be closed on the same days. It’s not good for tourist business if someone can’t find anything to eat. Course the fast-food places are open seven days a week, but sometimes people want something other than fast food.”
    “True.” Julia sipped her wine. “Is the Mexican restaurant good?”
    “Very. I haven’t eaten anywhere in town where the food isn’t good. O’Sullivan’s looks like an English pub and serves great fish and chips. It’s a block off the square. Mona’s Place is a family-style restaurant with a different plate-lunch special every day. The Purple Onion serves incredible hamburgers. It’s right off the square, too. And you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten barbecued brisket from Bunkhouse.”
    It all sounded wonderful, even though she’d eaten a short while ago. “You’re making me hungry.”
    “Sorry.” He swirled the wine in his glass before taking a drink. “Speaking of eating, that’s the reason I’m here. Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?”
    Julia didn’t speak right away since she didn’t know how to answer his question. She liked Stephen, yet had no desire to get involved with anyone.
    One date didn’t mean involvement. Stephen would be a lot of fun on a date. She had no doubt about that. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
    Her eyes had adjusted to the dimness so she could see him smile. “Great. Café Crystal is the nicest place in town. I’d like to take you there.”
    “I don’t need the nicest place in town, Stephen. I don’t have expensive tastes. One of those other restaurants you mentioned would be fine.”
    “Hey, let a guy impress you on the first date, okay?”
    She thought it sweet that he wanted to impress her.