WARM WINTER KISSES a feel good Christmas romance novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

Standing on the threshold, his legs wide, hands on hips, was Rocco. His picture on the wall was the epitome of serenity, compared to the terrifying image of him in the flesh, confronting me now.
    ‘What the hell are you doing?’
    ‘Oh God, sorry . . . ’ I began, attempting to get up, and then I was knocked back on to the pillows by the force of a wild, brown creature that came tearing through the door and launched itself at me full pelt. ‘Aaargh! Help!’ I cried, trying to see past the brown ball of fur on top of me.
    The animal, wagging its tail furiously, placed its fat paws on each of my shoulders and whimpered pathetically as its tongue did a good job of wiping my face clean. The dog’s chocolate brown eyes were a good deal more welcoming than those of its owner.
    ‘Did you find what you were looking for?’ Rocco’s gruff voice challenged me.
    ‘Look can you just get this thing off me?’ I was struggling to breathe under the furry mass. ‘Please.’
    ‘MILLIE!’ bellowed Rocco, and both the dog and I jumped out of our skins. Immediately the dog slunk down onto the floor, although the ferocious wagging of its tail continued unabated.
    This wasn’t good. I was beginning to make a habit of finding myself in undignified positions in front of my new boss. I’d have to work a little harder on perfecting my professional persona.
    ‘I’m extremely sorry, Rocco, I shouldn’t have come in here. It was just . . . ’
    ‘Too damn right, you shouldn’t. Let’s get one thing straight. You’re here to do a job. Nowhere can I remember saying that the job entitled you to go snooping around in my bedroom.’ His eyes glowered. ‘Do not abuse my trust in you. Do you understand?’
    I lowered my eyes, nodding sheepishly.
    ‘I’m sorry. I wasn’t snooping. I . . . ’
    ‘Forget it.’ He held up his hand to stop me. ‘Now just get out, will you. I need to shower and we’ve got an early start in the morning.’
    I tiptoed past him, my shoes in my hand, trying desperately not to trip over that damn dog who was dancing around my feet.
    ‘Beth!’ I stopped in my tracks. ‘Next time you come into my bedroom, make sure it’s by invitation only.’
    I swung round to look at him and my breath caught in my throat. He wasn’t smiling, at least not with his mouth, but in his eyes there was a definite flicker of mischief.
    I nodded, smiling, and went back to my room, feeling strangely elated.
    Later, with my head on my pillow, I replayed Rocco’s words, “ Beth . . . invitation . . . my bedroom . . . ” and willed myself to fall into a deep, delicious dream.

Chapter 5
    As a city girl, I made two surprising discoveries about the country that night. The first was the absolute quiet. And I mean absolute. I strained my ears to hear any signs of life inside the house or out, but the only sound was the throbbing of my heartbeat, turned on to loudspeaker. It seemed that not only had Rocco and Millie retired for the evening, but the wildlife outside had snuggled deep within their duvets too.
    In London I’d been used to the continual drone of cars and lorries rumbling past the window, car doors slamming, kids chattering on their way to and from school, late night revellers laughing on their way home from the pub. There was none of that here, only a stillness that I’d never encountered before.
    Along with the unfamiliar stillness was the complete darkness of the night. Had some heavenly being turned off all the lights, switched off the stars and dimmed the moon? Peeking over the top of the duvet I couldn’t see a thing, not a single chink of light seeping its way through the thick damask curtains. Best not to look, I reckoned, and so I pulled the duvet further over my head where I fell asleep for what seemed the best part of five minutes, before something, a very definite noise, roused me.
    The one good thing about living in a fuel-choked, people-congested suburb of the city, in a cramped and dingy flat, is that if you