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His Victorian was one of the many crowns in Charm, North Carolina. Like the name implied, Charm was an area to behold. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charm drew tourists from all over the world. And those visitors often made a point of driving by the massive home, a true fairytale house with twin turrets and a wraparound porch.
“The house has been closed down for months. And after the holidays, I’m planning to start renovation work on it. Gonna hire some crews.” His stare turned considering. “Was thinking about maybe even listing it for sale.”
Her heart rate kicked up.
“Good thing I know some great realtors.” His smile blossomed fully so that his dimples winked. “You let me stay at your place, you let me give your brother some peace of mind, and the listing can be yours.”
She licked her lips.
The ice in his stare melted.
No, no, that was her imagination. Nothing had melted. She was just tired and edgy and… “You’re blackmailing me.”
“Absolutely.”
Her nostrils flared. “Fine. Stay in the guest room, though it is completely unnecessary.”
“Um. Yes. Unnecessary. Because your safety is of no concern to anyone. Certainly not to your beloved brother or to me.”
“You can stay,” she continued doggedly, “but I expect that listing.” More than that, she wanted the house.I want to buy it.
“Looks like we have a deal.”
She still clutched his shoulders. She was also still up on her toes, as if she intended to kiss him. Not happening. They weren’t going to seal the deal with a kiss or anything like that.
They’d never kissed. Though they had come very, very close once. Until he’d rejected her.
Noelle let him go. She backed away. Bumped into the closet door.
“Do we have a deal?” Brady extended his hand toward hers.
Fine. Becausemaybeshe’d been a little nervous the last few days. Maybe she’d thought—once, twice, or maybe even seven times—that someone might be watching her. Probably just nerves. Just her imagination. She’d always had an overactive imagination. But…
But it would be good to have a big, bad special forces guy at my beck and call.She shoved her hand toward him. “Deal.”
His fingers closed around hers. The calluses on his fingertips were slightly rough against her skin. A roughness that Noelle didn’t mind at all. A surge of heat zipped from her hand, up her arm, and seemed to zing right into her heart.
“The glass is pretty sharp. It would be a shame if you got cut,” Brady murmured, still holding her hand. “I’ll clean it up. We’ll toss it away and straighten the tree. I’m sure we can pick up more ornaments so you can have the tree looking even better than before.”
“How gallant.” Noelle forced a smile even as she tugged her hand free of his. “Aren’t you the gentleman?”
No answering smile curved his lips. “No,” he replied, voice a rumble. “I’m done with that shit. From here on out, I’m taking what I want.”
“Brady?” Unease flickered through her because his gaze was suddenly too intense. His features even harsher.
“It’s gonna be one hell of a holiday season,” he assured her. “And who knows, maybe by the time it’s over, we’ll both get exactly what we want.”
Doubtful. Considering that what she wanted most…was him.
Chapter Two
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…two blue balls and one really hard dick…because she was freaking gorgeous and had no idea how obsessed with her I truly was.
—Brady
Sleep was an impossibility for Brady. Noelle waited just down the hallway—fifteen short steps. He knew because he’d actually counted the number of steps between his door and hers.
Was he desperate? Yes.
