Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
The rest of the journey was spent in silence. Me staring out at the snow-covered landscape worrying about how it was all going to turn out, and Rex giving his entire concentration to his laptop.
Eventually, we arrived at Bison Lake Club and I nudged Rex. “We’re here. Look. Isn’t it marvelous?”
He looked up and gazed at magical scenery around him, then looked into my eyes. “Yes, you were right. It is very beautiful. You ready for Act 1, Scene 1.”
I nodded. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you.”
“I never do anything halfway. Either I’m all in or I’m not in at all.”
I smiled at him. “You’ve just made me feel a thousand times better.”
He smiled back, his teeth white and gorgeous against his tanned skin. “Then let’s go show them how it’s done.”
We left the breathtaking scenery and climbed up the hotel’s steps. Even through my thick coat I could feel the warmth of his hand on the small of my back. Suddenly, a strange thought popped into my head.
How amazing if this was all real?
I shook my head to clear the thought. It was unworthy of me. The last thing in the world I needed was to get entangled with such a man as Rex Hunter. Not only was he an enigma he was also clearly, completely, and totally outside my league.
A porter greeted us and held the door open before he went out to get our luggage. The inside of the Lake Club was exactly as I remembered it. Quaint, and reminiscent of the English hotels portrayed in old Hollywood movies. The receptionist’s desk gleamed with the patina made from decades of wood polish.
“By the way,” Rex whispered in my ear. “I cancelled your booking for a deluxe suite and booked the Presidential Suite in my name. I thought it more appropriate since I’m supposed to be the rich guy and you’re my new-found love.”
“What?” I asked with a frown. How dare he? I remembered the Presidential suite being twice the price of the Deluxe and the Deluxe was already far more than I wanted to pay for a hotel suite.
Suddenly, Rex swooped down and covered my mouth with his. I was too shocked to do anything. His mouth was warm, hard, and insistent. I felt it like an irresistible, searching, plundering force. The flame of desire curled like a snake around me. His aftershave filled my nostrils as my mouth opened instinctively.
He deepened the kiss and I clung to him helplessly because he had become the only solid thing in my dizzy, swirling world. I forgot everything that existed outside the feel of his mouth on mine and the way my heart beat like a wild, mad thing inside my chest. I had never known I could feel like this. Never.
No man had ever done this to me.
As suddenly as it had started, it ended. He tore his mouth away from mine. I was shaking with shock. I didn’t want him to see the effect his kiss had on me so I grasped his arm and, looking down, took deep gasping breaths. “Why did you do that?” I asked.
He put his face next to mine and whispered, “Because the town’s busybody is walking towards us and instead of telling half the population she saw us arguing, she can tell them about how you’ve bagged yourself a guy who can’t keep his hands off you.”
I touched my shaking lips and he looked amused. “I knew we should have practiced the kissing part. You don’t surely want the town gossip to see you looking like you wandered into the woods and came across a bear.”
“Willow, is that you?”
I was still astounded by the way my body had responded to his kiss, but I composed myself as best I could and turned around to find Mrs. Dearborn standing no more than a foot away from me. Under a blue hat her light blue eyes were wide and shining with avid curiosity.
I forced a smile. “Hello, Mrs. Dearborn.”
“Why? Look at you,” she exclaimed loudly. “You’ve become quite the city girl with a new hairstyle, and fancy clothes. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Well, you look just the same.”
She patted her neatly brushed hair. “At my age, I’ll have to take that as a compliment.” Her eyes slid over to Rex. “I heard you’d be coming to the wedding with your new man. Is this him?”
“Yes, this is Rex. Rex, meet Mrs. Dearborn.”
“How nice to meet you, Mrs. Dearborn. Willow has told me so much about you.”
Mrs. Dearborn’s bosom swelled up as she preened with surprise and pleasure. “Has she? All good things I hope.”
“Of course,” he replied smoothly.
Mrs. Dearborn’s eyes slid quickly to me then back to Rex. “Will you two be staying long?”
“Just the weekend, I’m afraid.” Rex managed to make his voice regretful. He really was better at acting than I’d given him credit for.